My Second Marriage w

ThelifeoftheunderworldwassomethingAshleyhaddreamedofescapingallherlife.Bornasabastardfromanaffairbetweenanunderworldkingpinandaprostitute,Ashleywasmeanttodieevenbeforeshewasborn.Theonlyreasonshesurvivedwasthatherfatherthoughtshewasaboy.Fromayoungage,sheunderstoodthatifshewantedtosurviveinthisworldofviolence—ontopofherfather’swifeanddaughter’sschemes—shehadtobeuseful.So,shemadeherselfapromise:oneday,shewouldescapethisworld.Ashleyalmostsucceeded…untilherfatherfoundheragainandthrustherintoamarriageofconveniencewithhisrival,Dominion,inhisbeloveddaughter’splace.EveryoneintheunderworldknewDominion.Theywerecruel,organized,andsimplyspawnsofevil.Andthemanwhostoodabovethatpower,Luciano,wassaidtobedownrightdiabolical.Justtheirnamealonecouldmakeanyonetremble.AndthisorganizationwaswhereAshleynowhadtosurvive.Tomakemattersworse,themarriagealsocamewithachild—Luciano’smuteheir.Forcedtobecomethewifeofoneofthemostviolentandpowerfulunderworldorganizations,andthemotherofitsfutureleader,Ashleymadeavow.“Nomatterwhat,I’llescapethisplace!”Butshewouldsoonrealizeitwouldn’tbeassimpleasthat.NotwhenthefearedmembersofDominionclungtoherfeet,begging,“Madam,don’tgo!”Andwhenthemutestepsonfinallyspoke,“Mommy,ifyou’releaving,pleasetakemewithyou.”Finally,herdiabolical,obsessive,andutterlyterritorialhusbandsaid,“I’vepackedourthings.Whereshouldwego?”