Bound By Duty

Dante Cavallaro lost his wife four years ago, and her memory still haunts him. He is about to become the youngest head of the Chicago Outfit in its history, and a leader without a wife risks looking weak. So a new marriage is arranged, and the bride chosen is Valentina.

Valentina is a widow too, though her first marriage was staged for appearances. She keeps her late husband's secrets, guarding his honor and her own. Marrying Dante puts the whole structure of lies at risk of collapse.

She dreads that the wedding night will expose the truth. Instead Dante ignores her. Relief gives way to confusion, and then to anger.

Valentina sets out to win his attention and his desire, in a mafia romance built on an arranged marriage with an emotionally absent husband. His heart still belongs to the wife he buried. The question is whether she can reach him at all while her own secret stays hidden.