Sinner's Perdition

Sinner’s Perdition Syndicate of Sinners Book Two Bianca Borell Copyright 2023 Bianca Borell All Rights Reserved This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real events, real people, and real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, organizations or places is entirely coincidental. All rights are reserved. This book is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author. All songs, song titles, and lyrics contained in this book are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders. Disclaimer: The material in this book contains graphic language and sexual content and is intended for mature audiences, ages 18 and older. ISBN: 978-3-9824854-5-4 Editing by, Rumi Khan, Rebecca Fairest Reviews, Missy Borucki Proofreading by Heather Anne, Michele Ficht Book design by The Cover Fling Cover design by The Cover Fling Cover Image Copyright 2023 First Edition Published 2023 All Rights Reserved This book is a dark romance. It includes some triggers such as graphic violence, explicit sexual scenes, murder, and other mature situations. Sinner’s Perdition is a full-length, interconnected standalone. Dedication To those who don’t feel worthy. You’re the worthiest. I wish you the greatest love. “The opposite of love is not hate. It is fear.” – Gary Zukav Contents Dedication Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 A note from the Author Connect with Me Online Acknowledgement About the Author BIANCA BORELL Prologue Heading to the Bertinelli’s mansion, I stare out the car window as we pass by the streetlights of a night-cloaked Boston, catching sight of my father’s contented reflection. “I’m proud of you, son.” I offer a noncommittal sound, adjusting the cuffs of my black suit jacket. This marriage has nothing to do with my duty to the Famiglia but with what my greedy soul yearns for––her. My father’s driver parks the Maybach in front of a white townhouse, guards posted strategically around the perimeter. Enemies are always lurking, waiting for their shot to overpower us. Death will surely come sooner rather than later for me, but until then, everyone will fucking bow down to me and fearfully whisper my name. I’d rather pay for my sins after I live like a king, bending to no one’s will but my own, and marrying into the second-most feared crime family will cement the era of a new alliance. We step out of the car, heading toward the door where a butler welcomes us. “Good evening, sirs. If you’ll follow me.” He escorts us down a lavishly carpeted hallway until we arrive at an open door, where Domenico Bertinelli awaits us in his office, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The moment he sees us, he does what every man in our position does—hides everything he feels inside behind an impenetrable mask. Still, I detect the tiredness in his eyes, the frayed nerves, even the tic in his jaw, caused most certainly by the unavoidable fact that I will be the head of both our families. He has two daughters, while my father has two sons. He needs this union more than we do, and he knows it. In our world, sons take over the business and daughters marry for alliance. “Tommaso, Cato, welcome.” Domenico stands up, ever the gracious host, and we shake hands. After he pours my father and I a glass of whiskey, we take a seat on the couch facing his desk. I twirl the glass around before I take a sip of the amber liquid, passing the time. This is a mere formality—everything has already been drafted and signed. “Chiara’s going to spend another year at St. Mary’s School until your marriage.” My father nods, agreeing with the decision to keep her sheltered, even though I would have preferred her to know exactly what this life entails. She will never be ready, neither for me nor for this life, by being kept away. Still, I down the whiskey as they talk, allowing them the illusion of control. Patience, just one more year, and then both my father and Domenico Bertinelli will have no choice but to obey my decisions. I look from one man to the other, their adversarial positions mixed with a certain amount of mutual respect. They have their money stashed in everything imaginable, from shipments to investments. If there were ever two men with endless power and influence, it’s them. And when I marry Domenico’s daughter, I will be the head of an empire. An empire forged in sweat, blood, and money. Welcome to the new mafia. We wear posh suits and pretend to be legitimate businessmen. As they smoke their disgusting cigars, I excuse myself, stepping outside and drag a relaxing breath. It’s done. She’s mine now. The wind bites into my skin and I crane my neck to the blackened sky that is as dark as my soul. I forget to breathe as I catch something out of the corner of my eye. It’s her, leaning over the balcony railing. She’s so damn beautiful my chest constricts. No wonder her father wants to keep her sheltered; an ethereal beauty like her should have never even been born into this kind of world.