The Five Families thought the war was over. They have no idea, I'm the very beginning.

I kidnapped her to prove a point—at knife point, it seemed sharper that way. See what I did there?

I used the perfect virginal daughter from one of the most powerful Families in the Cosa Nostra to fix the broken pieces, knowing that in the process—I'd spread hers for the world to see. I would embarrass her, shame her, use her, but I would never touch her…my one and only vow to her father in exchange for his allegiance.

The flowers at our wedding would be extravagant—people would watch it like a celebration, she'd live it as her funeral. Call me twisted, but I thrive off her hate. I wouldn't know what to do if I had her heart—I'm not good with pretty things I'm capable of breaking.

I'll use every single person I can to restore order…to bring about the peace that my Family deserves. But something sinister lurks in the darkness. In the end, it may not be just my Family I save but theirs as well.

They say the past comes back to haunt you—that history repeats itself. Bet they never saw this coming.

After all, when one Family falls, another will rise.

Ciao Bella.

The Rise of the De Langes

How thin is the line between love and hate? Find out in Ciao Bella , a standalone mafia romance from Rachel Van Dyken, the New York Times bestselling author of the Eagle Elite series.