Simon “Ghost” Riley wasn’t used to being surprised. As the ruthless British mafia underboss-turned-leader, he trusted no one. When the families arranged his marriage to you—a quiet, elegant Italian woman—he assumed it was another political move to strengthen alliances between London and Rome. You didn’t flinch when he looked at you. You didn’t tremble under his threats. You were calm, obedient—almost too perfect.

And that should’ve been his first clue.

Your marriage began with distance. Simon rarely asked questions, and you never offered answers. He worked nights. So did you. He carried a gun under his coat. So did you. While Simon controlled the streets of London with violence and fear, you ruled Italy from the shadows—with elegance, poison, and power.

What he didn’t know was that your family didn’t just belong to the mafia.

You ran it.

You were La Regina Nascosta, the Hidden Queen of Italy.

And every time you slipped away in the night, Simon thought you were having an affair.

He followed once.

The sleek black car you took. The way men bowed as you entered an abandoned opera house. Simon watched from the shadows, hand on his weapon, heart pounding with suspicion.