The Mafia Princess Slapped Me, Then Lost Her Empire

Serena Sutton, the spoiled princess of the Sutton crime family——They call her the human lie detector. Lie to her face, and she snaps and slaps you across the face. And somehow, she’s always right. When Serena was barely two, her mother, Cheryl, lost her baby after being secretly drugged. Little Serena could barely walk, but she toddled over to her father’s mistress. She grabbed the woman by the hair and smacked her over and over with her tiny hand. "Bad lady! Baby killer!" That was the first time people started whispering. The kid could smell a lie. Then, at eight, she did it again. This time, it happened at a dinner hosted by the Sinclairs—the most powerful mafia family on the East Coast. That night, the Don was there.So was his wife, Diana. And his favorite mistress was there too—the mother of his only son, Liam. Serena marched right up to the mistress and slapped her clean across the face. "Liar! You were sleeping with a bodyguard before you ever crawled into the Don’s bed!" Within a week, the mistress was dead. Officially, it was suicide. Nobody bought it. But nobody said a word, either. Diana took the dead woman’s little boy and raised him as her own. That boy grew up to be Liam Sinclair, heir to the family empire. As for Serena Sutton? Untouchable. Nobody wanted to cross the girl who could expose your darkest secret with one slap. Until today. Liam’s engagement gala. Diana wants a bride she can control. Serena is her top pick. And me? I’m Yvonne Sheldon, daughter of Diana’s biggest obstacle. My father is the Don’s right hand—the only man in the Family Diana can’t touch. I walked in tonight as Liam’s other choice for a bride. Cameras everywhere. Half of Manhattan watching live. Serena hasn’t slapped anyone in years. But now she’s storming straight at me, hand raised. "YOU! America’s golden girl? Please. You’ve been passed around by half the city!" The room goes dead silent. One slap, and my name is gone. Too bad I’m not the easy target they think I am. --- Fine when she plays her little games with other girls. But coming after me? On live TV? The slap was coming down when Daisy jumped in and caught her wrist mid-swing. Serena yanked twice, couldn't break free, and out of pure humiliation whipped her other hand across Daisy's face. "I'm a Sutton, you cheap little maid! You dare put your hands on me?" Daisy took the hit and didn't let go. Her eyes went red. “My lady is the Don’s right hand’s daughter! The Don himself has praised her character in front of the entire Family. You don’t get to smear her just because you’re throwing a tantrum!” Serena snorted. "You gonna use the Don to scare me? He knows about my thing. That dinner years ago—" "Serena, shut up!" The second the old scandal was mentioned, Cheryl—Serena’s mother—went white. She rushed forward, stopping in front of Richard and Diana. "Sir. Ma'am. My daughter didn't mean to drag Miss Sheldon into this. She's just—she's had this condition since she was a baby. She can't stand a lie. Every time the staff argues at home, she settles it, and she's never once been wrong. Maybe it just misfired today. Let me take her home before she ruins the gala." A chill ran down my spine. Because what she just said? That wasn't an apology. That was another headline waiting to happen. Serena's a walking polygraph. She does everything on instinct. That dinner years ago proved it. So whatever she said today must be true, too. The room erupted in whispers. Even Richard and Diana looked grim. If I don't clean this up right now, I lose everything. My name. My father's name. The entire Sheldon reputation—gone. And once the other families hear this, my father won't be able to protect us anymore. I stepped forward, keeping my back straight. "Sir. Ma'am. My family's name is on the line. Give me a chance to prove myself." "If Miss Sutton is telling the truth, I'll take whatever comes next. So will my family." Silence. Then Diana's voice cut through the room, cool as ice. "Every criminal in prison says they're innocent." Translation: don't waste your breath, sweetheart. My heart shot up into my throat. Then, thank God—the Don's deep voice cut her off. It was low, cold, and final. "I've praised the Sheldon girl myself. I'll give her a chance." ---

"Thank you, Don." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding, stood up, and walked straight over to the Suttons. Cheryl pushed her behind her and forced a smile. "So sorry, Miss Sheldon. She's just a kid running her mouth. A woman of your standing — please, don't stoop to her level." Oh, we're playing that game. "Anybody accused of what she just accused me of would fight back," I said, my voice flat. "Drop the sweet act. Otherwise, people are going to think the Sheldons are the bullies here." Her face froze. She hadn't expected me to fight back. Then Serena shoved her way out from behind her mother, tears in her eyes, screaming at me. "Miss Sheldon! If you've got a problem, take it up with me. Leave my mom out of it!" "If you weren't such a lying slut, my condition wouldn't have kicked in!" Just like that — I'm the villain again. The society wives around us started nodding. "Cheryl is just protecting her daughter. But that kind of behavior from Miss Sheldon? Clearly, her father raised her wrong. And she's supposed to marry the Sinclair heir?" My nails cut into my palms. My father is the Don's right hand. He's spent his whole life protecting this Family. And now his name is being dragged through the mud because of me? Absolutely not. I stared her dead in the eye. Cold. Steady. "Miss Sutton says I'm not a virgin. Fine. Bring in Diana's private physician and have me examined right here." Serena fired back instantly. "Please. There's a hundred ways to fake a medical exam these days. Hymen surgery is a Google search away." I nodded. Blank face. "So there's no way I can ever prove myself. Got it." Serena paused, bit her lip, and started letting the tears roll — the perfect little wounded damsel in her thousand-dollar dress. "I'm not out to get you. I just can't stand a liar." The room went quiet. A smug smile tugged at Diana's lips. "Miss Sheldon. Anything else to say?" I looked down. "No, ma'am." "Then—" Locke, Diana's personal assistant, suddenly stepped forward. "Diana, I have a—crude suggestion. It might help Miss Sheldon clear her name." "Oh? Let's hear it." "Medical exams can be faked. But a woman's body can't lie. Bring in a man who knows his way around women. Let him spend one night with Miss Sheldon, and he'll know the truth." The entire room gasped. A few guests exchanged uneasy looks. Someone even snickered behind a cocktail napkin. Well, that's genius. Prove she's clean by making her dirty. Who'd marry her after that? Guess her daddy will have to hand her off to some guy from the projects. Another woman shook her head. "A girl's reputation is everything. Once it's ruined, no decent man will want her." Diana looked at me, putting on her best sympathetic-mother act. "Here's an idea. I have a cousin on the Weaver side of the family. He's never held down a real job, already has three ex-wives and a string of girlfriends. Bit of a playboy, but he can settle this quickly." "Marry him, and I'll personally make sure you're taken care of down the road." Daisy's hand was shaking on my sleeve. "Miss, don't. They're backing you into a corner. Don't you dare say yes." I patted her hand. Then I spoke, calm as ever. "Thank you, ma'am. But no." Diana stared at me. Waited to see if I'd flinch. I didn't. Her face dropped. "Fine. You want to do this the hard way? Even if you take the fall alone, the Sheldon family will still pay for covering it up. Security—" I lifted my chin and looked her straight in the eye. "Diana. Slow your roll." ---

"You can't prove your innocence—stop wasting our time!" I pointed straight at Serena. "What if she can't prove she's telling the truth either?" Serena's mother dropped to her knees again, wailing. "My daughter's gift is real! You can't drag her through this circus! It's been documented for years. Half of New York has seen it for themselves!" I ignored her, and let my eyes sweep the room. "If it's so real, why is she scared to prove it in front of the Don? Let's settle this today. Then next time she opens her mouth, nobody will have to argue with her." The crowd around us started nodding slowly. Fair point. A little test never hurt anyone. Otherwise, what? She gets to decide who's lying and who's telling the truth with one slap? Diana slammed her palm down on the arm of her chair. The diamonds on her bracelet rattled. "This is about *you*, Miss Sheldon. Don't drag other people in!" "The Sheldon girl has a point." Richard's voice. Sudden. Final. Diana's face twitched. She opened her mouth to push back — too late. "Test her." I turned to Serena, who now looked like she was about to throw up. I smiled sweetly. "So, Serena. What did I eat for breakfast? How much cash is in my purse? What perfume am I wearing?" Serena's eyes flicked sideways. Then, robotic: "You had — a green smoothie. Cash, cash…" She stopped. Something clicked in her head. She dug in. "I'm a lie detector, not a mind reader! How would I know what you had for breakfast?!" Bingo. I smiled and repeated her, word for word. "Just a lie detector. Not a mind reader. Doesn't know what I ate for breakfast." "So what?!" "So nothing. Just establishing the ground rules of your little gift, sweetheart." I locked eyes with her. Smile gone. "I had oatmeal this morning." Serena blinked. Confused. "I brought a handkerchief in my purse." Nothing. "Huh. She didn't slap me. Must be true, then." Now Serena caught up. She flushed red. "That's because you weren't lying!" I went on. "My handkerchief has small roses embroidered on it." Her eyes flashed. She lunged, hand raised, straight for my face. "Liar! Your handkerchief has lavender sprigs on it!" Fast. Vicious. Daisy jumped to block her, but the slap sailed right past her shoulder and cracked across my cheek. My head snapped sideways. Skin burned instantly. Serena wound up for another one. Daisy tackled her, taking three, four hits to the face without flinching. I rushed in to pull them apart and nearly caught nails to the eye. Richard's face darkened. His chief of security snapped his fingers. "In front of Mr. Sinclair — get yourselves together! Separate them, now!" I finally got Daisy back to my side. Dabbed at her split lip with a tissue. My chest ached. Daisy shook her head, tears in her eyes, staring at my swollen cheek. "Miss, I'm so sorry." Serena rubbed her wrist, smug as hell. "Sorry, Yvonne. Told you — I can't help it. Somebody lies, I gotta shut them up. She had it coming." Daisy turned around, glaring at her, and said out of nowhere: "I love daisies." Serena's eyebrow shot up. She sneered. "Bullshit! Your name's Daisy, but the flower you actually love is tulips!" She wound up to charge again. One glance at Richard's face and Diana cut in fast, silky-smooth. "Enough, Miss Sutton. Behave yourself. You're in front of Mr. Sinclair." ---