Chapter 28

Chapter 28: Tom's POV

I slammed on the brakes suddenly, causing Riley to lurch forward against her seatbelt. She looked at me, and I could hardly contain my urgency.

"Tell me everything now. What really happened to you? How did you end up presumed dead?" I demanded, my voice edged with frustration.

Riley took a deep breath, her expression heavy.

"It's a bit complicated," she began, her sigh a mixture of weariness and anxiety.

"I need to hear it," I insisted firmly, my eyes locked onto hers.

She hesitated before giving in. "Okay, if you're really determined to know. After I was sent away, and following my fiancé's death, I was left with nowhere to turn. I was stranded and felt utterly hopeless. So, out of necessity, I sought out Mr. Gabriel."

She paused, her gaze distant as she continued.

"Mr. Gabriel is my uncle, my father's estranged brother. He's a ruthless and cunning mafia leader. I ended up working for him, aiding him in his criminal endeavors. My family was desperate to get me b