LorettaKAuthor

Cheeky owner of a struggling fashion boutique, Poppy Fields dreams of having her designs rocking the couture runways in Paris and Milan. While fantasizing about the glamorous life, her world is about to collide with the devil himself in the form of a dangerous mafia leader, Roman D’Amico, out for revenge for his dead brother.

Often mistaken as the future wife of one of Chicago’s most notorious crime bosses, and Roman’s rival gang member, everyone who enters Poppy’s little shop believes they are doing a favor to the Gambino family. When her doppelgänger waltzes into her boutique, the women are shocked to find they look like twins. Leaving her identification behind as a ruse to flee the country, Claudia switches lives with the unsuspecting fashion designer. When Luke Gambino falls for the ploy, he believes Poppy is his runaway bride, forcing her to take on the persona of the real Claudia Ricci.

Following the murder of his brother, Roman D’Amico is looking for revenge. When he suspects the Gambinos are behind it, he plots to kidnap the rival gang member’s wife. Unknowing that the women have switched places, Roman kidnaps the wrong couture diva. With Claudia missing, Poppy must keep up the ruse, and convince Roman to keep her alive or fall into the hands of the murderous Gambino family.

Couture Criminals

Fidgety, nervous, self-conscious. All the things Poppy thought she had outgrown over the years. The fact was, she was still that small shy girl she'd always been. Around Roman D'Amico, it was more so. Maybe she was in over her head. Or at least the little voice in her head was telling her. She knew she wasn't supposed to be here. He was a rich, popular, handsome man. She was a throwback to an era long past. The pinup girl with a nervous giggle. That's who she was.

Pouring her a glass of wine from the bottle he had ordered, Roman hadn't taken his eyes off her all night.

"Well, I'm just not used to these five-star accommodations. I've never been inside such a fancy place. Other than the opera house."

"Luke never took you to fancy places?"

"Not really. Just the place his family owns."

Chapter 69