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

Did she want to be here? Not in the least, but with Roman gone, she felt she had no way out of it. She had to help her parents, and protect the family name, right? Poppy was pacing the living room in Jaxson's home, waiting for him to finish whatever important business he was taking care of.

It was bad enough she had to have her father's driver take her there, now he was late. Her mother had told Jaxson the only way she would permit this was for him to court her properly and allow Poppy the proper time to adjust to this before forcing her into a marriage. It would be spring before Don Ricci would step down, and she had all winter to think about it.

There wasn't much thinking. If she wasn't marrying for love, she'd settle for family honor.

AS Poppy went around the room looking at the odd collections of skulls and dark images Jaxson seemed to like, she rolled her eyes.

Chapter 143