I cowered at the presence of the man in front of me. His presence was laced with power, wealth, danger and dominance. He ruled the underworld with an iron fist, his countenance void of emotions and warmth. He was feared by all and now I was caught in his trap. I committed a crime, I killed his sister. It was a question to his power and I knew his answer would crush me to pieces yet I couldn't help but shiver at his touch. Maybe, just maybe this mafia don would break me in the way I want.
It was a dark night... The roaring thunder and poring rain gave the Castello mansion a darker attraction.
It was pitch black, the curtains were flapping against the large windows, the rain finding it's way into the room through the open windows.
The storm was ruthless, unforgiving and determined to make the night scarier and extremely dangerous.
Luciano sat on his gold plated desk, his hands gripping his glass of whisky. The aggressive wind was blowing some rain into the room, most of it draining him.
He was lost in thought, it had been a long day as usual.
His phone rang and he picked it up without checking to see who was calling
"Luciano" he simply said.
"Good... Good evening sir. I'm sorry to disturb you but... There's..."
"Do not waste my time. What is it you have to say?"
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before the caller spoke again "there has been a unforseen... Something unusual happened sir..."
"Name"
"Excuse me sir?" The caller queried not understanding Luciano's statement.
"What is your name?"
"Oh... Mattias sir, Johnson Mattias..."
"What is your department? What services do you render to me?"
"Oh... I'm your sister's assistant bodyguard. I work in the security team sir..."
"Enough of the explanation. If you work in the security team then you should know how to handle unforseen circumstances. I do not pay you to call me about every damn thing. You have a boss, speak to him. Never call me directly" Luciano stated firmly.
"Okay... Okay sir..."
Luciano ended the call before the bodyguard could speak.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Luciano blinked, his sign of pure frustration and unrest. He had made it clear that he didn't want anyone disturbing him... He ordered everyone... Who dared disobey his order?
There was another knock on the door, this time it was more persistent... Almost like the intruder knew what was coming but couldn't afford not to risk it.
Luciano pursed his lips and got to his feet, his towering height and shadow visible on the wall. He reached for the gun in his pocket and blinked again. He tried, but what can he do? When a fellow calls for death, all one can do is give it to him.
With each step he took towards the door, his foot made a heavy sound as it made contact with the marble floor.
Just as he was about to unlock the door, there was another knock. Whoever it was must have some guts. What a persistent fellow, Luciano thought.
Immediately, Luciano's grip on his gun tightened and then he pulled the door open. Without waiting to check or see who it was, he pulled the trigger.
"Sh*t" A loud growl was heard and then a man fell to the floor, just at Luciano's feet, blood gushing from his forehead.
Of course, he didn't miss, he never did. Even without seeing who it was, Luciano had calculated his height, how? He did so from the sound of the knocks on the door. His door was as expensive as two penthouses, made by the best only. It had a special feature that only Luciano knew about, the sound.
Luciano looked down and stared at the lifeless body nonchalantly, was it necessary that he had to fall at his feet? Now he had blood on his shoes which meant he'd have to shower again.
"I was having a f*cking peaceful night!" He growled as he pulled his foot from under the man's legs, this threw the body upward, revealing the man's face.
Romero raised his eyebrows "interesting" he muttered as he scanned the familiar face.
Of course he recognized the face, very well infact, his sister's fiancé... Or rather, this was her fiancé, Gideon Martinez.
Luciano shook his head, suddenly angry that he had given him an easy death.
He was to get married in two days, why then did he f*cking come to disturb him? Gideon should be happy he only got shot, what pushed him all the way to my room?
"these fools... Now I need another shower!" Just as he was about to get back to his room, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps...
"Who is the next unfortunate one?" He growled, his voice disturbing the tranquility of the night. He was halfway into his room, his back turned towards whoever it was but he could tell they were more than one.
The footsteps stilled noticeably and there were heavy breaths.
"Capo... We apologise for disturbing you at such an odd hour... We are beyond guilty" Luciano recognized this voice, it was Antonio, his right hand man.
Meanwhile, Antonio was a panting mess as he tried to get himself together, he was beyond terrified of his boss, everyone was. There were strict orders not to disturb him and here he was, doing the exact same thing everyone was warned not to do.
The guards he brought along were also trembling behind him, probably cursing him for bringing this evil faith upon them. If only they knew how scared he was too, none of them came here by choice... No one does.
Antonio spotted Gideon's lifeless body on the floor but that was the least of his problems. Gideon had it coming and he knew it. He had been warned but he ignored it. When everyone saw him marching for the elevator even after being warned, they started sending their condolences to his fiancéé. Gideon's friend, Victor, even went as far as calling his parents and informing them of their son's death. He told them to stop the wedding plans and should instead plan his funeral.
Even Gideon's finacéé, madam Ana, one of the don's sister had removed her engagement ring and ran to her room, obviously fuming.
The don's parents, Mr Luca Luciano and Mrs Sia Castello had instructed the wedding planner to stop preparations.
Everyone knew that immediately Gideon had gotten into that elevator and imputed those forbidden digits, his faith had been sealed.
"Antonio! I give you exactly sixty seconds to explain why you're here. Fifty eight seconds left" Luciano stressed, his eyes fixated on his wristwatch. He was beyond annoyed with the situation and even more annoyed with himself for entertaining this stupid disturbance.
"Hm... Your parents ordered us to call you... They said it was important" Antonio said hastily.
Luciano scoffed in displeasure but kept his cool "I want this body gone before I get back here" he said as he walked towards the elevator.
~~~
The rain intensified, the wind was Wilder and the thunder didn't wand to be left out.
The Castello mansion stood tall in front of Ariana, the biggest mansion she had ever set her eyes on. It was huge, too big a space for a mansion. Just two acres more and it would have been estate.
Ariana was a fuming mess under the rain, her whole body was soaking wet and all she could do was stand there. The night was pitch black, even the moon seemed to have forsaken her this night. The only source of direction was the highly lit mansion that stood in front of her.
Her hands had been handcuffed by those dumb guards and she was being pushed around like a house rat.
She hated her present condition of helplessness, she would have preferred these men to have killed her instead... Why did they have to bring her to the one place she loathed the most? Why did they have to bring her to the property of the Castello's? The most dangerous and self centered familia... The familia that birthed the don... The ruthless... It was a sun for her to even think of such people.
The other criminals who had been brought here with her stared at her in surprise. They wondered what crime a mere lass would have committed that would warrant her being handcuffed like the rest of them. They were shocked to say the least.
What did this young lass do that will get her pushed around in the poring rain and even get a few slaps and scratches? They were criminals who stole and rebelled for a living... If anything, they were used to bring acquired as slaves and being tossed around. It was their fate... They had been born into titleless families, no reputation or royal blood running through them.
They have been to different families of made men as slaves and today, they were unwanted by their respective families because they were now useless. They were so useless that they had been kicked out and freed , left to do with their lives as they please. But deep down, they knew they would make nothing of the freedom they got, uneducated and unwanted... How would they survive in the cold ruthless underworld of Italy... The mafia... How would they feed daily? Even if they were slaves, they still got to eat something after being worked around like horses.
So what did they do? They intentionally stole from the Castello's so they could be taken as prisoners... Every slave on the cold streets, weather useful or not, acquired or not wished to be taken by the Castello's. Every familia respected the Castello's with their life and breath.
Even as freed slaves, if they get a little source of living, they'd still be killed by the gangs on the street. It is not safe in this cold streets of the underworld. Even if they were under other families, they could still be killed on the streets when sent on dangerous errands.
But no one dare touched any slave with the Castello initial in their uniforms. The Castello slaves were respected... Respected in the sense that they were not killed aimlessly. This doesn't mean that the Castello's slaves aren't worked like horses... It's just that they weren't killed by anyone else but the Castello's themselves.
~~~~
A scandal! In acient Britain, that's a word on one wants to be associated with, it can ruin a lot of lives in a single second. If the society deems it a scandal, then it is a scandal. The book will tell... This is an historical regency romance that depicts the societal norms of acient Britain with some twists. A scandal is controversial enough but a royal scandal... THAT is something you do not want to miss. So sit tight, fasten your seat belts and let the wind of my imagination and keyboard lead you to acient Britain...
Married to a man you can't recognize? It was a contract marriage, they've been married for two years. She didn't even look at his face on their wedding day. She can't recognize him if she sees him, they only met once and that was on their wedding day. He lives in Italy and she lives in New York. Till it all changed, they have to live together and give birth to an heir. He is fire, she is fireworks.
Anabel found out she was pregnant and dialed her husband's number to share the good news to him. They have been married for two years without a child. Desmond's mother had been accusing her of being barren and unproductive. When the call was picked, she was flabbergasted and broken. She was hearing a loud moan of feminine voice. "Ohh! Yeah! Don't stop fucking me! Fuck me harder baby!" accompanied with sound of skins slapping against the other. She went home to confront her husband and end up receiving a divorce paper. Desmond divorced him for a lady his mother was rooting. Few months later when he found out that his ex-wife is a billionaire heiress and she is pregnant with twins, he went crazy!
"Sign the divorce papers and get out!" Leanna got married to pay a debt, but she was betrayed by her husband and shunned by her in-laws. Seeing that her efforts were in vain, she agreed to divorce and claimed her half of the properties. With her purse plump from the settlement, Leanna enjoyed her newfound freedom. The constant harassment from her ex's mistress never fazed her. She took back her identities as top hacker, champion racer, medical professor, and renowned jewelry designer. Then someone discovered her secret. Matthew smiled. "Will you have me as your next husband?"
Veronica is an eighteen-year-old omega who falls into an emotional breakdown when her Mate, who was soon to be the Alpha of the Sun crest pack, turns against her, hurls hurtful words at her, and rejects her on the night of the full moon festival because he and everyone in the pack, including her, thinks she is an omega. As if the pain of rejection, helplessness, and worthlessness wasn't enough, she lost her best and only friend to the cold hands of death when rogue wolves attacked their pack. Right in the presence of her mate, she was tagged as someone who always attracted problems and calamities anywhere she went and he turned a blind eye and watched as she was banished from the pack. With hatred for her life, she runs deep into the woods that were off-limits and jumps off to end her life, but in a turn of events, something else happens. What would her mate do when he finds out that Veronica is not who he thinks she is? Will she be able to forgive him? What fate lies ahead for them?
The dream of everyone with regards to marriage is to be able to find that special someone and settle down with them. Even arranged marriages grant you an opportunity to meet your partner briefly before the wedding. How will you feel about waking up in the morning with someone sleeping next to you who is not just anyone but your legally married partner yet with no memory of how that had happened in just a few hours of going out the previous day? This is the story of Jason Haward and Julia Harrison, two strangers trapped in a marriage they never planned. The quest to find out why led to the unfolding of a mystery which made them realize they are both living a lie. To find out more, read this amazing story of love, betrayal, revenge and murder.
"You're a creepy bastard." His eyes smolder me and his answering grin is nothing short of beautiful. Deadly. "Yet you hunger for me. Tell me, this appetite of yours, does it always tend toward 'creepy bastards'?" **** Widower and ex-boss to the Mafia, Zefiro Della Rocca, has an unhealthy fixation on the woman nextdoor. It began as a coincidence, growing into mere curiosity, and soon, it was an itch he couldn't ignore, like a quick fix of crack for an addict. He didn't know her name, but he knew every inch of her skin, how it flushed when she climaxed, her favourite novel and that every night she contemplated suicide. He didn't want to care, despising his rapt fascination of the woman. She was in love with her abusive husband. She was married, bound by a contract to the Bratva's hitman. She was off-limits. But when Zefiro wanted something, it was with an intensity that bordered on madness. He obsessed, possessed, owned. There'd be bloodshed if he touched her, but the sight of blood always did fascinate him. * When Susanna flees from her husband, she stumbles right into the arms of her devilishly handsome neighbour with a brooding glare. He couldn't stand her, but she needed him, if she was ever going to escape her husband who now wanted her dead. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't. She should have recalled that before hopping into Zefiro's car and letting him whisk her away to Italy. Maybe then, she wouldn't have started an affair with him. He was the only man who touched her right, and the crazy man took no small pains in ensuring he would be the last.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"