Lucia I'm thrown into a world of chaos when I hear that my family is part of the Italian mafia. No, scratch that - my family is the Italian mafia - and as tradition states, I'll be getting married to the bratva head. My world is in shambles when I see how cold and ruthless my husband is. Despite how handsome and attractive he is, I give myself one assignment; stay as far away from him as possible. But as neither my body nor my heart gets the message, I have to think of a way to conceal my emotions from him. Ivan My life's purpose has always been to take over from my father as the head of the bratva. That's practically what I was born for; to kill and destroy. But for that to happen, I must get married, which isn't a problem since an arranged marriage to the Italian mafia princess has long been formed for us. What becomes a problem is the strange feelings that begin to steer within me the moment I'm married to my wife. Now I have another purpose added to the list; kill, destroy and love.
I stare at the back of the head of the man sitting four rows ahead of me. He's yelling at someone over the phone. Probably his personal assistant, Pietro. Poor guy.
He must sense that he's being watched because he turns and looks straight at me. I don't break eye contact, though. I stare at him head-on like he taught me to. He doesn't say another word to Pietro, except to stare at me intently... like he's looking into my soul through my eyeballs. I break out into a sweat from nervousness because I am no longer comfortable. We've been staring at each other for a minute now.
I'm about to give up when he smiles and breaks eye contact. I'm jumping internally but I don't smile back at him. He doesn't deserve my smile.
"What did he do to you this time?" Antonio, my older brother, sits beside me.
He knows damn well why my mood is sour. It's always like this whenever I'm in the same room with our father. Well... not a room per say. We're sitting at the airport waiting for the go ahead from our family pilot, Edward, that the jet is ready for take off.
"Bambina..." That's the Italian word for baby. Only my brother calls me that and I love him for it. I swear, Antonio acts like my personal bodyguard. He's never too far away from me except when he's at work with dad. He has always treated me like an egg, protecting me from things I know nothing of. I guess it's normal to want to protect me, considering he's my elder brother. If I must say, I've made his job quite easy since I'm always keeping to myself. "... you know you can't ignore him forever, right? It's been three months." He finishes.
Of course I know that. But I'm certainly not going to admit it.
"He doesn't want me to have a life!" I whisper yell at him. I'm just so tired. Tired of my dad. Tired of everyone acting like everything is okay when it isn't.
"You know that's not true, Lucia. Dad just wants what's best for you. "
"I'm sick of hearing you say that." I say, already tired of this conversation.
Over a year ago, I met this really cute guy, Alfred. Alfred was a sweetheart who was also my first kiss. I had my first date with him and I really did like him, though we never slept together. We just weren't ready for that. Well technically I was the one who wasn't ready. I just felt that the time wasn't right for sex which I was a hundred percent sure that he totally understood.
Three months ago, since Antonio was out of the country on a business trip, I told my dad about him which I eventually learnt to be a grave mistake because that became the last time I ever saw him. Alfred broke up with me via text. I don't know for a fact, but I have a hunch that my dad was behind the breakup. Because it made no sense.
I cried for a while but eventually I realized that I was only wasting my precious tears on the spineless asshole. The least he could do was give me a call.
"I'm sure you do, and I'm also sure he feels like shit too." I nearly forgot Antonio was still here.
"As he should." I turn away from him, crossing my arms over my chest with my chin raised high. Antonio gives up and hands me my overnight bag.
I still don't know where we're even going. Dad just gave me instructions to pack a bag for a short trip to Russia. I can't say I was eager to do so but I wasn't left with a choice because it wasn't a request. It sounded urgent yet... sad? I was probably overthinking things. I have it in mind to ask Antonio about the purpose of the trip when he says "Walk with dad. He has something to tell you." With that, he walks away to get his bag and heads outside. Edward must have called already.
I turn to look at dad who is still sitting and walk towards him.
"Antonio said you have something to say to me. What do you want?" I say in a sort of hostile tone. I would be lying if I said I didn't mean to, but seeing his reaction breaks my heart. I've never spoken to him in such a rude manner. Ever. I expect him to react but seeing him do quite the opposite is way worse. "I'm sorry, dad. I didn't mean to be rude." I gently sit beside him.
"What's the problem?" I ask because I'm genuinely concerned.
Everyone is probably seated at the jet by now including Pietro who walked in minutes after his conversation with my dad. "Is something wrong with the business?" I ask again because he isn't saying anything.
He seems to be figuring out a way to tell me something. It's almost like he wants to break a news to me.
Upon realization, I ready myself. To be honest, I'm not really bothered. What news could be as bad as the heartless breakup text I got months ago?
"The Russian mafia is interested in you for their son, Lucia." my dad finally speaks.
I look at him with an open mouth. The Russian what wants me for who?
How?
How do they know me?
I don't think I'm even asking the right questions.
"M-me? How?" Is all that comes out of my mouth.
"It has always been the plan, il mio bambino" That's Italian for my child. But I don't think I'm in the right mood or state of mind to appreciate the endearing term. No.
"What is that supposed to mean? If it's a mutual agreement, then the Russians aren't the only ones who want this to happen. You do too!" I still realize I haven't asked the question that matters. "Why are you involved with the Russian mafia, dad?"
I think I already know the answer to this. I'm no fool. I've just never wanted to acknowledge it. Why else would both Dad and Antonio be so protective of me? I see the guy who follows me every single day I step out of the house when i was still volunteering at an animal shelter. At first I thought I was just being paranoid, but then I saw him again and again and again and thereafter, I just got used to his presence. I used to think he wasn't aware that I had blown his cover, but eventually I realized he was very much aware. I'm that observant.
I had friends in school whose families were part of the mafia. No, scratch that. I knew people. My friends were as innocent as they came.
I think.
I always suspected my family was into drugs or something like that. But hearing this... this is way beyond something like that.
"Because I am the Italian mafia's Capo di tutti capi"
Boss of all bosses
Boss of all bosses?
Boss of all bosses?!
So my dad's like the bosses, bosses...boss? I want to be impressed. Hell! I am actually really impressed but I can't shake off the fact that an arranged marriage has long been planned on my behalf. It's not like there's anyone I'm currently dating or in love with- thanks to you know who- but still. It's my life these two syndicates are toying with. I must have thought that last part out loud because my dad quickly interjects. "We are not toying with your life, my child. It is just what must be done"
"What did you think, dad? That you'd tell me to marry some Russian stranger and I would agree to it?" Now I am angry. How stupid do they think I am to accept such a proposal? I say they because there is no way Antonio doesn't know about this. That's why he ran off to the jet.
Coward
"No baby. He's no stranger to the family"
"Do I know him?" I know the answer is a No, but I want him to say it.
"Not yet..." and there it is. I'm about to give a reply when he finishes with finality in his voice. "But you will in a few hours"
Then it dawns on me that this is exactly what I packed an overnight bag for.
"It won't be a straight death from where you're standing." I blink, turning around. "What?" But he doesn't give me a reply. At least not yet. Instead, he takes hold of my arms in his large, gloved hands, and pulls me to him so that we are standing toe to toe. "What are you doing?" I whisper. This new position has brought us closer. So close that if I stand on my toes, and he dips his head down a bit, I'd probably have the best kiss... "If you fall from here, the possibility of you dying immediately is 98% at the very least," He begins as I stare at him with my mouth slightly agape. "Falling from where you stood before is about 35% lesser. You'd die eventually, maybe after a night or two of trying to revive your shattered bones, but not immediately." Having made his point, he steps back from me and climbs down the somewhat elevated platform. "Did you just make way for me to kill myself?" I murmur, feeling like I'm losing my mind all over again. What kind of a man is this? *** Sonia's life is going great one minute and then takes a spin for the worse when she is betrayed, gets pregnant and worse, is told that she will be getting married to Italian mafia heir, Anthony Romero, who doesn't mind raising another man's child. She abhors the idea, but having also recently been disowned by her father, she has no choice but to accept the marriage proposal if she wants protection for herself and her child. But she has questions. Why would a sane man from her world want to raise a child that isn't his? Surely they're ulterior motives in play. *** Anthony Romano gave up on love a very long time ago and swore never to let another woman in. Then in comes this one woman he calls 'wife', breaking down walls he spent years building. But he's not about to let some flimsy feelings get in the way of his one need.
Due to the plight of her family, Phoebe had no choice but to embark on the path of selling herself. In an accident, she had a tangled night with Alexander. Everything began to derail, and even if she fled to the ends of the earth, she would still be found by him and entangled... *** Phoebe screamed in frustration, "What do you want from me?" What was this supposed to be? He raised an eyebrow wickedly. "What do I want? You'll find out soon enough." With that, he hoisted her up and carried her back into the office. The door slammed shut with a kick, and he cleared the desk with a sweep of his arm before laying her down on it, his body pinning hers in place, completely trapping her in his grasp. Every cell in his body was telling him he wanted her. He wanted to claim her again. This time, there would be no escape for her-he wouldn't let her slip away. Never again. If he had suffered for five years, then this woman wouldn't get off easily either!
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Corinne devoted three years of her life to her boyfriend, only for it to all go to waste. He saw her as nothing more than a country bumpkin and left her at the altar to be with his true love. After getting jilted, Corinne reclaimed her identity as the granddaughter of the town’s richest man, inherited a billion-dollar fortune, and ultimately rose to the top. But her success attracted the envy of others, and people constantly tried to bring her down. As she dealt with these troublemakers one by one, Mr. Hopkins, notorious for his ruthlessness, stood by and cheered her on. “Way to go, honey!”
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
As a simple assistant, messaging the CEO in the dead of night to request shares of adult films was a bold move. Bethany, unsurprisingly, didn't receive any films. However, the CEO responded that, while he had no films to share, he could offer a live demonstration. After a night filled with passion, Bethany was certain she'd lose her job. But instead, her boss proposed, "Marry me. Please consider it." "Mr. Bates, you're kidding me, right?"