She ran away from the mafia families because she wanted nothing to do with them, but fate had other plans for her. A mafia lord named Antonio Valencia has requested that she be delivered to him in exchange for not killing her family. But Amari wants nothing to do with the mafia. Can she avoid Antonio and still save her family? Or will she bring about their deaths?
Amari's POV
Martinis. Italian beef. Then Manhattans.
I'm trying to remember something that has to do with why I'm here, but it all seems fuzzy. Like the jazz tune playing on the stereo. This is supposed to be a stop for jazz fans, like people really into that genre of blessed sounds, but here we are.
A trio. Poking our noses.
All I know is, that Marco and Isabella suggested someplace called The Green Mill on the North side of Chicago for some drinks. Why? No goddamn idea.
I look around the place and all I see are patrons dressed in jeans t-shirts and hats; a couple are dressed in shorts and sandals, their upper half bare.
"Some fashion here," I say.
Marco flashes a smile at me. He's been giving Isabella a lot of those since we sat down at this table. "Don't be sarcastic. The fashion is much more relaxed and less formal than it was in the past. It's all about being comfortable. Goditi la musica."
"You don't say. What did they wear in the past?"
Marco leans towards me like what he's about to say doesn't demand another listening ear. "Back in the nineteen twenties and nineteen thirteens, jazz fans would often dress in suits and ties, or with fur coats and jewelry. For men, hats were a must, and fedoras were particularly popular. For women, hats and gloves were important accessories. And of course, high heels and stockings were essential."
"Sounds like a cult to me," I comment. "What the hell is playing on the stereo anyway?"
Marco just smiles. Isabella laughs. I nurse my Manhattan.
A cool breeze drifts in through the open windows of the bar, bringing with it the sounds of the city outside. The hustle and bustle of the streets out there seems far away from the cozy interior of the bar, where everything seems soft and slow.
I try to relax my nerves, but it is so hard to shake the feeling of anticipation that has been plaguing me all day like a dog at a bone. I can't seem to put my finger on it, but something feels off. Like, there's something about to happen that's gonna change my life forever.
Marco and Isabella share a laugh. I get sick of it.
I sip my Manhattan, rise from my chair, and walk to the bar where I sit on a stool and watch the clock tick its way around.
"You okay, signora?" the bartender asks.
I sigh. Tell him that I probably need a better company in Italian. He shrugs, cleans off a tumbler, and walks off.
I sit here for a few minutes, then as if summoned by my words, someone comes and sits down next to me. I don't need to turn. I can tell it's a man.
As he sits down, I catch a whiff of his cologne. It is light and fresh, but also somehow earthy. I cannot help but take a deep breath, trying to place the scent. Is it sandalwood? Maybe sage?
The bartender comes over.
"Manhattan cocktail."
His voice is smooth and deep, like rich, dark chocolate. I don't even know why this comes to mind.
Bartender nods. "Same as the lady."
I notice him turn to me. "Nice to meet an indulger."
I feel my heart skip a beat. I don't know what it is about this man, but something about him feels... magnetic.
"I'm Antonio," he says, extending his hand.
I turn to him and I take his hand tentatively, like a peace offering. And experience a spark of electricity. It is like nothing I have ever felt before.
"Amari," I say, though my voice comes out in a whisper.
Antonio raises an eyebrow. "Amari. Lovely name. A pleasure to meet you." He releases my hand just as the bartender brings him the order. Antonio immediately takes a sip of his drink, like he's been craving for it.
"Said that before," I remind him, and scoff. "And pleasure? Not when it means bitterness."
"But does it matter?"
I try to collect myself, but I can't help but feel a little breathless. I say something about needing better company, and one comes like a wish granted by a djinn.
"Looks like you needed that," I say, finally finding my voice. "Is that what brought you here?"
Antonio leans in a little closer, and I can feel his breath on my cheek.
"I'm here on business," he says, his voice low and conspiratorial. "I'm in this part of town for a few days and wanted to find a place to relax after a long day."
I nod, my heart still racing. There is something about Antonio that makes me feel off-balance like I'm a pirate ship tossed in a storm. But I don't want to leave. I want to stay right where I am, in this strange, electric moment.
I like strange.
Antonio takes another sip of his drink. "What about you? What brings you to this bar on this particular night?"
I hesitate, unsure what to say. I don't want to tell Antonio the truth, that this was a suggestion but the novelty of it was what drew me to this bar, like a moth to a flame. Finally, I lie, "I just felt like going out. Gioviti la musica."
Antonio smiles. "I don't believe you. There's something else going on here, I can tell."
I feel my face flush and the sting.
He notices. "Feel like I'm putting you on the spot? No offense. Just that I'm a bit of a people-watcher, and I can tell when someone is hiding something. You don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to."
I am surprised by Antonio's sincerity. It is unexpected, but also refreshing. I take a deep breath. "It's okay. It's just...it's complicated."
"Hmm," he says, eyes still fixed on me.
"I've just been feeling like something is missing from my life. I'm not sure what it is, but it's been on my mind a lot lately."
Antonio nods. "I can understand that. Sometimes, we just know something is missing, even if we can't quite put our finger on what it is. And it can be frustrating."
I feel a sense of relief washes over me. Well, Antonio seems to understand me better than Marco or Isabella, and I feel like I can be honest with him.
This stranger.
"Maybe you just need to try something new," Antonio ventures. "Something that will shake up your routine and make you feel alive again."
He looks at me expectantly, as if waiting for a response.
I think for a moment. I am so used to going through the motions of my life, doing the same things every day. But I know Antonio is right. I need to do something different. "What would you suggest?"
Antonio smiles like he's been waiting for this question. "I have a few ideas. Why don't we start small, and then we can work our way up to something more adventurous."
"Something like?"
"Ever danced in a bar before?"
I am rendered speechless for a moment, and then I spurt out a laugh. "What?"
"A dance in a bar, Amari."
"No, I have not danced in a bar before and I have no intentions of doing so in this life."
"What did we say about doing things differently?"
"Not this, which I guess you have done plenty of times," I say, with some pang of jealousy. Why should I even be? He's handsome. Tall. Dark hair. Blue eyes. And a mouth that can warm one's insides, if given the chance. If he's been a bad boy, why should I feel bad?
"This is my first time too," he says.
And I have to scoff. "So you're willing to make me your first dance partner?"
"If you can trust me, Amari," he says, conditionally.
I look back at Marco and Isabella. His head is buried in her neck, and her left hand fingers his ear. Finally, some smooching is about to take place. Why should I be left out then?
I smile at him. "I think I can."
The music plays softly, and the lights are dim. We stand facing each other, and Antonio takes my hand in his. He places his other hand on my waist, bringing up a lot of tingles in my body, and we begin to move in time to the music. I feel the warmth of his hand on my waist, and I am so acutely aware of his body close to mine. Tingles of excitement flow through me as we move across the floor. The dance seems to go on forever, then it is over all too soon. The song ends but we don't move apart. Instead, we stand close together, looking into each other's eyes. There is a moment of awkwardness, as we both seem unsure of what to do next.
Then, Antonio speaks. "Would you like to come with me to my room for a drink?"
In a busy city of New York, where a hidden world of wolves thrives, Cana, a young wolf believes she is about to achieve her ambition when she is preparing to get married to a powerful Alpha of her pack, Axel. A shocking event happens on her wedding day which turns her world upside down. She is rejected, betrayed and humiliated, Cana runs to another city not knowing that her destiny and true identity are yet to be found. What happens when Cana comes across the most powerful lycan who happens to be her true mate?. Can she trust the lycan, or will she be betrayed again? Can Cana rise to the challenge most especially when her pack is attacked by enemies? Or will the entire pack fall into darkness? Dive into this werewolf story full of suspense to reveal the truth behind her past and witness her fight for a future she will never imagine.
Marvis was despised in her own home by her parents. (Her father and her stepmother). She was forced to get married to a fallen hero (The supposed heir to Sullivan companies) in her sister's stead. The Lewis family had an agreement with the Sullivan family many years ago to get their offspring married in return for protection and social status from the Sullivan. She gets married unwillingly and plays the role of his caretaker. As she is about to heave a sigh of relief that Jace has quit throwing tantrums, the situation in her new family tends to pull her down. Her husband's stepmother and her children have their ambitions which they must achieve at all costs. She is a stumbling block to those ambitions and must be removed. She knew she had to save herself as well as her husband. The battle is difficult. But will she give up?
Getting married to the love of your life is everyone's dream. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Drea Miles was in love with someone who didn't know she exist. But she was alright with it cause deep inside she had accepted he would never be hers. But when her father forces her into a marriage in order to save his company, never in a million years did Andrea think she would get married to Sorin Zaveri , the billionaire and the love of her life. But there was a big problem, he was already in love with someone else. Will being with the love of his life pose a threat to their marriage or will he be willing to love Andrea as much as she loves him.
I received a pornographic video. "Do you like this?" The man speaking in the video is my husband, Mark, whom I haven't seen for several months. He is naked, his shirt and pants scattered on the ground, thrusting forcefully on a woman whose face I can't see, her plump and round breasts bouncing vigorously. I can clearly hear the slapping sounds in the video, mixed with lustful moans and grunts. "Yes, yes, fuck me hard, baby," the woman screams ecstatically in response. "You naughty girl!" Mark stands up and flips her over, slapping her buttocks as he speaks. "Stick your ass up!" The woman giggles, turns around, sways her buttocks, and kneels on the bed. I feel like someone has poured a bucket of ice water on my head. It's bad enough that my husband is having an affair, but what's worse is that the other woman is my own sister, Bella. ************************************************************************************************************************ “I want to get a divorce, Mark,” I repeated myself in case he didn't hear me the first time—even though I knew he'd heard me clearly. He stared at me with a frown before answering coldly, "It's not up to you! I'm very busy, don't waste my time with such boring topics, or try to attract my attention!" The last thing I was going to do was argue or bicker with him. "I will have the lawyer send you the divorce agreement," was all I said, as calmly as I could muster. He didn't even say another word after that and just went through the door he'd been standing in front of, slamming it harshly behind him. My eyes lingered on the knob of the door a bit absentmindedly before I pulled the wedding ring off my finger and placed it on the table. I grabbed my suitcase, which I'd already had my things packed in and headed out of the house.
To the public, she was the CEO's executive secretary. Behind closed doors, she was the wife he never officially acknowledged. Jenessa was elated when she learned that she was pregnant. But that joy was replaced with dread as her husband, Ryan, showered his affections on his first love. With a heavy heart, she chose to set him free and leave. When they met again, Ryan's attention was caught by Jenessa's protruding belly. "Whose child are you carrying?!" he demanded. But she only scoffed. "It's none of your business, my dear ex-husband!"
After hiding her true identity throughout her three-year marriage to Colton, Allison had committed wholeheartedly, only to find herself neglected and pushed toward divorce. Disheartened, she set out to rediscover her true self-a talented perfumer, the mastermind of a famous intelligence agency, and the heir to a secret hacker network. Realizing his mistakes, Colton expressed his regret. "I know I messed up. Please, give me another chance." Yet, Kellan, a once-disabled tycoon, stood up from his wheelchair, took Allison's hand, and scoffed dismissively, "You think she'll take you back? Dream on."
Sandra Hill, the long-lost real heiress of the Hill family, was shunned by her own kin. Instead of embracing her, they bestowed their affection upon an impostor. They even arranged her to marry a vegetative man in place of her so-called “sister”. Sandra sneered, refusing to put up with this humiliation, cut off ties with the Hill family immediately and ran into the flash marriage with Wesley Cooper, her unconscious billionaire husband. With her incredible medical skills, she defied the odds and revived him. Little did she expect that her husband spoiled her with all his love... A medical genius, a computer prodigy, a national treasure in painting, and a racing legend... Her husband revealed her various identities, leaving the Hill family regretful. Her father came pleading, "It's Dad's fault. Please come back." Her mother wept, "Mom will protect you from now on. Please come back." Even her five brothers knelt before he, begging for forgiveness. Yet, Sandra's smile held a hint of mockery as she vowed, “Never!”
Rose looked at the reports in her hand and was in shock... The reports said that she was one month pregnant, however, how can she get pregnant when she didn't have any man in her life... "Was it because of that dream? Could I get pregnant because I have sex in my dream?" She thought... She didn't have any mental problems, however, except for this she can't able to think about anything... However, she still didn't get out of her surprise when she met the man in her dream... Kevin Davis looked at the reports in her hand and asked, "Is this child mine?" However, Rose didn't answer but asked... "Was that night not a dream?" Kevin was angry because it was his first time and she thinks it was a dream... Kevin forced her to marry him however, Rose didn't want it... She wanted to abort the child but he didn't let her... In the end... Rose agreed to marry him... She looked at Kevin's blue eyes and said, "I will marry you, however, I had two conditions..." "First, after marriage, you can't control my freedom, I still had the right to do whatever I want. Don't worry I won't harm the child." "Second, if I ever found out that you had cheated behind my back then I will leave with my child and you can't stop me..." Both of them got married... However, after she falls in love with him... She found there are hidden secrets in his past...
Betrayed by her mate and sister on the eve of her wedding, Makenna was handed to the ruthless Lycan Princes as a lover, her indifferent father ignoring her plight. Determined to escape and seek revenge, she captured the interest of the three Lycan princes, who desired her exclusively amid many admirers. This complicated her plans, trapping her and making her a rival to the future Lycan queen. Entwined in jealousy and vindictiveness, could Makenna achieve her vengeance in the intricate dance with the three princes?