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.
Savannah was an adorable college student. To revenge her ex-boyfriend, Savannah was boldly intended to kiss a "handsome enough" man and take a video to piss her ex off. However, she chose Callan, the most eligible bachelor in the world. Out of Savannah's prediction, she was teased that she had no idea what a real kiss was. Then the man even taught her in person. In a great panic, Savannah ran away. Savannah left a deep impression on Callan. However, he never thought he would meet Savannah so soon, especially, at the... male toilet!
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!”
"Ahh!" She was in a moaning mess. She did not want to feel anything for this man. She hated him. His hands began to move all over her body. She gasped when he pulled down the back chain of her dress. The chain stopped at her lower waist, so when he zipped it off, her upper back and waist were exposed. "D-Don't touch m-ummm!" His fingers rolled around her bare back, and she pressed her head against the pillow. His touches were giving her goosebumps all over her body. With a deep angry voice, he whispered in her ear, "I am going to make you forget his touches, kisses, and everything. Every time you touch another man, you will only think of me." - - - Ava Adler was a nerdy omega. People bullied her because they thought she was ugly and unattractive. But Ava secretly loved the bad boy, Ian Dawson. He was the future Alpha of the Mystic Shadow Pack. However, he doesn't give a damn about rules and laws, as he only likes to play around with girls. Ava was unaware of Ian's arrogance until her fate intertwined with his. He neglected her and hurt her deeply. What would happen when Ava turned out to be a beautiful girl who could win over any boy, and Ian looked back and regretted his decisions? What if she had a secret identity that she had yet to discover? What if the tables turned and Ian begged her not to leave him?
Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame. Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her. But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge? Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage." Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!" Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all." Zander would realize how foolish he was. Yet, he still believed Aria wasn't innocent because she slept with his deceased brother before the wedding.
WARNING! This book is not suitable for young readers or sensitive minds. Some parts contain graphic sex scenes, adult language, and situations intended for mature readers only! BLURB She saved herself for the man she thought would be her forever. She believed in love, in promises, in happily ever after. Until she caught her fiancé tangled in another woman's arms. Betrayal burned through her veins, leaving behind only one desire. REVENGE. And what better way to break him than to seduce the one man who could shatter his pride-his powerful, dangerously handsome billionaire uncle? He's older, untouchable, and completely off-limits. But she's willing to play dirty, willing to risk everything, just to watch her ex suffer. But what happens when the game turns on her? Because the moment she steps into his world, she realizes he's not just a pawn in her twisted little plan. He's a man who dominates, consumes, and makes her feel things she's never felt before. And the worst part? She might not want to escape.
"Listen, Gadreel Ødegaar," she looked at him, not hesitating this time. "It's my anniversary present for you. Let's divorce." *** Ivory Remington had sacrificed five years to look after her husband Gadreel who was in a vegetative state after an accident and a few months ago, he finally awakened like a miracle. She thought it was the start of their happy life but Gadreel still had no heart for her. On their anniversary and her birthday, she received a cheating video of her dear husband and her stepsister. Heartbroken, Ivory chose to quit this stupid game. She decided to set him free but the reason she left on the divorce agreement pierced Gadreel's noble pride. *** "Impotent? Are you serious?" He gripped her wrist and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes. "I'm a woman, Gadreel. I'm tired of being in a sexless marriage. Let's end it once and for all." "Sexless, huh?" he chuckled lowly and without warning grabbed her chin in between his hands, pulling her face closer. "Turns out my wife was so eager to get a man between her legs? "