Melanie never thought that helping a stranger would lead her to get married and, not only that, but with a Mafia Lord! Cesare Varricchio is handsome, obsessive, powerful and, most of all, he is dangerous. Aiming to ascend to the Don position of Camorra, he will stop at nothing, even getting married to a stranger. What should be a marriage of convenience can become a union based on love?
MELANIE
"Oh, my God! Is he dead?"
My voice echoed off the brick walls of the narrow alley, trembling as much as my hands. The man lay crumpled on the cold concrete, a dark pool spreading beneath him. My heart raced as I crouched closer, desperately hoping for any sign of life.
His shirt, once white, was now streaked with red, soaked through to his skin. I held my breath, staring at his chest, waiting for movement. There-a shallow rise and fall. Relief rushed through me, though it did little to quell my panic.
"Sir?" I called out, my voice barely a whisper. He didn't respond.
I had to do something, but what? Call an ambulance? The police? My finger hovered over my phone, trembling, but then his eyes flickered open, and a weak, bloodstained hand reached for mine.
"No..." he croaked, his voice almost lost in the cold night air. "No... hospital..."
"You've been shot!" I said, my voice shaking. "You need help. I can't just leave you here."
He groaned, his head lolling to the side. "They'll... kill me..."
And then he lost consciousness again. I cursed softly under my breath, my mind racing. Whoever had shot him could still be out there. If I took him to the hospital, whoever wanted him dead might finish the job. But if I left him here, he wouldn't last long.
"I'm going to regret this, I know I will," I muttered.
There was no way I could carry him on my own. He was much bigger than me, his body heavy and muscular even as he lay there limp. I bit my lip and dialed the number of the one person I knew would help me, no questions asked.
["Mel!"] Spencer's voice came from the other end of the line.
"I need you to come pick me up... by car. It's really urgent!"
["What's wrong? Are you having one of those days?"]
"Spencer! Please, just come! I'm at... Melrose and 152nd St. Please, just come. I'll explain it later!"
Spencer, as always, complied with my request, and not long after, we were putting the strange, semi-conscious man into my best friend's car.
"You better explain this to me very well, Melanie Walton. There's a man shot in the backseat of my car!"
"Sorry, Spencer! He... he said he couldn't go to the hospital, he was in danger..."
Spencer shook his head and sighed, looking at me through the rearview mirror. "Your soft heart is going to get you in trouble. And I'm going to get in trouble too, because I can't say no to you!"
I smiled and winked, which made Spencer snort. He couldn't resist my cuteness, even when we were doing something this crazy.
Once at my apartment, Spencer helped me put the stranger to bed and clean the wound. He was a nurse, for which I was immensely grateful.
"You owe me one, cutie. Wow, look at those ripped abs! And those tattoos add the finishing touch..."
"Spencer!" I scolded him. Yes, the stranger had an enviable body, but please, that wasn't the moment!
Spencer shrugged. "I'm not blind, thank God. Now, I have to go to my shift at the hospital. If you need anything, call me and I'll see if I can help you, okay?" He kissed my forehead. "As soon as he wakes up, Mel, talk to him and send him away. If someone is after him, they'll come after you too."
Spencer left me there, alone with the stranger.
I decided to make something to eat, hoping he'd wake up soon and I could get some answers. When I returned to the room, the 'patient' was stirring, his eyes fluttering open. He put his hand on his waist, feeling for something, but his eyes narrowed when he found nothing there. His gaze moved to me, sharp and suspicious, as if he could see right through me.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, after all, things like 'wow, you're awake' or 'are you okay?' didn't seem appropriate.
"Who are you?" His question was full of suspicion and... accusation?
I raised an eyebrow. How dare he?
"I should be the one asking you that," I snapped. "After all, you're in my house. A stranger I found shot in an alley, in the middle of the night, and who refused to go to the hospital," I placed the bowl of soup and juice on the bedside table. "I'm Melanie Walton. Who are you, sir?"
"Where's my gun?" he asked as if he was asking where his phone was. I swallowed hard.
"You didn't have a gun when I found you," I replied, my voice shaky. So, he wasn't just a victim of an assassination attempt-he was dangerous.
"Cazzo!" he muttered under his breath. Okay, I wasn't fluent, but I had studied a little Italian. Italian, weapons...
"Are you from the mafia?" I asked. Why beat around the bush?
His eyes narrowed further. "If you don't know who I am, you better keep it that way. I need a phone," he said, his breath labored. It was obvious he was in pain.
"Okay. But first, eat something. I made potato soup with chicken. I blended it in the blender. It's pretty easy to digest," I said, following Spencer's instructions. The man looked at me suspiciously and I rolled my eyes. "Sir, if I was going to poison you, it would have been easier to kill you when you were unconscious, don't you think?"
I clicked my tongue and grabbed the spoon, tilting my head back and pouring some of the soup into my mouth, not touching the utensil. He was hurt, and I didn't know if it was safe to transfer the bacteria from my mouth to his. I glared at him, daring him to say that the food was poisoned.
He moved his mouth and motioned for me to bring the plate closer to him. I filled a spoon, sat on the edge of the bed, and brought the soup to his mouth. The man stared at me in a disturbing way, because at the same time that he was a little scary, he was very handsome, and I had to admit that I was enchanted.
He ate in silence, not answering any of my questions.
"You've been shot. Are you sure you don't want to go to a hospital? My friend took the bullet out, but I still think it's best..."
"Who's your friend?" His eyes darted to the door and then back to me. I touched the man's lips with the spoon, and he opened his mouth and sipped the contents.
"My friend is my friend. And he's not a dangerous person!" I shook my head. "You should be more grateful!"
He said nothing and looked at his soup, indicating that I should serve him more. He really was insufferable! But he was hurt, and I would be a good Samaritan and swallow the harsher words stuck in my throat.
"I need a phone," he repeated, and I wiped his mouth. The man looked at me and narrowed his eyes. "What's your name?"
"Mel," I replied. "And yours?"
"How many hours have I been here? I need a phone," he said, ignoring my question.
I pressed my lips into a thin line. "First, answer what I'm asking you!"
His gaze darkened, and he leaned forward slightly, wincing from the pain. "If you think I won't do anything to you because I'm hurt, you're wrong."
Lina Watson finds out her boyfriend, Noah Perry, has been playing her. Resentful, Lina decides to use a mysterious and unknown man to get revenge and ends up getting mixed up with the biggest mafia gangster in New York, the Don of Cosa Nostra, Vincenzo Bonaccorso. "A kiss and nothing more?" Maybe this time, Lina will see herself in a dangerous situation.
Book 1: When a temporary job opportunity comes up, inexperienced Vashti doesn't waste any time and applies for it. Everything seems wonderful, but wait a minute... "And Miss Phillips?" he called, making her turn around. "Lilac!" Adonis MacGyver is breathtaking, but this CEO hides a secret that will change Vashti's life forever. Book 2: Apollo, Adonis' brother, is in conflict after being cheated on by his wife at his older brother's wedding! Now, he finds himself alone with his 6-year-old son, Ares, and knows he needs to find a mother for the child. Erin Dixon seems to be the perfect candidate - except for the small detail that she has a more than problematic ex-husband. Milo Lancaster, one of Adonis' best friends, is being pressured by his family to get married and have a child. But he doesn't want that! An arranged marriage seems like a good option! But what if he wants more than that when he gets to know Heidi Williams better? Book 3: Gustav never imagined that when he laid eyes on Artemis again, after years, he would feel so attracted to her. However, she rejected him. She had someone else. But has she really forgotten him? Or does this romance still have a chance of working out? The sequel is going to be "I want you back". Let's learn more about Icarus and Ariel! Follow me on Instagram and let's interact! @m_zanakheironofficial
After being betrayed by his mate, Kurt lives for the pack and for his duties as the Alpha. He refuses to remarry, but an heir is needed and the Council demands a new bride What is he supposed to do? Accept a contract or follow his heart? Punished for her father's mistake, Rosamund Gibson has been demoted from Beta's Heir to a simple Omega. Her life resumes down to working and getting beaten. But that is about to change. Kurt and Rosamund will have their paths crossed and will have to learn to overcome the challenges that separate them from happiness. Will they be able to do it or another heartbreak is what awaits them?
Victoria dedicated the last three years of her life to the man she loved. When she receives the news that she is pregnant, she discovers that Lucca left her for his old love. Expelled from home, Victoria returns to her hometown, however, upon discovering that Lucca may be involved in her father's death, Victoria decides to take revenge! Lucca thought his life had gotten back on track, however, he finds himself reluctant to sign the divorce papers. "And I don't even like her!" He keeps telling himself. But he is not so sure anymore, not only because Victoria is away, but because she seems to have found someone else!
Carolina Navarro will be forced by her father to marry a disfigured man in order to save the family from ruin. Maximo Castillo had everything anyone could want, until a plane crash destroyed his body, his soul and his relationship, leaving him embittered. But he needs a wife and an heir. Can a marriage between these two people work? Is it just convenience or will love blossom between two wounded souls? Book 1, part 1: 1 to 95; Book 1, part 2: 96 to 129; Book 1, part 3: 130 to 165. Book 2: 166 to 271.
Ava will wake up to find a handsome man looking down at her, unbottning his shirt. “Ok, let's get it done.”He said, but she didn't know him! Ava was no longer herself, but Evelyn - Eve - Crawford, married to Theodore, a cold CEO. But how did she rebirth in this new body? How did Ava died? And Theodore... Why is he suddenly so nice and... lovely?
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
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.
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!”
Janet was adopted when she was a kid -- a dream come true for orphans. However, her life was anything but happy. Her adoptive mother taunted and bullied her all her life. Janet got the love and affection of a parent from the old maid who raised her. Unfortunately, the old woman fell ill, and Janet had to marry a worthless man in place of her parents' biological daughter to meet the maid's medical expenses. Could this be a Cinderella's tale? But the man was far from a prince, except for his handsome appearance. Ethan was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family who lived a reckless life and barely made ends meet. He got married to fulfill his mother's last wish. However, on his wedding night, he had an inkling that his wife was different from what he had heard about her. Fate had united the two people with deep secrets. Was Ethan truly the man we thought he was? Surprisingly, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the impenetrable wealthiest man in the city. Would he find out that Janet married him in place of her sister? Would their marriage be a romantic tale or an utter disaster? Read on to unravel Janet and Ethan's journey.