Penelope Lorenzo, a woman who'd just lost everything and in utter shambles. She had never imagined that life would bring her to this point. Brayden Giovanni, the big, masked mafia who shouldn't be trifled with. Billionaire by day and Don by night. Thrust in each other's worlds by circumstances beyond their control and some that seemed to be in his control. But with danger lurking from their forgotten pasts, including a serial killer on the loose, choices must be made or consequences abound. What happens when their cocoon is threatened by forces they can't seem to identify? What happens when she leaves after unraveling his secrets and almost gets trafficked? Will she embrace he who would raze the underworld for her or will she leave with the fruit of their passion?
Penelope Lorenzo's POV
"Please help me!" My voice cracked as I dropped to my knees, clutching at the hem of a nurse's scrubs. "Please, I'm begging you! My father... he's dying! Do something!"
The nurse took a hesitant step back, her face full of pity but devoid of action to render any sort of help. "Miss, I-I'm so sorry. There's nothing-"
"There's Nothing?" I screamed at the top of my voice, my voice echoing down the cold hospital hallway. I just didn't care!
"He's having a stroke! A heart attack! Do you understand? My father, He's in pain! You have to save him! He is all I've got, please!" I yelled more on seeing no one was ready to help me out.
"We're doing all we can," another nurse murmured, but her words felt hollow. Her gaze darted away from mine, as if she couldn't bear to look at me.
Was I looking so terrible that everyone kept avoiding my gaze? Why wouldn't they just help me save my father? That's all I'm pleading for!
"No, you're not doing anything!" I yelled and burst into more tears. The tears streamed down my face like raindrops.
"Please! Someone help him! You've got to help him!" I turned to the room full of medical staff, their white coats and scrubs blurring together. "Why are you all just standing there? Just do something! Anything at all, is fine!"
"Miss, please calm down," a young male doctor said, stepping forward cautiously. "Crying this much isn't going to help matters. Rather, you're hurting yourself! We understand your distress, but the specialists are in surgery, and-"
"I don't fucking care about your surgery!" I cut him off, slamming my fists on the cold tile floor. "My father is in a life and death situation! He is dying right now! Please, I'll do anything! Just save him!"
My cries turned into deep, heaving sobs as I pressed my forehead to the ground. My body shook violently, the weight of helplessness crushing me. "He is all I have," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Please, don't let him die..."
The hallway grew silent, save for my broken sobs. For a moment, I thought no one would come forward.
Then, a deep, calm voice broke through the tension. "Hey, Miss."
I looked up to see an elderly doctor stepping out of one of the rooms. His silver hair glinted under the fluorescent lights, and his eyes bore into mine. He adjusted the glasses on his nose as he crouched down to my level.
"I'm Dr. Harry," he said softly. "I'll do everything in my power to save your father."
A gasp escaped my lips. "Y-you will?" I clutched his hand tightly, desperation laced in my grip.
He nodded. "Yes. But there's one condition."
"Anything," I blurted out, my voice hoarse. "I'll do anything!"
"You'll need to pay the deposit first," he said, his tone gentle but stern.
The word 'deposit' hit me like a punch to the stomach. My chest tightened as I stared at him, wide-eyed. "How much is the deposit?"
"Five thousand dollars," the nurse beside him interjected, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Five thousand... what!" I repeated, my voice trailing off. My fingers slackened off his hand as my mind raced. "I don't-I don't have that kind of money!"
Dr. Harry placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry, but it's hospital policy. Without the deposit, I can't proceed. Go find the money. I'll do my best to stabilize him while you're gone."
My lips trembled as fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.
"Thank you," I choked out, bowing my head. "Thank you so much! I promise, I'll get it."
I staggered to my feet, wiping my tears with trembling hands.
My legs felt like they were made of lead as I ran down the hospital corridor. The sound of my labored breaths echoed around me.
"Where do I find five thousand dollars?" I whispered to myself, my voice shaking. "Who do I even contact?"
As I rounded a corner, the strap of my right slipper snapped. "No, no, no!" I cried out, stumbling forward. My knee hit the ground with a sickening thud.
Blood pooled beneath me, but I didn't care. "Get up," I muttered, forcing myself to stand. "Keep moving."
"Miss, are you okay?" a nurse called out, rushing toward me.
"I'm fine!" I snapped, dragging my injured leg as I pushed forward.
"Miss, wait! You're bleeding!"
"I don't care!" I screamed over my shoulder, my voice cracking.
Pain shot through my leg with every step, but I refused to stop.
As I ran, I bumped into a hospital bed parked at a side in the hallway. The sharp metal edge jabbed into my ribs, knocking the air out of me.
"Arghh!" I cried out, clutching my side. Warm blood trickled down my arm from where the bed had scraped my skin.
"Miss, stop! You're hurt!"
"Leave me alone!" I yelled, tears blinding my vision.
The hospital exit loomed ahead. I stumbled toward it, my heart hammering in my chest.
The cool evening air hit my face as I burst outside. The world around me was chaotic-cars honking, people shouting-but it all felt distant. My only focus was getting across the road to find help.
"Hey, stop right there!" someone shouted behind me, but I didn't look back.
Why should I spare them a glance? Were they going to help me sort out my father's hospital bill?
I stepped off the curb, my swollen eyes fixed on the opposite side of the street.
The screech of tires filled my ears, but it was already too late.
The car slammed into me with a force that sent my body flying through the air.
Time seemed to freeze as I twisted and tumbled, my arms flailing helplessly. Pain exploded in every part of my body when I hit the ground.
The sound of car doors slamming and people shouting faded into the background. My vision blurred, the edges darkening.
And then, everything went black.
Bailey seems to be never destined to fit in, a little geeky, but under it all, a hidden beauty that so many seem to miss, but still not what her pack Alpha is looking for in a fated mate... so he is determined to reject her and make her life hell. Bailey, knowing her life will likely never be the same focuses on what she can control, her future, and heads off to study; becoming a teacher. Asher is the Beta of Autumn Valley Pack, a neighbouring pack. A broken man having suffered the loss of his mate after a rogue attack, Asher is slowly crumbling. Falling to pieces. A shadow of his former self, and not a man that anyone wants to be around anymore... Until, Autumn Valley Pack require a new teacher, and Bailey finds herself there and pushed together with the Beta. Is there a connection building or is that in their imaginations? And what will happen when Bailey's mate comes back to claim what is his?
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
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!"
Elena, once a pampered heiress, suddenly lost everything when the real daughter framed her, her fiancé ridiculed her, and her adoptive parents threw her out. They all wanted to see her fall. But Elena unveiled her true identity: the heiress of a massive fortune, famed hacker, top jewelry designer, secret author, and gifted doctor. Horrified by her glorious comeback, her adoptive parents demanded half her newfound wealth. Elena exposed their cruelty and refused. Her ex pleaded for a second chance, but she scoffed, “Do you think you deserve it?” Then a powerful magnate gently proposed, “Marry me?”
Lucia Balstone thought she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with, but he was the one who ended her life. Their ten-year marriage seemed like a joke when her husband stabbed her with a dagger. Fortunately, God is never blind to people's tears. Lucia got a second chance. She was reborn at the age of 22, before all the terrible things had happened. This time, she was determined to avenge herself and let those who hurt her pay! She made an elaborate list of her goals, and the first thing on her list was to marry her ex-husband's enemy, Alonso Callen!
"There will be no falling in love, we will only act as a loving couple when we are in public, we will share a room to make it believable, but no intimacy, touching is off-limits. We'll only have sex once a month, and that's solely to produce an heir. You won't interfere in my business, and I won't interfere in yours. You will be my wife in every sense and you will not be involved with any other man," he said, arrogance seeping from every word. I watch his mouth move, I'm not ready to fall in love with any man, especially not one as arrogant and egoistic as him. I can handle acting as a loving couple, and as for intimacy once a month. I can agree to that just to satisfy my sexual cravings with no strings attached. "Where can I sign?" I asked since I had nothing to lose. *** Nadine's wedding dreams turned to nightmares when she caught her sister and fiancé cheating! With a secret recording, she's ready for revenge. But then mysterious billionaire Logan West offers a deal: A Contract Marriage to take down her ex's empire. But what Nadine doesn't know is her life is getting complicated as she takes her chance to get revenge or risks everything for a chance at love?"