THE DEBT OF DESIRE
Don Matteo DiCarlo is a ruthless mafia lord, feared across the city for his power and cold heart. When a wealthy businessman, Richard Thornton, defaults on a large loan, Matteo is dispatched to collect the debt. Upon arriving at Thornton’s mansion, Matteo is met with the grim realization that the once-wealthy tycoon is now nothing more than a broke fool, living far beyond his means by borrowing money from the wrong people.
Desperate to save face, Richard offers his most precious asset—his daughter, Isabella—as payment. Matteo is initially repulsed by the idea. Isabella is soft, delicate, and far too weak for someone like him. She's the very picture of vulnerability, and Matteo has no patience for weakness.
However, as the days pass and Matteo spends more time in her presence, he finds himself drawn to her in ways he can’t explain. Isabella, though fragile in appearance, hides a fierce resilience beneath her gentle exterior. The more Matteo tries to keep his distance, the more he’s tempted by the soft touch of her skin, the innocence in her eyes, and the way she challenges his cold exterior without even trying.
As their relationship heats up, Matteo must battle his growing attraction to the woman he initially deemed unworthy. But Isabella has her own secrets and desires, and the line between debt and desire begins to blur as their chemistry intensifies, testing both their limits.
In a world of power, corruption, and deceit, will Matteo be able to claim what is his without losing himself in the process? Or will Isabella be the one to change the Don’s heart forever?
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Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY- FOURThe storm rolled in like a wild beast, winds snapping through the forest canopy as lightning clawed at the sky. Rain fell in slanting sheets, cold and relentless, masking their movements as they pushed deeper into enemy territory.They didn’t speak much. Words felt too heavy now, too fragile against the weight of what was coming. But every glance between them — every brief touch of reassurance — built something stronger than fear: resolve.Mateo led the way, soaked to the bone, face cut and bruised, but his eyes were alive with a fire that refused to die. Isabella stayed close at his side, their fingers brushing from time to time, grounding each other in the storm of their fate. Elena, still a shadow of mystery and grit, navigated the forest with uncanny precision, her knife always at the ready. Luca covered their backs, eyes sharp and unwavering, pain radiating from his wounded shoulder, but ignored.They were running toward danger, not away from it.“Elena,” Mateo called over the ro
Last Updated: 2025-04-11
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY - THREEThe forest held its breath.Mateo’s father stood before them, a cruel twist of a smile carved into his face, as if he’d been waiting years for this very moment. Shadows from the gnarled trees clung to his figure like loyal sentries. Around them, his men emerged from the thicket, weapons raised, closing off every possible escape route. The cold bite of inevitability pressed against Luca’s chest, but he refused to let panic settle."Nowhere left to run," Mateo’s father sneered, his voice like gravel over broken glass.Mateo’s jaw tightened, his body a coil of restrained fury. "You never gave me a choice," he growled, stepping in front of Isabella instinctively. His father’s eyes flicked to the movement, cold amusement dancing in their depths."No, son," he replied darkly. "You just never understood the choices that mattered."Elena’s gaze swept the clearing, calculating. She stepped slightly to the left, eyes catching Luca’s. A silent exchange passed between them, a spark of unspoken str
Last Updated: 2025-04-11
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY - TWOSilence hung heavy in the air as Mateo's words echoed off the cavern walls. "It’s him. My father."Elena's breath caught in her throat. Luca gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, his knuckles white. Isabella stepped back, her eyes wide with disbelief, flicking between Mateo and the shadowed figure that had haunted them from the very beginning.Mateo's father emerged from the shadows, a cruel smirk curling his lips. His eyes, dark and cold, scanned the group with a familiarity that made Isabella's skin crawl."I always wondered how long it would take you to figure it out, son," he sneered, his voice a venomous blend of mockery and pride. "You’ve grown, but not enough to outsmart me."Mateo’s jaw clenched. His heart pounded like war drums in his chest, every beat roaring in his ears. Memories flooded him—memories of a father who had once held his hand and taught him to fight, only to vanish without a trace, leaving behind a hollow ache that never healed."You were dead," Mateo growled,
Last Updated: 2025-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTY - ONEThe forest was alive with the pulse of danger.Mateo’s breath came fast, sweat beading on his brow as he tightened his grip on Isabella’s hand and pulled her through the tangled underbrush. Behind them, shadows darted between the trees—too many to count. Too close.“Elena!” Mateo barked over his shoulder, his voice sharp with urgency.“I’m here!” she replied, sprinting to their side, her blade flashing in the moonlight.The three of them moved as one unit, but doubt gnawed at Mateo’s mind like a vulture picking at a carcass. Elena. The woman who had fought beside them, bled beside them, and saved Isabella more than once. But who was she?And why had their enemies been able to breach their defenses so easily?“Something’s wrong,” Isabella panted, her eyes wide with fear but sharp with instinct. “They’re not chasing us like they should.”Mateo’s chest tightened. She was right. It felt off—like they were being herded.They burst into a small clearing, breathless, surrounded by ancient sto
Last Updated: 2025-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER FORTYThe rain battered the helicopter as it cut through the clouds, a roaring tempest that seemed to echo the chaos still raging in Isabella's chest. She kept her eyes on Matteo, his breathing shallow but steady, as if willing her strength into him. But even through the storm, her mind could not be quiet. Not until she had answers.Her gaze slid to Elena, sitting across from her, a streak of blood darkening her cheek. She was calm, too calm for someone who had just fought their way out of an ambush. And for the first time, Isabella let herself look at the woman who had been at their side, a shadow moving fluidly among them, fighting fiercely as though she had always belonged."Who are you?" Isabella's voice cut through the noise, sharp as a blade.Elena's eyes flicked to hers, steady and unflinching. There was no surprise in them, only inevitability."You deserve the truth," Elena said, her voice low and measured. She shifted slightly, glancing at Luca, who watched her like a wolf ready to
Last Updated: 2025-04-05
Chapter: CHAPTER THIRTY - NINEThe night was far from silent. Even in their hidden sanctuary, echoes of past battles seemed to haunt the air. Shadows flickered against the candlelit walls, a reminder of the darkness still hunting them.Matteo stirred, his breath uneven. Isabella was instantly at his side, her fingers brushing away damp strands of hair clinging to his forehead. His skin was warm beneath her touch, too warm. Fever still gripped him, a cruel reminder of the injuries he had endured.“Stay with me, Matteo,” she whispered, her voice a fragile thread of hope. “We’ve come too far to lose you now.”His eyes cracked open, glazed with pain but alive. “Isabella…” His voice was hoarse, barely a breath. “Don’t let go.”“I won’t,” she promised, tightening her grip on his hand.Outside the room, Luca paced like a caged animal, his mind racing through every possible scenario. Reinforcements could arrive at any moment, or worse, another ambush. He wasn’t naive enough to believe their enemies would let them slip away
Last Updated: 2025-04-05
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