THE CARETAKER BRIDE
Blurb:
Nicolas Pov:
I’ve built my life on control, power, and ruthless decisions. I never wanted to rely on anyone—especially not her. Isabella is young, full of hope, and entirely too naive for this world. I didn’t expect her to become someone I couldn’t ignore. But here she is, stepping into my life, challenging everything I’ve worked for. She doesn’t belong in my world, yet she makes it harder to push her away. I’ve lived in shadows long enough to know better, but something about her light makes me question everything. Still, the world I live in is too dangerous, and trust is a luxury I can’t afford.
Isabella Pov:
I never imagined this life. Married to a man who is more scarred than I could have ever known, his world of darkness and danger closing in every day. I didn’t sign up for this, yet here I am, holding my ground. Nicolas might think I’m naive, but I see the man behind the mask. He doesn’t know how to love, but I refuse to let that stop me. I won’t run, even if I’m constantly surrounded by threats and lies. This world doesn’t scare me, but what Nicolas won’t let me see—his pain, his demons—that’s what I’m fighting to understand. I didn’t come into this to save him, but maybe it’s time he lets me in.
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Chapter: CHAPTER 20“There’s no real measure for cruelty,”Without thinking, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to his for just a brief moment, my heart racing. I couldn’t help it. The whiskey clung to his lips, and I was curious—curious about the taste, about him. My tongue darted out instinctively, tasting the smoky sweetness of the liquor, mixed with something that was all him.Nicolas froze, his body rigid. His gaze shifted, dark and intense. “What was that?” he asked, his voice low and gravelly, sending a shiver through me.“A kiss,” I replied simply, though the words felt heavier than I intended. My fingers clenched at my side as I tried to steady my breath. I didn’t know what I was doing, but it felt right. And yet, I feared it might be wrong.“Are you trying to influence me with your body?” His words were laced with something dangerous, something that unsettled me.My eyes widened in shock. “No, of course not. I just—I smelled the whiskey on your breath, and I was curious what it tasted like.” Th
Last Updated: 2025-02-10
Chapter: CHAPTER 19I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My heart clenched with disbelief. “You can’t do that,” I said, my voice shaking.Sybil shot me a look, one that screamed silence. But Nicolas—he didn’t even acknowledge me. He was already moving, a calmness in his actions that contrasted the fury burning inside me. He gestured to Sybil as he poured himself a drink. “Clean up the dog’s mess,” he commanded, his voice dripping with indifference as he sank into the leather sofa, the amber liquid swirling in his glass.I stood rooted to the spot, my eyes locked on the tiny dog shivering in the November cold, its nose pressed against the window, helpless and abandoned. I felt a pit in my stomach—this wasn’t just some dog. This was life, and it mattered.“I won’t let it freeze out there,” I murmured, stepping toward the terrace door without thinking.“Don’t,” Nicolas’s voice cut through the air like a blade, commanding, unyielding. It wasn’t loud, but it didn’t need to be. His words carried the weight o
Last Updated: 2025-02-10
Chapter: CHAPTER 18Nicolas quickly slipped into his element, distancing himself from any kind of emotional vulnerability. He moved toward Luca and the other Underbosses, leaving me alone with my ever-curious mother. I did my best to avoid her probing questions, dodging her and my aunts as best as I could, until I eventually found refuge in a stall in the restrooms. It wasn’t long before Mia found me there, twenty minutes later, just as I was fixing my makeup. She leaned against the sink, giving me a soft smile as I emerged from the stall. "It's a lot to handle, isn't it?" she said, her voice gentle and understanding. I let out a small sigh, feeling the weight of everything pressing on me. “Yeah, it really is.” Mia’s eyes softened with concern, and she took a step closer. "Are you okay? You know, you can tell me if you're not. Nicolas might be my brother, but I’m a woman first. I understand." I nodded, remembering the warning Nicolas had given me, his reluctance to share our private struggles with an
Last Updated: 2025-02-10
Chapter: CHAPTER 17Faro shot me a wink as he bantered with a group of our Captains. I ignored it, keeping my focus on the double doors just as my mother and Isabella’s mother entered the room. Between them, they carried the sheet—a stark, unmistakable symbol of the night before. Without a word, they moved to the side of the room, draping it over two chairs like an offering to tradition.Beside me, Isabella let out a soft, choked gasp. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, the color creeping down her neck. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth. “This… this is beyond humiliating,” she whispered, her voice trembling with embarrassment.I glanced at her, noting the way her gaze darted nervously around the room, desperate to avoid the knowing eyes of our audience. “It’s a symbol of your honor,” I said, my voice low and firm. “You shouldn’t feel ashamed.”Her lips pressed into a thin line, but a glint in her eyes betrayed her attempt to hide her emotions. “A
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 16When I stepped out of the bedroom, dressed in a crisp three-piece suit, I found Isabella curled up on the living room sofa, her attention fixed on her phone. A soft smile lit her face, one that stirred an unease within me I didn’t want to examine too closely.I moved toward her, my steps deliberate, the sound of my shoes on the hardwood announcing my approach. “Who are you talking to?” My tone came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t correct it.Isabella’s head snapped up, her brows knitting together. “Excuse me?”“You heard me,” I pressed. “Who are you texting?”Confusion flitted across her face before it shifted to something closer to worry. She straightened, as if trying to make herself smaller. “Your sister, Mia,” she said softly.I extended my hand toward her phone, and she hesitated for only a second before handing it over. I scrolled through their exchange, my eyes narrowing as I read Mia’s most recent message.I apologize for my brother’s rudeness because I know he won’t
Last Updated: 2025-01-31
Chapter: CHAPTER 15I had never been the kind of man who craved closeness at night. Even with my late wife, Gaia, I often avoided sharing the bed altogether. Not that she would have wanted it otherwise. Her disdain for my presence had been a constant, her coldness an armor she wore even when we were in the same bed. If she ever sought me out, it was only because she wanted something in return.But Isabella was different. She had asked for closeness, something Gaia never did, and I had denied her.The early light of dawn crept into the room, softening its edges, illuminating Isabella’s face. Her cheeks were puffed, her lashes clumped together, evidence of the tears she had cried last night. Somehow, in sleep, she had drifted closer, her body just shy of mine. I resisted the ridiculous urge to brush her hair back or wipe away the dried tears from her face. It wasn’t about desire—it was something deeper, more primal, and I couldn’t name it.Propped on one elbow, I let my eyes linger on her. She looked so yo
Last Updated: 2025-01-27
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