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CHAPTER 14 - GETTING SIDETRACKED
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2024-10-29 19:42:56“Why is Ms Baxter scurrying off like a frightened rabbit?” Bruno asked when he entered Nico’s office.
He was surprised when he met Kara on the way. She was walking so fast as if the Devil was after her.
Bruno could hazard a guess.
“Did you make a pass at her?”
Nico Bernardi snapped to attention. He looked at his right-hand man with a frown like he just noticed him.
Bruno snickered, his eyes becoming sharp.
“I had been talking to you, but your mind was elsewhere.”
Nico looked taken aback. Then he shook his head. “It’s nothing, Sly. Don’t worry.” He assured his friend, calling him by his nickname.
But Bruno’s eyes squinted.
“Are you sure? I think you are becoming more distracted these days. Maybe you need a woman to warm your bed? I already fired the last
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BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 16 - OWN HER
Kara stared at him wide-eyed. Her body is a mass of nerves that pulses when she takes a breath and exhales. “Do you want us to continue, Ms. Baxter? If you do, you can start begging now.” Nico Bernardi said.His expression was one of a pirate rogue, and Kare felt the pull. For a moment, they looked at each other. At first, Kara failed to comprehend, but when she started to figure out what he meant. Her cheeks flushed - not with desire, but with embarrassment. Nico Bernardi’s question pulled her from the heights he had taken earlier with his earth-shattering, mind-boggling, and nerve-wracking kiss. In her state earlier, he does not need to get her approval. He could have taken her without her verbal consent. Kara was so turned on. Her body was too focused on the magic of his lips. But true to his promise, he gave her a choice. Kara’s common sense prevailed, stamping on her desire. When she realized the magnitude of his question, she repeatedly shook her head no. Her
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 17 - DON'T LET HER MISUNDERSTAND
After they talked about her work, Nico did not pursue the subject anymore, and they continued with their breakfast. For Kara, it was awkward without the presence of the maid and his three assistants. A moment later, they heard a scraping sound on the floor as Kara pushed her chair back to stand. She was in a hurry to leave. The prospect of going out without Nico’s lackey breathing down her neck makes her excited. Her heart thudded at the possibility of fleeing. She threw Nico a glance. “Are you done?” He asked, looking up from his phone. She noticed he finished his breakfast as well, and was just sipping his coffee. She nodded.Nico put his phone away, dabbed his mouth with the tablecloth, and stood. He walked out of the dining table with Kara walking behind him. Kara admired the view of his back. Nico has wide shoulders and a firm back. She bit her lip when she remembered how her hands roamed that muscular back while being thoroughly kissed last night. She sighed.
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 18 - WHAT GIVES?
Kara was in a daze while she threw copious glances at the gleaming gold bracelet that Nico forced her to wear. It was an open bangle in solid gold with the initials NB in a rich flowy style. The bracelet screamed elegance and luxury. Kara could not help but notice how it shone when touched by light. She stopped and looked closely at the bracelet, admiring its beauty. Back in Nico’s car, she did not notice that small diamonds followed the path of the letters N and B. Kara gasped.“It’s beautiful!” Her friend Marmie, another barmaid at the hotel, exclaimed, grabbing Kara’s wrist for a closer look. Kara did not notice her approach. Her eyes alternated between where she was going and the bracelet on her wrist. Marmie came from the back. Kara swallowed the expletive that nearly crossed her mouth in surprise. “NB,” Marmie murmured, holding the bracelet for inspection. The wheels of her head rolled, and realization set in. Kara, feeling uncomfortable, quickly snatched her ha
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 19 - MIFFED
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BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 20 - CAN'T I CHANGE MY MIND?
“Where are we going?” Kara nervously asked a pis*ed-looking Nico Bernardi.They are not going back to the Castiliogne Villa. They did not turn on the first stoplight like they used to.She clutched the lapels of her jacket tighter when she saw his dark look.“Mr. Bernardi, please slow down.” She said, beginning to panic.But Nico Bernardi did not slow down. He jumped up on the gas, and the car almost flew along with Kara’s heart.Then, they stopped in a lurch.Kara looked outside. They were in an aband
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 21- FIRST LOVE
“Y-you can’t.” She stammered and backed away.Kara hugged herself. She did not know what came over her.Then, the events that happened that afternoon came to her mind. Kara squeezed her eyes shut, willing to blot it out of her mind. But every time she closed her eyes, she would see David’s bloodied face, causing her to shudder involuntarily.“What is going to happen to David? Are you going to..” Kara swallowed hard.The words could not come right out of her mouth.She took a deep breath and faced Nico Bernardi bravely.“Are you going to kill him?” The question came out hoarse. She was breathless.So many gruesome thoughts ran through her head.Nico Bernardi’s expression grew chiller. “I do not have to explain myself to you or anyone else, Ms. Baxter.”Kara bit her
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 22 - BIG TROUBLE
She was not his sister but his first love.Bruno flicked his thumb and index finger in front of her face, and that was when she recovered. “Are you alright, Ms. Baxter?” The two of them looked worried, Evan and Bruno when she reluctantly pulled out of her daze. “Oh shoot! I feel so stupid. And here I thought he was his sister.” She covered the awkwardness with a dry laugh. It sounded forced and hollow. Bruno eyed her. Kara felt stupid for misinterpreting. All along, she thought Nico Bernardi had been avenging his sister. It all made sense now. Nico’s revenge was for his lover. Kara felt a constriction on her chest. Bruno and Evan still eyed her worriedly. For their benefit, she smiled wanly to assure them she was okay before standing up. “Sorry, but I am tired. I’ll go ahead and rest.” She told them. They nodded and let her pass. Once she reached the safety of her room, Kara locked the door. She wanted to be alone. Kara went straight to bed, diving face down. H
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BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story AUTHOR'S NOTE
Hello Loves, In every story, there is always a beginning and an end. I am deeply honored that you have become part of Kara and Nico's love journey. Your reviews, comments and votes matter a lot. They inspire me to come up with chapters regularly, and excites me every time because I knew that you were walking with me in this journey. Thank you, loves. Special mention to my editor Lyra Pinter for making this story possible. Thank you for the support and promotions you have given this book. A big thank you to my top 25 gem contributors as of this writing: magdalena.czajka, Roselyn Moore, Panela Ellis, Lei Esturas, Margaret, Katherine, Lean Cantara, Makhosazana Rebecca Mazibuko, Shirley Torres, Stina, Natalie Kae Foster, cathykoopman6, Laura Tomas, Edna Oclida, Blaca Villalpando Kelley, Joycelyn Eusebe, ruckik.evershine, Jody Conrad, Parker, Angelica Monteon, Annie Punto, Adeyiga Adepeju, Normah Mrs, Charlotte, and Anitra Christ. To my commenters and reviewers, I love your
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 85 - EPILOGUE
On a remote island in the Far East, a man leisurely reads an article from the spread-out newspaper. It says:‘Hotel Billionaire Nico Bernardi has finally been laid down to rest in a private cemetery in Sicily. His burial was attended by his adoptive father, Don Leo Castiliogne, and friends in the business. ‘It was a sad day not only for the Castiliogne Family but for the business world, having lost such a brilliant businessman who gained traction for the world-class service his businesses offered. Nico Bernardi reinvented the service industry, making it one of the most sought-after professions in the world. ‘His death impacted the industry, and many people are in mourning to date. ‘Meantime, the Castiliogne Conglomerate will hold an emergency meeting to discuss certain management changes particularly since the position of CEO has been left open due to the unfortunate demise of its CEO.’Nico folded the newspaper in front of him and placed it on the side of the rectangular dining
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“What have you done, you monster!” Nico shouted while he was trying to apply pressure on Kara’s head to keep it from oozing blood. His snot mixed with his tears as he attended to Kara, who lay on the floor unconscious. “Kara, wake up. Please, don’t leave me behind.” Nico choked on the words. The picture it painted in his eyes was so unacceptable.Don Leo’s gun still reeked of smoke. The older man looked stunned. The bruise on his cheek slowly turned purple, but he did not seem to mind. Don Leo looked shocked!Xoey’s cries echoed around them. The child must have sensed that her mother was in danger. Earlier, the baby was silent because Rebecca tried to cushion her little ears with her palms. Speaking of Rebecca, she, too, looked frozen on the spot. She did not think that her father would be capable of gunning a person point-blank. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. In her shell-shocked state, she almost forgot about Xoey, and her hold on the baby slackened. Were it not for Mar
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 82 - THE DAY HE OPENED HIS EYES
Nico heard the pain in Kara’s voice, but he willed himself not to look at her face, for it would be his undoing.He had things to settle first.There was general silence all around, except for Kara’s muffled sobs. “So, the prodigal son is awake.” Don Leo muttered under his breath. There was no relief nor excitement on his face at the knowledge that Nico surpassed death.For Don Leo, it would be better for everyone if Nico did not wake up. He can take care of the man until his last breath. But this twist forebodes nothing good for him and the Castiliogne family. Nico, getting out of the coma, was going to shake their world, and he wouldn’t let it happen. To him, Nico is better off as dead.For his part, Nico ignored the older man’s barb. He walked deliberately, his movements stiff due to the weakness in his leg, but he continued with his slow pace until he reached Don Leo’s side.Don Leo is a stocky man. Nico towered over him. He looked down on the man who had taken him under
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 81 - THE BABY IS MINE!
Nico’s eyelids flickered several times like a butterfly wing atop a flower, ready to explore. A short while later, his eyelids fluttered open, showing the dark eyes underneath. He looked around him. The familiar room was empty. After a while, his eyes glittered when he remembered his last ordeal. He thought he would not make it. But he had the best motivation on Earth. He remembered how he literally bit the bullets and braved through the obstacles. He remembered how he got hit. At the remembrance, he searched his body to check his injuries. He had two - one on his leg and one on his arm. He sighed in elation, muttering under his breath a prayer of thanks. It was good to be back. He mumbled to himself. He thought he died on the firing range, but it seemed like fate was giving him a chance. He vowed to use this chance to be with his family. He had endured enough. At the thought of Kara and their baby, Nico pushed his body to sit up, but all his strength had left him.
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 80 - WHAT ARE YOU DOING DADDY?
Don Leo’s men swarmed around them, leaving Kara’s body frozen in fear.Sweat and goosebumps fought for dominance in lining her smooth skin while being driven out of Nico's room. “Wait a minute. We are not doing anything wrong?” She blurted out when Frank and Marco underwent a body check. Marco was unarmed, but Frank had one tuck on the hidden holster on his jacket. The men confiscated the firearm before pushing them to walk the narrow hallway out of Nico's bedroom. Kara’s eyes darted from side to side, noting the unfamiliarity of the place. This was not the way out, she concluded to herself.“Where are you taking us?” She asked once more, thankful that her voice sounded strong, but deep inside, her heart beat fast - so fast that she nearly thought it would jump out of her ribcage. The men remained silent. They did not say a word. The only sound she could hear was the ringing in her ears. Frank, who was walking ahead of her, warned. “Stop talking and just walk.” Two men flank
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 79 - TAKE THEM ALL AWAY
“What happened to him?” The sound of anguish in Kara’s voice reverberated around the silent room. Gingerly, she walked to the bed and stopped near Nico’s head. She was trembling as she did so. Her eyes never left Nico’s unmoving form on the bed. Nico was breathing. Her eyes flew to his face, studying the changes in them. “He lost weight.” Frank told her everything that happened after Nico disappeared. While Frank talked, Kara sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly feeling like her knees were to give up on her any minute. Her hands trembling, Kara took Nico's free hand carefully and pressed it between hers. She was afraid that her movement might have hurt him. “What happened?” Without letting her eyes drift from Nico's, Kara asked Frank. “He wanted to get out, but the system did not let him. Given his position, it was impossible to allow him to go. He already knew too much. Besides, you only have a one-way ticket to the organization.” “There is no way out.” It was Marco
BOUGHT: A Mafia Romance Story CHAPTER 78 - OH MY!
Kara looked at the Grecian white building in front of her. Her brows furrowed in confusion.“I thought you were going to bring me to Nico? What are we doing here? This looks like a military camp to me.” She told him with a frown. For the first time, Kara regretted her decision to come to Sicily with Marco, and her doubt showed on her face as she watched Marco ducked his head when two men emerged from the structure. The men looked like hired goons. “Lower your head, and do not let them see your face.” Marco hissed. Kara did as she was told.She pressed her body into the cramped space at the back of the delivery truck where Marco pulled her in earlier. Afraid that any act of disobedience would endanger them. By now, she has fully understood that this is a covert territory and no one from the outside is permitted to enter. They were trespassing on private property!Suddenly, she felt for their safety. And fear slowly crept in. What if they were discovered and unable to leave this
