Life can be cruel. One moment you’re on the verge of reaching the peak of your career, your sweetheart of five years finally down on one knee, promising forever. The next, your world burns to ashes—literally. Now, I’m not just a prisoner; I’m the plaything of the most feared man in the country. I told myself I hated him, that I’d never break. But what kind of woman starts to crave the way he owns her body, the way his touch sets her on fire? How do you survive when the man who owns you is as ruthless as he is captivating? How do you escape a man who makes you question everything, even your sanity? ————- When her father’s PTSD causes a catastrophic accident, Lucia Castellano finds herself at the mercy of Dante Romano, a man whose name strikes fear into the heart of Chicago’s criminal underworld. Taken as a slave to pay for her father’s alleged crime, Lucia is thrust into a world of power and seduction she never imagined. Dante’s command is absolute, his touch both punishing and intoxicating. What starts as a fight for survival soon turns into a dangerous game of submission and trust. But as secrets surface and enemies close in, Lucia and Dante must confront their darkest fears to find freedom—and perhaps love—in the most unlikely of places. AUTHOR’S NOTE: This book contains explicit content, strong language, violence, and other adult themes that may be disturbing to some readers. Reader discretion is advised.
Lihat lebih banyakDante’s POVI didn’t move from where I stood, my fists still clenched as Lucas stepped inside, his eyes darting around like he was searching for an exit. I gestured toward the armchair with a single jerk of my head.“Sit,” I ordered.He hesitated for just a fraction of a second before sinking down onto the chair, his hands clasped tightly in his lap. I moved around the desk slowly, dragging out the tension, letting him sweat.“When were you planning on telling me that Lucia knew the journalist?” I asked, my voice deceptively calm.Lucas’s eyes widened, confusion flickering over his face. “I—I didn’t know she knew him, boss.”I slammed my fist down on the desk, making him flinch. “Then why the fuck did she say she’d seen him leaving her father’s house? How long has that bastard been hanging around?”His mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. “Boss, I swear I didn’t know. I thought he was just another reporter trying to dig up dirt. I didn’t think—”“That’s the problem, Lu
Lucia’s POVDante’s phone beeped before I could respond. He pulled it from his pocket, glancing at the screen before cursing under his breath.“What is it?” I asked, still breathless from his brutal kiss and the way his hands had branded my skin.He didn’t look at me, his jaw clenched tight. “Press interview,” he muttered. “Those vultures won’t stop digging. I have to handle it.”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Part of me was glad for the distance, but another part still felt raw from his kiss and the way he’d just claimed me like a possession. Without another word, he stormed past me.I stayed frozen against the wall for a moment, catching my breath, before finally pushing myself to move. I needed to clear my head and shake off the way his touch made me feel both safe and suffocated.As I stepped out into the corridor, I heard faint voices coming from the lounge down the hall—the one Dante usually used for meetings and interviews. Curiosity got the better of me, an
Lucia’s POVI couldn’t stay in my room any longer. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with guilt and frustration. I needed air, so I slipped out into the hallway, and made my way toward the balcony at the end of the corridor.The cool breeze hit me as I stepped outside, and I gripped the railing, trying to steady my breathing. My mind was still spinning from the confrontation earlier. I couldn’t believe I’d just barged in like that or how angry Dante had been. I didn’t regret standing up for the maid. I’d wanted to handle it subtly, but when she told me it wasn’t the first time, and she wasn’t the only one, I couldn’t hold back any longer.“Lucia,” a familiar voice called from behind me.I turned to see Lucas approaching, his expression cautious. He gave me a small nod, like he wasn’t sure how to start.“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile. “Just needed some air.”“Yeah, figured.” He leaned against the railing beside me, eyes scanning the courtyard below. “You sh
Dante’s POVThe room was thick with tension. My men stood quietly, shoulders rigid, eyes shifting nervously as if one wrong move would bring down my wrath, waiting for me to address them. I stood at the front, my eyes cold and steady, studying their faces and trying to figure out who could be trusted and who needed to be weeded out. The recent attack had shaken my operations, and I wouldn’t stand for weakness or betrayal.My hand rested on the polished wood of the table before me, and I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could utter a word, the door swung open with a bang. Heads turned, and I found myself narrowing my eyes at the unexpected interruption.Lucia stormed in, her footsteps pounding against the floor. Anger radiated off her, practically nearly heating up the room. She didn’t look at me, no, her eyes were locked on one of my men standing near the back, an older, rough-looking bastard named Valentin.Valentin straightened up, trying to act unaffected by her approach, but
Lucia’s POVI was lucky. Too lucky.Escaping that night had been a miracle, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that the worst was yet to come. Every step of my investigation had led me down the same road, and now, all signs pointed to one person—Vincenzo.I still couldn’t understand his motivation. He was smart, calculating, but to orchestrate something of this scale? To have the nerve to challenge Dante like this? It was a dangerous game, and if I was right, then I wasn’t just dealing with betrayal. I was dealing with a war.Dante had refused to tell me what actually happened. I needed answers.And there was only one person I could think of who might have them.My father.As I stepped out of the building, the cool evening air hit my skin, but it did nothing to ease the heaviness in my chest. My thoughts raced, tangled with the weight of everything I had learned and everything I still didn’t know.I didn’t even make it far before I heard a familiar voice behind me.“Lucia?”I turned to
Dante’s POVPain. That was the first thing I registered. A deep, burning ache spreading through my torso. My head felt like it had been split open, my limbs heavy, as if lead had been poured into my veins.I forced my eyes open, the dim light stabbing through my skull. The ceiling above me was unfamiliar. The scent of clean linen, antiseptic, and something distinctly not mine filled my senses. Where the hell was I?A shadow moved beside me and Instinct took over.Before I could think, my hand shot out, fingers locking around a delicate throat. The person gasped. My vision swam, but I didn’t loosen my grip. My body was running on reflex… on survival.“Wh—” The voice choked out, barely a whisper.I sat up with a ragged breath, my muscles screaming in protest, and my focus sharpened just enough to make out the terrified expression of the woman in front of me. She clawed at my wrist, eyes wide, struggling against my hold.Too fragile. Too weak to be a threat.A maid.Then a sharp voice cu
Lucia’s POVFor a heartbeat, I couldn’t move, my pulse hammering in my ears as his body hit the floor with a dull thud. My stomach twisted at the sight—Dante Romano, always so untouchable, reduced to this.“Shit,” Lucas hissed, snapping me out of my shock. He crouched beside Dante, shaking him roughly. “Boss. Come on, wake up.”My hands trembled as I pressed my fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse. It was faint, but there. Relief shot through me, but it was short-lived. His breathing was shallow and uneven.Panic clawed at my throat, but I shoved it down. I needed to think. Fast.“We need help,” I said, already pushing to my feet. “Alina—”Lucas caught my wrist before I could take a step. “Wait. You can’t just—”“Lucas, he’s bleeding out!” I yanked free. “Are you seriously telling me to stand here and watch him die?”His jaw clenched. “No. But we have to be careful.” He glanced around as if making sure we were alone. “Dante wouldn’t want just anyone seeing him like this.”I unde
Lucia’s POVThe cool night air hit me as I stepped outside, my pulse racing. I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucas.He picked up on the second ring. “Lucia?”“I need a ride,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. The hotel lobby was quiet, but I didn’t want to risk Daniel trailing behind me.He paused. Then, “Where are you?”I gave him the name of the hotel, hurrying toward the street. I had no money, no car, and no plan except getting the hell out of there. Lucas didn’t ask questions.Within fifteen minutes, a sleek white car pulled up, and I slid into the passenger seat, my hands gripping my dress. Lucas didn’t say a word at first, just pulled away from the curb, his sharp gaze flicking to me more than once.Then, finally, he exhaled. “What the hell were you thinking?”I stared out the window, my pulse still unsteady. “I needed to leave.”“No shit,” he muttered, his hands tightening on the wheel. “You realize Dante will have your head on his plate when he finds out you snuck out,
Lucia’s POV The call came just after Dante left. I had been sitting in Dante’s office, scrolling through the aftermath of my carefully crafted media spin. It had worked better than expected. The internet was eating up the new narrative, and even the more skeptical outlets were starting to shift their stance. It was amusing, really. A few well-placed articles, some strategic donations, and suddenly, the devil of Palermo was being rebranded as a misunderstood saint. Not that Dante seemed particularly grateful. The way he had confronted me earlier, suspicion sharp in his eyes, had sent a thrill down my spine. He had known it was me. Seen straight through the careful deception. And yet, he hadn’t shut it down. Because some part of him felt good about it. But before I could dwell on it any further, my phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Daniel. I hesitated for a moment before answering. “What?” “Meet me.” His voice was clipped, urgent. “It’s about Vincenzo.” I sighed, glan
Lucia’s POV“Kneel!” His voice echoed through the hall. My entire body shook in fear as tears stung my eyes, but I bit down hard on my lower lip, refusing to let them fall. The sharp taste of blood only reminded me of how real this nightmare was.Laughter erupted from the men around him. They all mocked me. My shoulders slumped in defeat as Dante moved to pick up the heavy chains lying in the corner of the room.The air reeked of alcohol and cigarettes. Soft Latino music played from the speakers, creating a bizarre contrast to the suffocating tension. To them, it was a paradise, but for me, it felt like hell.“I said kneel, you crazy bitch.” His voice was colder this time. Before I could react, he stormed toward me and yanked my hair, forcing me down.I yelped in pain, gritting my teeth as his grip tightened. The men laughed harder, their amusement feeding his cruelty.The saddest part was that it wasn’t always like this. Just yesterday, I was the happiest woman alive. My boyfriend of...
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