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Secrets and Tension
Dernière mise à jour:
2025-02-20 20:19:30
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Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) When the Devil walks in
The club was much louder than I expected. Sitting by the bar, I drowned the last contents of my glass before putting it down on the counter. The music was loud and there were a lot of people around but I didn’t care. All I could think about was Taylor’s face when she told me about the news of her pregnancy. She looked smug as she rubbed her belly back at the antique shop. It was obvious that she was there to mock me but I didn’t believe her. “You’re pregnant? Impossible.” I said staring at her. I didn’t trust Taylor at all. She was scheming, and annoying, and would do anything to get what she wanted. “You think because you didn’t get pregnant, Sylas was the one at fault? No, Lauren. You’re just the barren woman. You lied thinking that you could keep Sylas but mine is real…I’m pregnant.” Taylor taunted. The memory made me reach for the bottle pouring it so that the glass brimmed with whiskey. My fingers tightened around it as I fought the surge of emotions creeping up my throat. B
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-20Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Submission
ENZO Domenico was already on his knees a few minutes later. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, staining his shirt but he was trying to act tough. He had the nerve to grin at me, even with my gun pointed at his head. I crouched in front of him, my grip steady on the pistol. The club was silent now. Only the bass from the music in the other room vibrated through the floor. My men had cleared everyone out. It was just us, and Lauren, standing a few feet away. It had been easy to deal with his men. They were amateurs. I wanted to get revenge on him but I waited. After seeing Lauren’s gaze earlier, I could tell she was having difficulty adjusting. I shouldn’t have let the motherf**ker breathe another second. “You think this is funny?” I asked, pressing my gun against his temple. Domenico was a young man in his mid-20s. He was desperate for power and wanted to uphold his father’s legacy so he created his own gang. I didn’t mind though. Bastard was a smart and creative motherf*
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-21Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Pain and Betrayal
LAURENThe first strike hurt like hell.My eyes instantly teared up as I battled the pain. I turned back to look at Enzo. His face was unreadable but the strikes didn't stop. Unfortunately, I wasn't dressed in a way that could save me from the sting of the leather. Enzo continued, each strike worse than the last.“ This is what will happen every time you put yourself in danger. No matter what upsets you, you should never leave without your protection. Do you understand?” Enzo asked as he hit me again.Snap.A sharp gasp tore from my lips as the belt cracked against my skin again. The fire spread through me, hot and unrelenting. I clenched my teeth, refusing to give him the reaction he wanted. But my body betrayed me. My hands trembled and my breath hitched. I knew he saw it all yet he didn't stop.“ Answer me when I talk, gurriera. I hate having to repeat myself.” Enzo said.Another lash. My fingers curled into fists.I wanted to take it bravely. Show him that his threats and beatings
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-22Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Web of Lies
“What? What are you talking about?” I asked stunned as I stared at Sylas's mother. For the first time, her eyes were different from before. The once warm and motherly gaze in her eyes was filled with disgust and hatred. My breath caught in my throat as she pointed at me. “After pushing me down the stairs, how dare you show your face here? Security! Security!” Tessa screamed making me stunned. The door opened and a nurse rushed in immediately stunned as she saw Tessa and I. Tessa was filled with rage as she yelled at me and I had no idea why she was doing this. “Tessa, I—I,” I said struggling as my voice cracked. “I didn't push you. I came out of my room and I saw you down the stairs, remember?” “ You liar! Get out! Get out!” Sylas's mother screamed at the top of her voice. The doors swung open again, and more nurses rushed in, trying to calm Tessa down. My eyes burned with tears as I watched her continue to scream at me calling me a murderer and insulting me. “Ms, you h
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-23Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Bound By Obsession
ENZO My eyes narrowed as I watched Lauren’s hand hovering over her phone. Seated in my car, I could see everything. The way she hesitated, the slight tremble in her fingers, the way Jake leaned in too close. And then he did it. His hand covered hers, a casual yet intimate gesture that made my grip tighten around the steering wheel. She should not be with him. Lauren was an expert at testing my patience. The way she had run out of the house and promised to take the men I had chosen to protect her yet she still ditched them, everything about her was tempting and frustrating at the same time. “Boss, he’s here,” Leonardo's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. My eyes flickered to the front of the hospital where Lauren had come out from. A red car pulled up in front and I watched as a man walked out from the hospital. He looked suspicious and was trying to hide his face as he walked out. “His name is Randall Cruz. He is the butler for the Riccardi family. He is also the one that we sus
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-24Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Bound by Obsession (2)
“We are here.” Pulling in towards the club, I could see the shining lights from the headlights. A crowd of people were standing in front waiting to be allowed into the club but that wasn't my problem. Glancing at Lauren, I couldn't tell what exactly she was thinking. She had been absent-minded throughout the entire ride and hadn't said much. Had I scared her too much? She needed to know about the codes in the mafia. My people were far more ruthless than I was. Betrayal and disloyalty were a normal occurrence in the mafia world. If she wanted to remain safe, she had to be smart. I killed the engine and turned to face her. The neon lights from the club reflected off her pale skin, making her look even more fragile than she already did. But I knew better. Lauren wasn’t weak. She had survived betrayal, deception, and the man who swore to love and protect her at the altar. “ What are you doing? Get down and help me, caretaker. Have you forgotten your job?” I asked staring at her. A fe
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-25Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) No Escape
LAURENA total psychopath. That was the only word to describe Enzo. My ears still echoed from the sound of the gunshot. I screamed and fell to the ground as I stared at the man's lifeless body but it didn't faze Enzo. I couldn’t move. My hands trembled violently as I looked down at my shirt. Blood. His blood. It stained the white fabric in dark red splatters, warm and wet against my skin.“Get up, Lauren.” Enzo said, his voice full of command as if he had not just shot someone in front of me. Staring around the room, I could see everyone was okay with it. Gasping in shock, I looked down at my body once more realizing it was not a dream. “ Oh my god….” I said breathlessly, my voice barely above a whisper. “You killed him.”Enzo turned to me fully this time, his expression unreadable. “And now you understand. In my world, hesitation gets you killed. That trust is a weakness. And that I—” his voice dropped lower, almost lethal, “—don’t share what’s mine.”A chill ran down my spine.T
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-25Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) His Game, My Rules
I didn’t hesitate. My foot slammed on the gas as I held Enzo's gaze and the engine roared to life. Clenching my hand around the wheel, I slammed my foot down on the gas and the car lunged forward. But just before I hit him, I jerked the wheel hard to the side. And Enzo? He hadn’t moved. Slowly, I turned my head, my heartbeat roaring in my ears while Enzo stood completely unfazed. A hint of a smirk played at his lips like he knew this would happen. Like he knew I couldn't hit him. Damn him. He was right. Shoving the door open, I stepped out and slammed it behind me. “You’re insane,” I spat, my voice shaking as I walked towards him. Enzo’s eyes darkened, amusement flickering in their depths. “You’re the one who almost ran me down, gurriera.” “ You're the one that pushed me into the arms of that man!” I shouted jabbing at his chest. Enzo caught my wrist in one swift move, his grip firm but not painful. His touch sent an unwanted shiver down my spine. For a moment none of us s
Dernière mise à jour : 2025-02-27
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Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Doubts
The cup shattered against the floor, hot coffee splashing across my feet, but I barely felt it. My heart was pounding too loud, too fast.I stared at the message again, my hands trembling.Miguel.The message he had sent me was too sudden. No. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t dare.Would he?I stood frozen in the middle of the living room, the weight of that name pressing down on my chest. If Enzo found out about Marcello,everything would unravel. The vault. The paintings. Me.I crouched down and picked up the pieces of the broken cup with shaky hands. A sharp edge sliced my finger, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.I was already bleeding in too many ways.I dropped the shards in the trash and grabbed my coat. I stepped out the door, the message still open on my phone. The address was just a few blocks away. Without a second thought, I walked out and closed the door behind me before I headed to meet Miguel. ************************The venue was an outdoor restaurant near the coffee shop I usu
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Shadows Within Us
“Are you sure?” Enzo asked letting go of my hand as he walked up to Taylor. “Yes, Mr. Santoro.” Taylor replied smiling.Taylor nodded her head happily taking Enzo's hand as they walked out. My heart stopped. The location of the vault? I didn't know if Taylor had really figured it out or not. The door to the office shut behind them leaving me all alone. Enzo was not only obsessed about me, he was also obsessed about the paintings. I stood there, staring at the closed door like it might open again. But it didn’t. And neither of them came back. Heading out of the office, I walked out of the elevator heading to grab a car. Stopping one, I slid into it. The driver gave me a curious glance through the mirror, but I didn’t say a word. My fingers were tight around my phone, but I couldn’t bring myself to call him. What would I even say? That watching him walk out with her made my chest feel like it was caving in? That I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of what Taylor found… or how easily
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Shadows at the Door
The tension in the room was suffocating. Sitting down beside Enzo, I stared at Enzo's mother looking at Enzo without a single word. None of them did. It was as if there was so much they were saying telepathically that seemed dangerous, cold. I squeezed Enzo's hand gently trying to urge him to say something but Enzo was like a block of ice. He didn't break his gaze from his mother. “ Boss,” Leonardo said calling him out. Enzo turned to Leonardo before realizing that he had been staring for a long time without saying anything. Enzo's jaw clenched. “ What are you doing here? I saved your life, told you never to return. Did you think it was just an empty threat?” Enzo asked, his voice betraying his bitterness. I knew things were not good between both of them but I never really knew the full story. At the party before, she had looked as if she really cared about Enzo when she thought he was a cripple. “ It's about Rafael.” She said making my heart skip a beat. Rafael? If it was Rafae
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Claimed in his Tower
LAUREN “Excuse me. Hello?” a man asked beside me, catching my attention. I had just arrived at the company with Enzo and was still trying to process how massive the building was. Glass windows stretched up into the sky, reflecting the clouds like a mirror. Everything looked expensive and polished. The man stepped closer, offering a polite smile. He was dressed in a sharp gray suit, hair slicked back like he’d stepped straight out of a magazine. “ I said who are you? This place isn't for begging. It's a company. If you want to beg for food or clothes, you can stay outside over there.” I scoffed stunned by the man's words. He didn't know me yet he was so arrogant. I turned around trying to search for Enzo but he was still at the car. Turning back to the man in front of me, I looked at his worker's ID. Manager “I… I came with someone,” I managed to say, my voice catching slightly in my throat. The man’s eyes scanned me again, slower this time, taking in my simple outfit like it
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) You and I (2)
ENZO How was I supposed to tell her? Sylas's death had been an accident. As much as I wanted the stupid cheating b**tard dead, he was the least of my problems and I didn't care if he was dead or alive. Until I witnessed him trying to kill Taylor, Lauren's sister. I saved her. Seeing Lauren sitting down across me crying, I cursed at myself for letting her cry. Why did I let my jealousy get the best of me? “ Sylas's death is not your fault. It was an accident. He was trying to harm Taylor and I happened to walk into that. I hit him and tried to save him but b***ard fell over the balcony.” I confessed staring at her. She didn’t look up.Her shoulders shook, soft whimpers slipping from her lips. I hated this. Seeing her like this, breaking down because of something I should’ve told her the moment it happened.“I thought you were keeping it from me because it was something worse,” she whispered, finally lifting her gaze. Her eyes were glassy, rimmed red. “I thought maybe… you killed hi
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) You and I
“ Come with me.” Enzo said as he threw me on the bed making me gasp. He was furious, barely holding back himself and I could see it. Watching him run his hand through his hair, I moved back until my back hit the headboard. My chest tightened as he stood there, pacing like a storm trapped in a cage. His jaw clenched, and his eyes burned into me, sharp and wild, like he was fighting every dark thought rushing through his head. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until he finally stopped, turning to face me. His fingers twitched at his sides, like he didn’t trust his own hands near me. “ What are you hiding from me now, Lauren. Don't say you are not because I know you're are.” Enzo said staring at me. My hands clenched at my sides. “ I'm not hiding anything.” I said stubbornly. “ You promised that you won't lie to me again.” His voice was low, but the weight of it crushed the air between us. I swallowed, my throat dry and tight, feeling his stare dig deeper, peeling a
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Whispers in the Dark
LAURENIt had been two days since Enzo and I finally got back together. For the first time, I was able to meet his son, the one that Barbara had prematurely. Enzo claimed that Barbara was locked up getting the help she deserved. I really hoped she wouldn't show up at all. “ What are you thinking about?” Enzo asked as he wrapped his hand around me as I stood in the kitchen. I leaned my head back against his chest, letting his warmth surround me. Since I had decided to be with Enzo now, I needed to trust him instead of worrying. “Nothing important,” I whispered, though the lie tasted bitter on my tongue.Enzo’s hand slid slowly along my arm, his touch light, almost lazy and my body responded to him immediately. I tried hard not to give in. Not to close my eye and give into his torture. “You’ve been quiet all day,” Enzo murmured against my hair. “You and I both know that you are thinking of something. I lifted my eyes, meeting his. Of course, I couldn't lie to him. “Just thinking
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) Silent Warnings
“I don't think you and I have anything to discuss so late in the night, Rodion.” I said staring at him as he sat down in the living room. Rodion’s eyes darted to the bag that Lauren was carrying. It was obvious that he had found out about the bag and come for it. It was just drugs, wasn't it? Why was Rodion so tense?His expression was tight, jaw locked, eyes flicking between me and the bag like he was calculating something far beyond what sat in Lauren’s hands.“That bag,” Rodion finally said, voice low and steady, “ Don't tell me that you were planning on running away with goods I paid for?”I instinctively placed my hand over Lauren's. I could see how scared she was. She had never met Rodion before and Dante had not given her even a picture. Things would have gone bad if she had ran away with the bag. Rodion wasn't the type of person to forgive and Dante would never take responsibility. F**king bastard. “ The bag is right here. You can have it. Whatever deals you have with Dant
Crowned In Betrayal (The Santoro Family 1) The Devil's Errand (2)
ENZO“ Lauren, what's in the bag?” I asked barely able to restrain my voice as Lauren and Rafael sat down in my car. I had just arrived at the club when I saw gunned men attacking the place. Dante's car was also outside which made me suspicious. The moment I saw Rafael rushing out with Lauren, I quickly drove up to them and made sure that they were safe first. Parked on the side of an empty road, I stared at Lauren watching as she grabbed the straps of the bag. I already knew what it was. Drugs. “You already a druggie now? You're Dante's drug mule?” I asked trying my best to control my temper. Lauren’s fingers tightened around the straps, her knuckles turning white. She lowered her head, avoiding my eyes, and the silence that followed only made the fire in my chest burn hotter.“Answer me,” I said, my voice dropping lower as my gaze became sharper. Shhook her head, barely a movement, but it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t in the mood for games. I reached over, snatching the bag from her
