Sarian’s life has never been easy, but stripping to keep her sister safe and the bills down was a small price to pay — until Don Julio Rossini walked into the club where she dances. The ruthless mafia lord isn’t just there for a show; he’s hunting her father, who stole something precious from him. Betrayed by a childhood friend and with no escape, Sarian is thrust into Don Julio’s dangerous world, where power is currency, fidelity is fragile, and desire is a must. When Sarian fails to deliver her father, Don Julio offers her a deal, her body in exchange for her family’s safety. But as she fights to reclaim her freedom, she discovers a darker side Don Julio has adversaries who want her just as important as he does but there is something different, Don Julio is in love with her. Trapped in a deadly game of control and temptation, Sarian must decide — submit to Don Julio ’s demands or outsmart him before he consumes her fully.
Lihat lebih banyakSARIAN.”
“Which looks good on me, the blue or pink one?” Silver asked as she stood before the mirror and giggled. “ I want to make as much money as possible tonight.”
“Pink is better,” I said as I did a little touch-up and glanced at the mirror, my strapless bra was perfect and showing just enough cleavage.
I was a stripper and it was the only way I could get enough money to pay my drunken father's debts including what he had stolen from a mysterious man, the mounting bills and taking care of my little sister.
The room was crowded with so many girls and I had heard that one of us might go home with a customer tonight.
I sighed and we stepped out just in time with the music.
I was in a hurry to leave but I had to dance to get just enough money. The club smelt of cigarette smoke, sex and desires.
I strut across the stage with my heels clicking against the sticky floor, every movement deliberate and in time with the rhythm, I know too well, that my face is partially covered with a small mask with beautiful lacework.
But, I was aiming to capture his eyes tonight, not those of the crowd. The man who had been watching me dance for the past three days. He was different from the rest of the crowd and he was wearing a small black mask similar to mine.
I felt his eyes on me even before I saw him as I gripped the pole and began to follow the rhythm of the music.
I looked up for him as I twisted and pushed my hips out, and when I saw him where was he was seated in the booth in the back corner, his fingers gripping a glass of Martini
Even at this distance, his presence commanded attention.
He was so handsome even though I couldn't see his entire face but those lips, those lips could kiss a woman out of her senses. Just staring at him, his eyes and his lips already made me wet.
I had to look away, he was making me lose focus but I wanted to dance for him, to make his eyes leave their marks on my body
My mind flickers to Silver words
The calm ones are the sexiest and richest.
Well, I now regret the choice of being a stripper as I saw this man with this kind of power that made everyone around him bow their heads. But it's just for the money, right?
For many years, I was aware that my dad had a troubled past but until now I had no idea how far he had gone. Working in a place like this should have been a warning to me.
However, the bills continue to pile up and the only thing that gives me life these days is the lights in this club. The heat in my chest grows as his unwavering gaze continues. His lips form a half-smile but it wisn'tfriendly, it's dangerous
I wasn't sure if I wanted him to see it but he noticed something in me. Pretending my knees are trembling, I complete my set.
The men threw dollar bills at me and one smacked my ass as some of them cheered.
But they all seemed far away, the only sound I could hear was my own heart thumping. I picked up my robe and headed backstage.
As I walked past the bouncer at the back door who nodded but he didn't treat me like any other dancer. I had just enough money to pay a quarter of my father's debts and get us some groceries for the next two weeks.
I quickly pushed the money into my purse and then I felt something, I wasn't alone.
“Sarian.”
The mention of my name made me shiver.
I slowly turned around and saw the man in the booth in the corner staring at me and I broke out in cold sweat.
How did he know my name? Did one of the girls tell him? My stomach dropped as I took in his huge frame and his eyes that locked on my mind, reading me, enjoying the way I was scared out of my wit just staring at him, I wanted to ask him why he had followed me but I couldn't.
As if he already knew more about me than I needed to know.
My voice betrayed my attempt to sound casual as I asked.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
His lips twitched but not in a smile.
“You dance so well, “ he said, his eyes settling on my breasts and I felt so uncomfortable.
The air between us gets thicker and his eyes get darker.
“You should say thank you when someone compliments you.” He teased me and I said nothing.
“ I'm here to ask you some questions about your father.”
The blood on my face starts to run out.
My father? I hadn't seen him for a week but I heard nothing from him.
“ Sarian, your father owes me something…valuable.” He said as he slowly pulled off the mask. “And I'm here to get it.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat nearly too large to swallow. The man before me had beautiful eyes and not about the eyes, he looked every inch of a mafia.
I quickly looked away and prayed that someone would come in and see us.
He took a step toward me, filling the little gap between us.
“ I gave your father a very valuable item and now is the time for him to return it. The issue is that I haven't been able to track him down. You are the only one who might know where he was going, Bonita.”
I froze as a knot tightened in my stomach.
I've heard whispers and rumors about the mafia but I never imagined that I would be a target and now I was caught up in my father's lies.
“I—I don't know where he is,” I said, my voice shaking. “
He tilted his head and smiled but the smile was chilling.
“Such a good daughter.” He laughed. “Papa said you shouldn't say anything. I don't want you to get into your father's foolishness.”
He said as his fingers traced a line on my cheeks and I shivered. “But tell him Don Julio was here
DON JULIO The smell of blood was thick in the air briskly, metallic, suffocating. The last echo of gunfire had faded, but the chaos still fire my thoughts. It was freaking unexpected. I had had enough already and I swore to myself as I watched Valentina go down that when I find whoever is doing this, I would erase the names of his whole family from the earth. “ Valentina’s down! ” someone cried. My heart sank. I turned around immediately. Valentina was lying lifeless on the ground and Sarian was beside her, shaking her and begging her to wake up. Her dress and hands covered in Valentina's blood. Shit. This wasn't supposed to happen. My instincts had told me to tell Valentina to stay back at the hotel. Everything inside me snapped. My men redressed with fury. Shots erupted again, lighting up the night. Tires screamed. The masked men tried to escape, but they weren’t fast enough. We shot almost everyone of them down, no mercy. One tried to run into the alley — I refocused on hi
SARIAN I could feel the pressure in the air the moment Valentina walked into the hotel room. I had woken up to find myself all alone and breakfast set and then a janitor in the hallway. I came out and there he was still moping out non existent dirt and I immediately knew who he was.Don Julio was back with her and Matteo and he had introduced us before, but I couldn't help but wonder what kind of woman she was. She was different — older than me and very friendly, but there was something about her that made me think she’d seen a lot, perhaps too much and had really suffered too. It wasn’t just her calmness, there was this confidence in her that made you believe she could handle anything. Over dinner, the atmosphere was reserved Don Julio was calm one minute and then, his usual sharp, calculating presence absent the next . It was as if he'd something on his mind that he wasn’t really focused on. Valentina, still sounded comfortable in her own skin, laughing loudly at times, m
DON JULIO Matteo arrived the next morning, in his usual stoic tone. He didn’t need to tell me of his presence. I saw him on the security footage before the door even opened. Always effective. Always quiet. He was one of the few in my gang that I could manage to trust if the word trust existed to me in the first place.He hadn't come with us because of personal reasons and things I had to do.Matteo was a professional; he never let his guard down, and he understood the assignment very well that when he came, he didn't let anyone follow him into the suite.I glanced over to where Sarian lay, a soft breath escaping her lips as she slept. My heart tensed with a strange emotion I didn’t want to show, let her enjoy a moment of peace for once. She was still recovering from everything, her body weak, her mind disoriented. But her spirit that was a different matter. And it was something I couldn’t help but respect. She was resilient and I loved women like that.I stood up immediately, makin
DON JULIO The wind in Sicily was warm, filled with the scent of citrus blooms.We had just arrived minutes ago and as I turned to look at Sarian, her eyes looked empty and she felt like she was lost in the crowd , like she had no place in the world. Maybe she was scared that we might get attacked again.The pilot gave me a nod as we stepped off the jet. “ safe-deposit box wharf. ”I returned it with a small cock of my head. “Grazie. ”But Sarian’s emotions were as unsteady as the weather's. Her eyes danced as they landed on me. I knew the look before she said a word. She folded her arms, her lips curving into a small smile. “ You don’t look like yourself today.”I raised a brow but said nothing.She glanced over my plain black shirt, sleeves rolled to my forearms, my tats flashing in the early morning sun and simple trousers. No tie. No cufflinks. No intimidating suits draped over my shoulders. They looked simple but if only she knew how much they cost.“ You look like someone who
SARIAN I felt it again — that unnoticeable prick on my skin, like it was very cold that morning but obviously it wasn't because I knew I wasn't alone.I had that feeling like eyes crawling over me.Watching. Waiting to strike and I didn't know what it was. My hand hung mid air as I reached for my coffee, and I glanced toward the hallway. Nothing. Just the soft, the family silence of the villa that I had grown used to.But I knew what I felt.Someone was here. I could feel it Or had been.“ Don Julio? ” I called out, forcing my voice to sound steady but it was shaky and laced with fear.His voice came from the room opposite, low and tensed, maybe he had also noticed it too.. “ Stay where you are. I’ll be there in a nanosecond. ” he said and I forced myself to take a sip of coffee that now felt like acid on my tongue.But I didn’t hear. I was stubborn , I was supposed to do as he said and stayed in the room and finished up my breakfast.My feet moved on their own as I crept toward the ha
SIMEON I couldn't breathe.I couldn't think that I had done it. Ended his life like it was that of a puppy.Damn. Some men had come in and dragged the bloodied body of Marco out and I couldn't watch. I turned to go, hoping he wouldn't nsg until I heard his voice again and I froze.“ Gabriela is off the table. The marriage plans with The Crows are no longer an option. It's now abolished.” Abraham said, his voice calm, measured. But his words. they were a slap to the face. “ It’s a misplaced cause. You’re not ready for that kind of responsibility. And I have come to.the conclusion that you are madly in love to concentrate.”His eyes were cold as he spoke, his eyes fluttering over to me like I was an abomination, like I didn't even count to be in the gang, like I was a castaway.For a moment, I stood there, glued to a spot. Rage surged through me and I felt this was really unnecessary. I gripped my fists so hard my knuckles turned so white, but I didn't say a word. His opinion of me wa
SIMEON I could feel the weight of my father’s eyes as he listed off every mistake I had made. He was even smiling as he did so. I didn't know why but maybe because he got satisfaction from seeing me on my toes.One by one, his words sliced through the air, cutting me down until I was nothing further than a pile of failure in front of him." Federico's escape," he began, his voice low, cold. "That was your fault. You couldn't even keep an eye on him. And Don Julio? You suppose that injury was enough to prove yourself? Please." He waved his hand like he was fed up with my mere existence already. Everyone knew that Federico's escape wasn't my fault, I had given a suggestion which he had dismissed and the bastard had absconded.I stood there, still as gravestone, refusing to show him how harsh and cold those words hurt. He could say whatever he wanted. But, soon I would prove myself to him.Giuseppe was sitting in the corner, watching, a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. I hated
SIMEON I had angrily walked out, to think about all that had happened and how to take over the gang after my father's death. I had been called back to the meeting hall.My father’s cold eyes were still burned into my memory, the slap still felt scratchy and painful on my face, the embarrassment I had suffered in front of the entire family hanging heavy on my shoulders.It wasn’t just that he looked at me like I was an orphaned rabbit. It was the look in his eyes when he did it. The disgust. The disappointment. Like I was nothing more than an embarrassment to him. I knew I was far from his perfect son, but damn it, I had worked hard for this moment. I’d given up everything, put in times of trust, learned every dark corner of this life just to prove to him I could handle it. But that wasn’t enough, was it? No, not for Abraham Moretti.He was a freaking perfectionist and wanted everything to be done following his freaking orders and hated suggestions from others, most especially me.
SIMEON Bang!I knew it was him even turning around to see him. The door shook on its hinges as the noise echoed around the roomSomething had happened and I knew that what was coming was just the usual. I shot my eyes, the weight of his presence alone suffocated the air.“ Simeon! ” The voice, cold, harsh and smelt of poison as it cut through the silence like a blade. There was no tenderness, no affection, just raw wrath and filled with huge disappointment.I remained still, not lifting my eyes, my arms folded across my broad chest not out of fear but preparing myself for what he was about to say because it won't be nice at all, but I could feel his gaze burning into me. I moved aside and let my hands fall as my fists gripped at my sides, nails digging into my palms almost drawing out blood. He'd that effect on me. He always did.“ Look at me when I’m speaking to you! ” he said, limping to the front, his fingers gripping his stick that I feared it might break.I did, reluctantly, my
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