Chapter One

Lucky

I can see him glaring at me from across the room. His piercing blue eyes with those long dark eyelashes that frame them, look like they could bore right through my bones. What I can’t believe is that we’re sitting here at our supposed engagement party. Me Lucky Gianluca the youngest of the Gianluca family, being married off to him.

Nico Santangelo is nothing but a killer, a man who has more money than you could possibly imagine and all from ill gains. He is the head of the Santangelo Cartel since his father passed away from a heart attack just six months ago. Since then, well since then everything, literally everything has gone to shit.

“Hey, you eyeing up your fiancée?” I turn to see my best friend in the entire world, Mia smiling at me, her hazel eyes full of love for her bestie. Her dark bob hangs to her chin, the kohl around her eyes makes her look like an exotic oriental woman.

“Not on your life, him?” I laugh. “Give me a break, he means nothing to me.”

“Yeah, but you have no choice. Since his father stepped down, there has been war on the streets between your families and the Russians. He wants it all. You know the only way is by making you, his bride.”

“And what do you suppose life is going to be like for me, being that ogre’s wife. He doesn’t have a decent bone in his body. Only a few days ago some guys at one of his clubs were shot dead for hiding money and selling girls and taking that money too. He is not a good man, Mia. I deserve better.” I sigh and take a long drink of my expensive champagne.

No money has been spared on this debacle a supposed engagement celebration tonight. And the alarming speed at which it has happened literally takes my breath away.

Nikolei, my bodyguard, the only man I have feelings for ever since I was in High School told me that my father’s life is on the line if I do not go through with this. Apparently, Nico Santangelo has threatened to have my father killed if I do not proceed in this arranged marriage. One which will make Nico more powerful than any other mafia don alive, past or present. It sickens me to the core, and I fear for my father’s life. He is not a young man anymore, now in his sixties. My mother fell pregnant when she was already forty and my father was forty-four. And here we are, me now at just twenty-two to be married not only to a man I detest but also a man who is ten years older than me.

Not that Nico looks old, if I was trying to be objective I’d have to agree with most women out there, he is arresting with his dark hair, his tall stature. He must be around six foot three, and those eyes of his, the same ones that are burning a hole in my skin are the color of the ocean.

I tilt my chin and turn my face away from him. “Yes, you may deserve better, Lucky for sure but your father doesn’t deserve a bullet in the head or a knife in his chest. You know how bad Nico wants to be King of New York City and nobody is going to stop him.”

I feel like weeping, how could this happen to me? All my adult life I have fantasized about running away from it all with my bodyguard Nikolei, the rugged mountain of a man whose muscles have muscles, with enough scruff to make me want to stroke his chin time and time again. I know Nikolei feels the same way about me, I just know he does.

“Darling, don’t you think you should go and spend some time with Nico instead of sitting all the way over here?” My father rests a big hand on my shoulder. I smile up at his warm face, his now grey eyes are kind. You wouldn’t think he had any dealings with mafia families nor that he is the head of his own cartel. But I can’t help what he does for a living he is my papa and I love him with all my heart. He has been a good father, allowing me to have freedom growing up, attending a good school with other normal kids, the only thing was, I needed to have a bodyguard with me at all times.

“Of course, Papa.” I squeeze his hand. The last thing I want to do right now is go to Nico. Why should I? Why should I be the one to make the first move? Since our engagement was announced a few weeks ago, I haven’t seen him, nor been near him. He hasn’t sent for me once. Not once. The man is as cold as ice, but I have seen his on social media pages with different women as he comes out of his clubs. Every time it is a different woman wearing practically nothing, always the same style, long blonde hair, red lips, big tits. Unlike myself with my almost black hair, that I have grown so long it hangs to the base of my spine. My tits are not fake they’re all natural, I have inherited my good body from my dear mother and her Spanish heritage.

“Good girl, we need this you know my little bird.” His eyes look sad now, and I know why. He has to resign himself to the fact that his youngest daughter must marry as an arrangement not for love. This isn’t what he wanted for me and if Nico’s father were still alive, none of this would be happening.

Damn Nico Santangelo to fucking hell and back.

“Will you be okay, Mia. Whilst I go and do my duty.” I know I sound resigned I feel it. My heart is on the floor, my father is the best father in the world and I can’t risk his future. Not for anything. I am now bound by duty within this fucked up Mafia world. One day though, one day I will make sure that I am free and that Nico doesn’t see the light of day and then, yes then, I will be able to run away and marry the only man I love.