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ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 16
"Ryder!" He looked up, ignoring Jay's repeated taps on his lap. Grunts filled the air as both men struggled against each other. Ryder had the poor guy in an arm triangle submission, and it's been almost a minute. With a grunt, he finally let Jay go, pushing him away. He collapsed on the floor, while Ryder got out of the boxing ring, taking off his pad. "What's up?" Ryder asked between pants. Beads of sweat ran profusely down his bare chest, sliding down his shorts. His hair was ruffled, and there was a funny feeling in his toes, safely tucked inside low-top Nike boots. He flexed his legs, trying to release the tense feeling. An Omega came over, handing him a bottle of water and gently wiping the sweat with a towel. "This just came in." Fred waved the envelope in the air. "It's from the OIA." "Let me see that." Ryder snatched it from him, ripping it open. It was a few seconds and he was trembling in mad rage. The nerves in his temples were throbbing nonstop. "They won't help, wil
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 17
Ryder's reply was an ultimate convo-ender so the guys ate up their words. Jay was disturbed and pessimistic about going against the Cariannos, but he'll never let Ryder do it alone. So he was in, regardless of his fear.Fred was more torn between being rational and throwing caution in the wind and stirring up a war with the Mafia. But no matter how he felt, Ryder had his complete loyalty. And that's never gonna change."Hey man, uh. A quick one." Jay started with a mischievous smile on his face, breaking the icy silence."Sure." Ryder was heading to the door, and they tagged along, trailing at his sides in slow, counted steps. "What is it?"Jay had a full-blown smirk. "If it was me who'd lost his memories and was in danger, would you also wager everything to come save me?"Fred broke into a muffled wheeze, keeping it in with a hand clamped over his mouth."Now why would I do that?" A thin line of amusement stretched Ryder's lips. "You a pain in the ass. I'd give anything to make you g
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 18
JASON! JASON!! JASON!!!With a leap, Ghost jerked up from the couch, almost hitting the ground but pulled himself back and curled into the couch. He was panting like he just ran a million miles a second. Beads of sweat ran down his face, sliding into his clothes. He was a mess. Mumbling and almost panicking."What happened?" Dr. Studgens asked, kneeling in front of him. She was a woman in her 30s. Professional and his shrink. Her hands repeatedly rubbed his kneecap to try to get him to settle down. She was a bit scared. Putting him under hypnosis was her idea. But seeing him like this afterward, it just might have been a bad idea.Words eluded Ghost as he buried his head between his legs, waiting for the trembling to stop. "Tell me. What did you see?" Dr. Studgens urged."Werewolves." Ghost muttered. Just like the nightmares he's been having these past two weeks, his trance right now was the same. Don Carianno had given him a week off but he had taken two instead. To deal with his
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 19
Ghost walked through the door, meeting an uproar and an arena filled to its brim. Dressed in his usual black suit, he slid his hands into his pockets, stopping for a second. His hawk eyes searched the place. There was nothing odd. It was just another underground fight.He began walking, squeezing through bodies as he headed to where he supposed Don Carianno would be seated.The referee was announcing the fighters and Ghost was sure to listen. There wasn't any one of the Brotherhood fighting tonight. Why the hell had Don Carianno insisted he came down here?The year he showed up in Sicily and joined the family was the only year he got into the ring. After winning all the fights for half a year, and leaving his victims permanently marred, Don Carianno had granted him the Capo position. It was the last time he ever participated in underground fights. Nor came in here.Being the most dreaded Capo made him barely at home. He was mostly visiting countries, playing enforcer, establishing cas
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 20
Another loud cheer from the crowd for the Asian fighter left Ghost almost writhing in his seat. The fight was growing more intense and impossible to watch. The Asian guy had just run through his sixth victim, leaving the man with a broken rib. He was carried off the ring by a stretcher. And now, the Asian fighter was being flaunted as the winner. That wouldn't be the case though if someone else challenged him.Gritting his teeth, Ghost prayed that someone else stepped into the ring. He wasn't close to being a religious man or a firm believer in the power of the cosmos. But right now, he needed a supernatural intervention, 'cause it was humanly impossible to intervene. He was in a tight spot. He could never whisk her away from these many eyes as easily as he did before. It would only get things messy."I guess we have a winner…" Don Carianno was wheezing from the outcome of the fight. He signaled with his fingers and the men around Ciara untied her.Ghost had his unwavering gaze pinne
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 21
Don Carianno swiped a cloth around the sharp edge of his dagger, admiring the finely sculptured metal. The blood on it was an evident indication of what he just did. Slitting a throat. A measly life that shouldn't have stayed breathing as long as it did. The geezer owed him a fortune, he'd been lenient enough. Not anymore.The door opened and Sergio walked in, agitated and furious. He had a gun in his hand and his eyes were hooded with the crazy urge to kill. "Speak." Don Carianno said, returning the dagger to its small sheath. He was disturbed but had a knack for concealing his emotions, no matter how raging they were.The Asian fighter had died in their ring, brewing a pending feud between them and the Asian Mafia. And if badly handled, the triads would come for them. It would bring a devastating catastrophe. He was sickly worried, no matter how coordinated he seemed."Scar gave the order." Sergio sputtered out. "He bloody asked one of our men to spike the Asian guy's water with th
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 22
The distant blaring of the sirens haunted Ghost's ears, forcing him to glance at the Cartier wristwatch, firmly wrapped around his left wrist.It was a very distant sound, incapable of being heard by normal hearing ability. But his acute hearing brought the sounds to his ears, making him grow impatient.He hated being teamed up with amateurs who didn't know how to carry out swift missions. Coming out here had been a chivalrous act on his part, since he wasn't busy. Also, it was an important mission and he had to secure the files.A couple of the Rino cartel bosses were hosting a night party in the gigantic nightclub building across the street, from where his car was packed. The Rino family was one of their rivals here in Sicily. Not much of rivals, 'cause the Carianno dominated more than half of the city. Still, they were a bit of a threat.Just recently, they had erected the biggest casino, a tad bigger than theirs. Don Carianno had felt insulted and wanted ownership of the casino. O
Last Updated : 2024-10-29ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 23
Staring at the splitting lookalike of Jason, Ciara was terrified. The man was nothing but Jason's doppelganger, a cold-blooded doppelganger. Recalling that day in his apartment, and how vicious he'd been to her, she had every reason to be terrified by his presence. Nah, scratch that. She had every reason to be terrified by everyone here. She's been through hell and never had she imagined humans could be so vicious. Growing up, she was taught that only rogues had this great level of viciousness. But these monsters just showed her how wrong she'd been taught. They were literal beasts. And she was fucking lucky to still be breathing. "What are you doing here?" Deep and hoarse came the voice, startling her again. His bluish-grey eyes were in a dark squint."I'm working." Ciara cleared her throat, regaining her senses. She took the bottle of brandy from his hand and filled the two glasses."Here?" Ghost blurted out again. It made no fucking sense that she was behind that counter. Who the
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
Latest chapter
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 83
“Did she sanitize this?” Ranya asked, wearing a puzzled look as he stretched the empty paper towards Valerie. She took it and brought the blank sheet to her nose.She coughed slightly, perceiving a deeper scent than expected. “It’s sanitized, sir. The card is too,” she replied, handing the sheet back to him.He accepted the blank sheet, bewildered by why she would send it along with his keys.“Sir, are there any threats of any kind? Should I inform the police?" Valerie asked, watching her boss intently. She couldn’t help but wonder what business he had with the lady in shades.She did not say anything when she arrived because Mr. Windsor had already informed her that a lady would be returning his card, and she was to take it.“I thought I gave her a week?” he asked, walking into his office, scanning through the sheet in his hands to see if she left any hidden message. Valerie watched her boss walk away with surprise overly written on her face. She had never seen that look on him before
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 82
“Mr. Ranya Windsor,” Damian said confidently as he walked towards Ranya, his face no longer masked with anger but replaced with a smile. Ranya looked up from the system as the well-dressed man in a blue suit approached his table.“You’re not kidding me, are you?” Ranya asked, gesturing towards the system on the table. “This is a cafe, not your office.”Ranya scoffed loudly, shaking Damian’s outstretched hand, and whispered, “The last time I checked, we were supposed to meet for work. I agreed to this cafe meeting because I know you brought him with you. I can only avoid unnecessary drama by choosing to meet in public.”Damian laughed and took a seat across from his friend. Damian Lillard was Ranya’s cousin, and he chose to work for him due to his political agenda. Being the Prime Minister’s personal assistant had many advantages for a politically minded person like Damian.“I see you’re avoiding questions about Vivian,” Damian remarked, staring intently at Ranya, whose expression turn
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 81
The beeping sound of the elevator distracted her thoughts yet again.She vividly remembered the first time she had come here. The elevator had opened, and she had walked out, feeling repulsive with each step she took towards the apartment.After entering the passcode, the one he had asked her to choose three months into the contract, he had wanted her to have access, warning her always to wear a nose mask whenever she visited. Those rules she had adhered to diligently over the years.The door beeped, and it opened. She pushed it open and as she stepped in, the familiar smell of him hit her sense of reasoning, and for some minutes, she felt like breaking down.He had made it clear that it was a contract. A contract with no strings attached. It was so unfair she had to feel this way, and with determination, she decided she was not coming back to his apartment again.The living room was extremely spacious and lively. It used to be gloomy and depressing until she couldn’t bear its emptine
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 80
“You’re not doing that, are you?” Emily asked, her voice a little high-pitched, as they were currently in one of the biggest lounges in Texas.She owned a lounge called ‘The Place.’When she decided to name it THE PLACE, Calista laughed out loud, wondering why she chose such a weird name for a bar. What she didn’t know was that her friend actually meant it; she wanted everything to stand out, including the name.Emily’s smartness caught her attention when she went to a friend’s party in college. She knew just how to attract the right person, and her friendly gestures towards everyone captured her attention.“How did your family take it?” Emily asked, nodding her head at the loud music. “I mean, it will be a lot, given the time frame.”“I didn’t give them enough time to process it, Emmy. We’re moving out the day after tomorrow, and that’s it.”“I kind of find you cruel,” Emily added, her voice sounding displeased. “You can’t snatch off a life because you’re afraid he might not come loo
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 79
Echoes of the Past“Ranya,” Vivian called impatiently. “I’m sorry, but I can’t refuse. Yang proposed to me, and you expect me to turn him down?”“Vivian, please,” Ranya begged, holding her wrist pleadingly. “I promised I would be so good to you. I would take over Father’s company if that would make you stay. You can’t leave me.”“And to think you thought I was leaving you because you were still struggling is annoying. I’m telling you this because I don’t want you to see it in the news. I love Yang, and I’m marrying him!”Her voice echoed in his head, especially the last word. Now she’s back, and he’s still hopelessly in love with her. The reason he couldn’t move on or open his heart to another was because of her. She had returned, making many promises never to leave.A slight knock on his door interrupted his thoughts. He turned slightly towards his secretary, who silently walked in and dropped a file on the table.“The prime minister booked an appointment, sir,” she announced, steppi
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 78
Bargaining with FateThree Years EarlierCalista stood before the imposing doors of the Windsor Law Firm, her hands trembling in the cold air of the waiting room. Her father’s future hung in the balance, and Ranya Windsor was her last hope. Lila, her father’s colleague, had assured her that he could help.The firm was one that loan sharks found quite intimidating. She desperately wanted to save her father from jail, not only because her family name and image would be tarnished but also because she couldn’t bear to watch them take him away. She knew he was not responsible for the allegations imposed on him by Lewiston Corporation.“Miss Calista MacQuoid, Mr. Windsor will see you now.” The receptionist’s voice jolted her back to the present. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, her eyes meeting the icy gaze of Ranya Windsor for the first time.“Don’t mind his cold demeanor when you meet him. He can help you.” Lila’s voice echoed in her head as she walked into the room, the recepti
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 77
Fading Echoes of DesireThe weather was nice and fair, especially after the heavy downpour the previous day. There was nothing to worry about as she made her way to the massive building belonging to one of the wealthiest bachelors in Texas, Ranya Windsor.Three years ago was the first time she had visited this place. She was in distress, desperately seeking a way to prevent her father from going to jail. She was troubled and extremely poor. But today, she held her head high, feeling a sense of belonging as her heels made resounding steps toward the receptionist. Despite being a law firm, the building felt more like a suite for people of high status.“Good morning, miss,” the blonde receptionist greeted, smiling sweetly at her. The last time she was here, the receptionist had a curt expression, unlike the friendly one now.“Good morning,” Calista replied, giving her a smile that lit up her face. “I have an appointment with Mr. Windsor.”The receptionist nodded and checked her system fo
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 76
EpilogueCiara crouched below and peered into those sad grey eyes. She pulled at his cheeks playfully, "Asher, don’t you just look dashing?"He tugged at his bow-tie and began to whine.Hara walked by carrying a huge cake that shielded her face, "See Asher, Aunt Ciara thinks you look handsome in that shirt. I agree with her."Ciara chuckled. It had been more than a year and a few months since she moved back to the pack, and it was more than she expected it to be. She had felt so much raw pain when Ghost was driven away in that car. She didn’t have a clue of what she was supposed to do. It was just like the first time she ran away from the pack, confused, exhausted. She had known the pack all her life, grown up here, made friends here. Suddenly she had to run from it, from her safe haven, from everyone she knew. Somehow she had managed to pick up the pieces of her life, find some sort of balance, and then Italy happened. She lost her freedom, lost the reins over her life, lost her happ
ONCE A BETA, NOW A MAFIA 75
In a heartbeat, Ghost swung his arm towards Sergio and pressed the trigger. Sergio didn’t have time to react, his face was frozen in shock as the bullet sliced through the air and into his forehead. Before his men could react, Ghost pulled out another gun from inside his shirt and fired at them.Scar was firing from two guns from behind. Ryder leaped into the air and transformed into a wolf, tearing through the remaining men, ripping them apart. His paws with sharp claws sliced through the air as he sunk his teeth into the neck of one of the men, snuffing the life out of him instantly.Three other men emerged from behind the shadows, dragging Ciara, Hara, and Blair.Hara and Ciara exchanged a look, and on Hara’s cue, they elbowed the men in the groin. Ghost fired instantly, and Ryder jumped on the man holding Blair, knocking him off. He tossed him to the side, and Blair ran towards him, pulling him into a hug. He wiped her tear-stained cheeks with his nuzzle. Hara joined in on the gro
