ArabellaI let out an audible sigh of relief as I sauntered away. It was the same sigh of relief I let out when I realized Six didn’t hear my prior conversation with Don Corleone.If he had, my whole plan would have been completely ruined. When he called out to me at first, I was terrified that he had listened in on our conversation, but then, when he didn’t say anything, I relaxed.I could hear his footsteps trailing close behind as I walked through the small crowd of guests and outside the hall.I had enough partying for the night. All I wanted was to quietly retire. I wanted time alone, away from the man who was not that far behind.I bit my lower lip as a small blush crept up on my face, thinking about moments ago. His arm locked around my waist, his deep voice dark with warning, “Never do that again, Arabella...”The way my name rolled off his tongue made it sound exotic. The flash of anger in those midnight-black eyes left butterflies in my stomach.Why was I suddenly excited abo
ArabellaI woke up to the sound of movement—soft footsteps padded across the floor. My eyelids fluttered open as I struggled to adjust to the lighting in the room.My body was still heavy with sleep, my mind sluggish as I blinked against the morning light filtering through the sheer curtains.Before I could fully register what was happening around me, maids began pouring into the room. They moved in perfect sync, led by an older woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor.Carts were pushed in, one overflowing with luxurious new clothes, another carrying a silver tray piled high with breakfast, and a third stocked with delicate glass bottles of scented oils, soaps, and other cosmetics I couldn’t recognize at first glance.A whole production unfolded around me as the maids swiftly laid out everything on the bed.I sat up slowly, still groggy, trying to grasp what was happening when a shadow fell over the doorway.Capo Marco.The sight of him sent a cold wave of disgust washing ove
SixI looked around the large room. It was a lounge, with a large bar behind me, tables set in a homely manner, and men sitting around nursing their drinks. Bottles were strewn across the floor, and soft music played in the background.The only thing missing was scantily clad women strutting from one end of the lounge to the other. The men talked loudly about some dumb thing I couldn’t keep up with.I really did try at first, but the obnoxious tales they told usually ended with loud laughter and the rest of the group joining in. They were stories they had told countless times before. They were family.And I sat amongst them, a stranger, sipping whisky with an expression that barely masked my boredom. My fingers tapped idly against the stem of my glass, and every few minutes, I checked my watch.If I had it my way, I would have been long gone, anywhere but here. Gatherings like this were never my cup of tea.But I couldn’t leave. Not yet.So instead, I let my mind wander.My mind wande
SixI would have been impressed if I weren’t terrified for her life.She walked in wearing nothing but a long silk nightdress with a thin robe draped carelessly over her shoulders, her damp hair twisted up in a towel like she’d just stepped from the shower.Marco had explicitly ordered her to dress up, and she had done the exact opposite, deliberately, defiantly.She had kept him waiting, all these dangerous men waiting, and then sauntered in wearing what amounted to lingerie.The men around the table exchanged knowing smirks. Marco’s face darkened with a rage I could feel radiating across the room.“Arabella!” he roared, shooting to his feet, his chair scraping violently against the floor.“Yes, Marco.”Her voice was cool water over hot stones, steady, unruffled, as if completely blind to the murderous fury in his eyes or the pack of predators around her, salivating, just waiting for his signal to tear her apart.“Do you have a death wish, Arabella?” His voice dropped to something mo
SixI stepped outside, the cool evening air brushing against my skin as I walked toward the pool.The soft glow of the underwater lights illuminated the water, casting rippling reflections onto the stone deck. And then I saw her.Arabella.She moved through the water with hypnotic grace, her body slicing through it like a siren born to the sea.The tiny red latex bikini she wore clung to her every curve, not just accentuating but celebrating each perfect dip and line of her frame.It was sinfully bold, molding to her like a jealous lover, making her breasts look fuller, her wet skin gleaming like polished marble under the shimmering lights.I clenched my jaw until it ached, loathing the instant traitorous response of my body.The urgent stiffness pressing against my pants mocked me, a humiliating reminder of how utterly powerless I was in her presence.I had assumed, hoped, that after everything, after the time she spent avoiding me, after the distance she had put between us, after th
ArabellaHeat flooded my cheeks, burning like wildfire as my hands flew instinctively to cover my chest. Shame and something else; something I refused to name, coiled in my stomach.Six stared at me, his eyes dancing with undisguised amusement, lips curled into that infuriating smirk that made my pulse quicken against my will.“You are a crass man, Six,” I said, trying to inject venom into my voice, but hearing the breathless quality instead.He shrugged with an easy confidence that both infuriated and captivated me. “You did seem to like my crassness that night...” His voice dropped lower, the words wrapping around me like velvet.I bit down hard on my lower lip, tasting the metallic hint of blood as I fought the blush threatening to consume me.I averted my gaze, unable to bear the knowing look in his eyes; the look that said he could see right through my pretenses.“How long are you going to stay in the water?” he asked.The truth was, I hadn’t thought that far ahead. The water was
ArabellaI exhaled as we got out of the cars lined up in the parking lot. My heart hammered in my chest just like it always did whenever I was around Marco. There were at least seven more men carrying heavy weapons.I had never walked in the company of men like this, but as the capo’s bride-to-be, I had to. Now, there was a target on my back.I bowed my head as we walked toward the high-end store. A large glass window displayed timeless designs. The old me would have been thrilled to go shopping, especially in an expensive place like this.My back turned rigid when he put his hand on me again, sliding over the curve of my hip, fingers pressing in as though he was making sure I understood who I belonged to.The gesture was subtle, meant for me alone, but I felt Francesco watching. He was the closest to Marco, always at his ear, cheering him on.The amusement in his eyes made my skin crawl with disgust. He was repulsive. There was something in the way he looked at us, like he got off on
SixI followed behind Arabella, watching as she aimlessly tossed clothes into the cart. She wasn’t even paying attention to what she was grabbing; half the things she picked up weren’t her size.The way her fingers fumbled over the fabric, how she moved in jerky, uncertain motions, it was obvious she wasn’t here, not really.Her steps were uneven, her breath just a little too quick. She was nervous. Her mind was elsewhere. Clearly, something was bothering her, and I didn’t know what it was.We turned down another aisle, and something caught my eye. A smirk played at my lips as I reached for a small box. I turned to her, holding it out casually.“You’re going to be needing that,” I said, my voice low with amusement.Her entire body froze. I watched as her wide eyes flicked to the box in my hand, then back to me.Her skin flushed instantly, a deep, unmistakable pink blooming across her cheeks.I held her gaze for a moment before dropping the item into the cart. My smirk widened as she s
ArabellaMarco’s arms were warm around me, but I couldn’t relax. My whole body was rigid. My heart hammered loudly in my chest.I tried not to think about it. I really did. But my mind wouldn’t stop playing that moment on loop—Six’s hand brushing my thigh, his mouth kissing me all over, and later… the way he’d slipped my underwear into his pocket like it belonged to him. Like I did. He said I was his.Heat rushed to my cheeks.Marco chuckled above me. “You don’t have to be shy around me, mi amore,” he said, lifting my chin with his finger. “You’re going to be my wife.”Wife.The word hit hard.I blinked up at him, confused. “What?”He just smiled like he hadn’t noticed the way my breath hitched. “You heard me, Arabella.”I didn’t know what to say. My throat felt tight. So I just nodded. It was easier that way. Pretend like I agreed. Pretend like everything was okay.Marco opened the door to my bedroom and carried me in. He dropped me gently to my feet when we got inside.I heard soft
SixI asked her to stop. She was wearing white lacy underwear with a bow in front. I was gawking at her.There was something about her in those lacy panties that did my head in. I stared at her flat belly, then at her full, long legs.I exhaled. This woman would be the death of me. I touched her crotch area, tracing a path down to the wet spot between her legs.“Nice choice of undies,” I remarked.She smiled, but I didn’t miss the look that crossed her face.“Let me guess, Marco’s choice?” I asked in a strained voice.She nodded, looking at me with wide eyes, like a deer caught in headlights. “Do you ever think of him?” I asked.She shook her head vigorously. “No. His touch repulses me…”I touched her again down there, gently. “And mine?”Of course I was jealous. It was torture to watch them together. I needed to be sure. I needed reassurance.She sucked in a deep breath and shook her head. “I like it when you touch me,” she whispered.I crouched in front of her and pulled down her pa
ArabellaHe ended the kiss abruptly and pulled away from me. I glanced at him—his head was bowed. My chest was heaving, but I wanted this. I wanted him. There was a throbbing between my legs that I knew only he could satisfy.“Six,” I called out to him in a soft whisper.He looked up at me, his eyes darkened with desire, and his lips were red from kissing.I averted my eyes, suddenly feeling self-conscious under the intensity of his stare. “I... I...”“I want to fuck you, Arabella,” he blurted out.My breath caught in my throat. “What?” My voice was hoarse and barely audible.“You heard me, Arabella. I want to fuck you,” he said with a small smirk, looking at me. “Of course, you know that. You see it in the way I look at you, you feel it when I touch you...”“Six...”“We are alone, Arabella. If I continue to kiss you, I’m not going to stop at kissing you. As much as I want you, I don’t want to take advantage of you, especially in your vulnerable state.”“I want you to fuck me.” I didn
SixI stood by the double doors, back straight, eyes fixed on the far wall. My hands were clasped behind me, fingers twitching with controlled tension. I tried not to look—God knows I tried.But she was in the mirror.Arabella.How could I not steal a look?In beautiful silk and lace, she stood in the middle of the room. The dress clung to her like it was carved on her body, half-zipped and half-exposed, her skin glowing softly under the golden light.Marco lounged in a velvet chair a few feet away, legs spread, watching her as if she were a prized possession meant for display. He licked his lower lip, a crooked smile on his face.“She’ll make a beautiful bride, won’t she, Six?” he said, his voice low and smug.I didn’t look at him. I didn’t even blink. I kept my gaze fixed on the wall, determined to stay detached.“Yes,” I answered, my jaw set tight. I stole a quick glance at her again.My voice came out flat. It was hard to stay in control when all I wanted to do was charge at him a
ArabellaThe night was too quiet.Not peaceful - just still. Exactly how I felt on the inside. I was tired of crying; I had cried all day until my eyes were swollen and red.I felt like a weight was crushing me down, and I was too tired to react.I stepped out onto the balcony, my bare feet touching the cold stone. The silk robe I wore clung to my skin— soft and light— but it didn’t make me warm.I wrapped my arms around myself and walked to the railing. The moon was bright tonight. Too bright. Like it was watching me.I stared at the stars for a moment, lost in the beauty of the night sky.I didn’t know if I was alone, but I didn’t care.Not at first.I just stood there, staring out at the trees and the garden, breathing in the cool air like I needed it to stay sane, because I did.Nothing had prepared me for the encounter with my father today. I thought the last time I saw him, when he dropped me off at the mansion, would be the last I’d see of him for a long time. I had almost forg
SixThe room smelled of smoke and alcohol. The men around the table were smoking huge cigars and drinking whiskey. I sat on the edge of the dark leather sofa, one leg crossed over the other.Across from me, Arabella’s father sat stiffly in a bright purple plaid suit. The man had questionable style. His hair was silver-white and styled to perfection.The expensive Richard Mille wristwatch on his hand, paired with the gold bracelet and chunky gold rings, oozed wealth.It was probably new, dirty money he had received from selling off his own daughter to a vile man like Marco.Marco leaned back with a smug smile. “So tell me again, Enzo Rodriguez. Why couldn’t you make it to your own daughter’s engagement party?”Arabella’s father cleared his throat, adjusting the collar of his shirt like it might help his excuse land better. “I had a prior engagement,” he said, his voice cool and clipped. “Business. It couldn’t be postponed.”Business. That’s what she was to him too, I guessed. A busines
ArabellaThe ghost of Six’s lips still burned on mine, and I hadn’t even opened my eyes yet.My body was suspended in the moment, somewhere between disbelief and a dizzying warmth that made my head spin.I was barely aware of the space between us now, barely registering that he had pulled away.And then—“Bella.”My eyes snapped open at the sound of Marco’s voice.Panic slammed into me at full force. A small gasp escaped my lips.He was standing in the doorway, his eyes bouncing between me and Six. His expression was unreadable. It was hard to tell what he was thinking.Six was doing a good job of pretending, standing at my bedside with his hands behind his back, a natural at this, but me?I was frozen still, my lips still plump, and my neck? I pulled the neckline of my dress closer, wondering if my neck was red at this point.My heart was hammering so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest. Not just because of what had almost happened— what had happened— Six’s soft lips moving
ArabellaMy eyelids slowly fluttered open as I struggled to adjust to the bright lights in the room. A dull ache throbbed at the back of my head, and my limbs felt heavy.As my vision cleared, I found myself staring into a familiar pair of midnight-black eyes. It was the same set of eyes I had been looking into when I...I sat up with a start, only to be hit with an immediate wave of dizziness.“Hey, take it easy,” he said in his deep baritone voice, placing an arm around me and gently tucking me back into bed. “You need a lot of rest. Your body needs time to recover. You were poisoned.” He glanced at me. “I poisoned you, but don’t worry. Just another night’s rest, and you’ll be o—”“Wait, what did you say?” I blurted out, my eyes wide with shock.“I said you have to rest up, so you’ll feel be—”“No, no, before that,” I interjected.He furrowed his brows. “Oh, the part where I said I poisoned you.”“Ho... How could...”Before I could finish my sentence, Maria and two other women strol
ArabellaThe folded slip of paper burned in my palm, my fingers curling tightly around it as I forced myself to keep moving.The waiter who had slipped it to me walked ahead, pausing only briefly to glance back before disappearing into the crowd.My heart thundered in my chest, but I couldn’t stop, couldn’t react. Not here. Not now.Marco groaned against my side, his full weight pressing into me as I struggled to support him up the stairs. He was drunk; more than drunk.His breath was hot against my neck as he leaned closer to whisper, “Arabella, my love.” He chuckled, his words slurred, the amused look in his eyes making me uneasy.“God, you’re so hot,” he muttered, his grip tightening around my waist. “You have no idea how much I want you right now.”I forced out a laugh, light and teasing, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tension in my body. “You’re drunk, Marco. I’ll just get you to your room.”“And you’re beautiful,” he stated, giving me a long look as if seeing me for the first tim