The doorbell rang, insistent and impatient. I turned to the door like the mahogany had become transparent, my heart pounding as I felt a familiar dread settle in my stomach. The man standing at my door looked both familiar and unrecognizable. One thing came to mind, “Father”. It had been almost five weeks since I last saw Father, a title he insisted I called him because it was different from what the other kids called their parents.My father was one thing and one thing only, the sperm donor in my creation. He left us when I was three years old from what my mum told me and never came back.I slowly approached the door. “Father!” I exclaimed, taking in his shirt messed up with blood evidently pouring from his lips. Both his eyes were swollen like he was repeatedly punched, and I couldn't help but notice the smell of burnt skin that was coming from him.The wind picked up outside, howling loudly and pushing branches against my kitchen windows. It brought back ugly memories . ( Flas
The next time I opened my eyes, I realized I couldn't see. A sharp pain throbbing in my head stopped me from making the panicked movements I was making.I tried pulling my hand to my head only to realize that my hands were cuffed behind me, and my mouth was gagged.An unfamiliar stench hung in the air, and I couldn't stop myself from scrunching up my nose. “Ten million!” a voice called out, the sound filling the room in seconds. I jerked up as my senses came alive, I realized I wasn't alone.My heart surged with fear. I said a silent prayer to whoever was listening, hoping that I was not naked. I doubted, though. I couldn't feel the breeze on my mid region and thighs the way I could feel them on my arms and lower legs. Another voice broke me out of my train of thoughts. “Seventeen million!” The thought hit me like a bag of bricks. They were bidding over something. Fear crawled up my spine. We're they bidding over people?“Forty million!” a small voice called out. It was feminine,
It's been four hours fifteen minutes since I was dumped in a room against my will like a bag of pickles. My eyes had barely left the digital clock that sat on the table beside the bed and I could not even imagine myself shutting my eyes for a minute.Rays of sun had started to trickle through the windows before I heard a knock on the door and then the sound of a key unlocking the door.I stood up with my arms crossed over my chest, expecting to see Luca but was greeted with an unfamiliar female face. “Good morning ma'am. My name is Maria, I'm your personal maid and I will be assisting you.“Mr Alessandro is waiting for you in his study. He requested that you freshen up and be out in twenty minutes,” she said without meeting my eyes.The woman looked to be in her mid thirties or so. There were so many questions I wanted to ask but I didn't think she was the best person to answer them so I shut my mouth as quickly as I opened it. I had opened the bathroom door when I saw that she was
I fell on my knees before I could even stop myself. “Please, he's just a kid, please don't hurt him.” “Oh Nazlynn, come on. I'm not a monster, I would never hurt a child,” he said, his voice softening briefly.“That’s only because my men have no problem doing that,” he ended, shattering my hopes.My eyes flickered back to the screen. It was a live video, the man walking beside Enzo pulled out his gun just enough for me to see it. I held a shaky hand to my mouth.“He's just a child!” I screamed. “Are you guys even human?”“It's quite simple actually, you know. I needed a wife and I made arrangements to get you, all you have to do is show up in six days and act like the perfect wife. You do all that, your brother is safe. It's a win-win for us, right?” He asked, not at all sounding like he was asking.My bottom lip quivered but I forced the tears away. “I'll see you in six days then,” I said, standing up to walk away.“You will go with me to meet my family tomorrow and then to the brid
“Hi, it's so nice to finally meet you.”“I'm Elena, this is my twin sister Jenna, the blonde douche is Miguel, freak in the glasses is Sabrina, José and Samuel are the two over there by the garden, Elena is the little eight year old and Mathias is somewhere around the house,” a girl around my age said immediately the door swung open.“Uh-”“Elena, don't do that. Where's Padre?” Luca asked without sparring any of us a look. The group of people parted to make way for him to walk into the building.“He's in the basement. He said he had to do some garbage disposal.” The girl, Elena, replied without looking at him. Luca walked through the wide hallway before taking a turn that I had not noticed. The group of people ushered me into the house and into the living room that had my jaw dropping. The interior decorator of that place needed to be given an appreciation payment if we're being fair.“Hi, I'm Nazlynn,” I managed to say between nervous breaths. “Hi Nazlynn,” about five voices echo
Luca's POV It took all that I had for my mouth not to drop open in shock as I took in the woman that had just slapped me. My eyes turned red. I wrapped my hand around her throat, pinning her to the wall. “Who the fuck do you think you are Nazlynn?” I yelled out in rage. Her eyes quickly watered up as she clawed against my arm, begging for release. “In my world, no one even dares to look at me the wrong way. I am the most feared mafia leader so do not think I would hesitate to put a bullet in your head because we're to get married.”“There are a million women like you that I wouldn't even notice if you were switched during the wedding. You're my wife, not my equal. Get that through your thick skull.” I growled out, pushing her away from me. Nazlynn staggered before regaining her balance some steps away from me. I had not wrapped my hand tightly against her skin so it wouldn't leave a mark but now, I could see her skin turning red from where my fingertips had pressed down on. “I h
“I don't have the time nor the strength for your games Nazlynn, your tears don't move me. This was your plan wasn't it? To create a scene in front of people and make them believe I was forcing you into this, am I right?” He asked, rage brewing beneath his eyes. He was wrong and I tried to show him that by shaking my head to every word he said. “I am having an extremely shitty day, you don't want to add to it,” he said in a controlled voice. “You will try on the dresses and make a choice. You will get married to me in three days, Nazlynn, that is not up for debate. Neither of us want your brother to get hurt, am I clear?” I froze as an image of Enzo getting shot on his way to his room in Atlanta filled my head. I bobbed my head in response. He signed, pressing his fingertips on his temple. “Can I please have my phone back?” I asked in a shaky voice. He gave me a frustrated look. “You'll have it after the wedding and it will be on some terms.” He took a seat on the armchair oppos
Luca didn't come back until early hours of the morning.I couldn't sleep after we got home because I was still feeling nauseous so I stayed in bed, tossing and turning. My throat felt clogged, crying didn't help because all that did was give me reddened eyes. Sighing, I pulled a robe over my silk night dress and waddled down the stairs to grab a glass of water.The person who selected the clothes in my room must be ignorant about the nature of I and Luca’s wedding because the choice of nightwears were clearly seductive.I was wearing the most decent looking one and even this was made out of a flimsy material that barely covered my ass.Pressing my fingertips on my temple, I tried to find comfort in the dark, empty and quiet. I heard the faint screech of the door before Luca's voice came floating through the air alongside a man whose voice I didn't recognise.I crouched down on the counter slightly even though I knew that he couldn't see me from where he was. “Is she asleep?” Luca a
She scrunched up her nose, and her eyebrows pulled together in a manner that screamed confusion. “You mentioned it when you told me about your nightmares some time ago,” she said.I nodded. “I think you should do what you think is best for your child. You know it's not just yourself that you have to take care of or look out for,” she said, giving me a look that my mother would give me when she was trying to make me see a point that I am intentionally blind to.We talked some more, and I told her everything about everything, going into more details than I did when I sent that long text message. For some odd reason, I felt really calm around her, like I could tell her anything at all. Which was surprising considering how much I was freaking out when I got here.I had come to meet with her to get some advice on what I should do and how I should do it, but here she was telling me that the decision was all mine to make. Just sitting down and talking to her did help me feel better, thou
I agreed to meet up with Alice two days after she had sent that text. Coincidentally, we were in the same city, so it wouldn't be too much of a hassle. She said it was important we met up, and I was curious as to why.“I already fed her, but in case she gets whiny again, give her water in her bottle,” I said to Tracy, crouching down so I could give Hailey a big kiss.The only thing I hated more than being away from my baby was being away from my baby.“I'm going out,” I said to Luca when I saw him in the hallway. He was speaking to some of the members of our security team. He frowned, giving me a once over. “Where are you off to?” “I'm going to meet with someone,” I responded briefly, checking my reflection in the full-length mirror hanging on the wall. Luca dismissed the small gathering of men before turning his attention to me. “Who? You don't have any friends. You're not exactly the most social person,” Luca pointed out. I froze. He had a point. Considering everything that has
Luca walked towards me in a predatory type of way. “Hi princess,” he greeted Hailey before taking her off of me. I stilled as he passed by me, keeping my eyes on Enzo at the other side of the room, who looked half as uncomfortable as I did. “Judging by the fact we've been married for almost two years, you should know that I know you better than yourself,” I heard Luca say from behind me before hearing the door shut and then the sound of a luck turning.I whipped around and was shocked to see an empty space behind me. “What just happened?” I asked Enzo, who was just staring at me.“Your husband just locked us in,” he stated simply.“Yes, I can see that. But why?” I asked as my panic level started rising. Enzo hopped off the chair he was sitting on and started walking towards me. “I asked him how I could get you to talk to me. He said you have a thing for eavesdropping on his conversations, so we decided to see if it'll work. We left the door open a bit, sprinkled your name into the
You're really not going to talk to me at all?” I heard Enzo ask, making me sigh.I had come down the staircase the next morning only to almost bump into him at the bottom. I increased my pace so I could disappear from him as quickly as possible, but Enzo just wouldn't let me be.“I thought I made that clear enough, but apparently I didn't, seeing how you're currently trying to talk to me,” I replied with a fake smile.“Nazlynn,” he called out softly, taking a step in my direction.My eyes searched his. I could still see fragments of the little boy who had left for Atlanta years back, but I could also see something darker. The kind of darkness that you are bound to be exposed to while working with the mafia.I was one to talk, considering how I'm married to a mafia don who is the rival to my biological father who is also a mafia don.“I'm not ready for the conversation you're trying to have, Enzo. I would like to get through one day without reminding myself of how I failed you as a si
I was going to respond to the message Alice sent, but then I got distracted by something that Gabriel said, and I kind of zoned out from everything until we got to the house.I knew when Enzo arrived because half of the staff went into a frenzy, trying to prepare a room for the guest. I wonder what he would be referred to as someone who works for the boss or the boss’ wife's brother. Either way, he's getting a wonderful welcome party.Once I got home, I picked up a sleepy Hailey from her nursery and headed to my room. I wanted to take a nap, and I always slept better when I was smothering Hailey in my arms.Some hours later, a knock woke me up. I saw that my girl was already up before me and was staring at me with her eyes that were an exact copy of mine.I swung the door open with a scowl on my face, ready to have a go at the person who has just interrupted my sleep and possibly, Hailey’s. I was certainly not expecting to be met with Luca's expectant face.My face softened visibly.
“Enzo,” I breathed out without turning back.“I'm home, sis. Not at the best of times, but I'm home,” he said, taking steps closer to me.I pressed a hand to my lips to conceal the sob that was threatening to break out. Slowly, I turned back to see a face that I had not seen physically in about eight years. Enzo was right there, standing in front of me.“How did you….?” I said, making a beeline for him, but then I stopped. Memories of the events from the past few weeks came flooding back into my head at once.“Nazi, please, don't turn away from me. I just want to give my big sister a hug after all these days,” he said, his eyes searching mine for any form of forgiveness. I made sure he wouldn't see any.He took a step closer to me, but I held a hand up to stop him. “How did you know where to find me?” I asked.“I called the boss when I landed at the airport. He told me you had just left the house and were headed here. Turns out, the trip from the airport here takes less time than fro
“Thrilling isn't it? To have found out that everybody had been lying to you,” the message read.“Who are you?” I typed in a frenzy. “Why are you doing this?”“Just a concerned citizen who doesn't like getting lied to. Something I figured you and I have in common.”My nostrils flared. Whoever this was, the person clearly knew a whole lot about me, and I didn't know anything about them. “I want to know who you are. Do you want to meet up?” I asked, biting down on my fingernails.“Making friends is not a part of my job description, sweet pea.”I kissed my teeth in irritation. “What job description?”“You.”That one word chilled me to the bone. I swiped away from the chat and quickly blocked the number from calling or texting me before I could allow myself to give it an extra thought. And that was the end of that chapter for me. I completely closed my mind to everything the person had said to me.It's been almost three weeks since Luca and I had the biggest and most emotional argument t
It took me a few minutes of staring at the screen before I decided to turn off my phone and ignore it. I left Hailey under Tracy's care and headed for the gym without taking the bath that Maria had already prepared for me.Between the music blasting through my earphones and how fast the treadmill was, I was in my own world.The treadmill was on the highest speed it has ever been on. Somehow, it felt like I was running away from all my problems and for just that moment, I felt better. I felt hopeful like I could forgive Luca, forgive Enzo, forgive my mother, forgive Vincent, and lastly, forgive myself.I wasn't sure how long I was on the treadmill, running on a spot until Mathias appeared out of nowhere and turned down the speed of the treadmill.“Hey, hey, hey,” he said as I turned to glare at him. “Don't kill the messenger. I'm just here to check up on you.”“Why did you turn it down? I didn't ask for anyone's help,” I said with a scowl on my face as I took off my earphones that were
It had been two weeks since Luca dropped those bombs on me. Enzo had been blowing my phone up nonstop. A part of me was hoping and praying that Luca was lying about the whole Enzo thing, but barely twenty minutes after I asked him to leave me alone, Enzo started calling me.My brother wasn't playing football in Atlanta like I thought. Instead, he was a member of my husband's mafia. How much crazier can this get? At least it made sense now why Enzo did not mention anything about getting threatened by Luca's people or the time when they made me believe he was shot. It was all part of their ploy to get me to stay here and what better way to do so than to threaten my brother? I couldn't even speak to Elena or Sabrina. What would I say? How does a person even start a conversation like that with her friends?I had told Luca to give me space to process things and I clearly needed a lot of that space. He didn't agree too easily though.“You'll need to leave. This room, this wing, maybe even