In the heart of Valenza, where corruption and violence are twined, Gabriella Conti finds herself in the middle of it when her father sold her to the ruthless of them all—Dante Lombardi. Known for his viciousness, Dante has made a name for himself as a leader to be feared but nothing prepared him for the delicate woman that was dumped into his lap.
view moreThe ceiling lights cast a soft glow on the polished marble floor, complementing the long, elegant corridor that stretched ahead. Jasmine and polished wood scented the air — a beguilingly muggy degree of elegance. The soft pat of their steps echoed, and the sharp knuckles of Sofia's heels shattered all their sounds like swords.“You never would have guessed you’d end up here. Sofia's voice reverberated back through the corridor, sharp and keening as a banshee's wail. Her comments carried a clear tone of mockery, and her eyes sparkled with a blatant joy that she always felt no need to conceal. Next to Gabriella, Hannah tensed, her fingers gripping Gabriella’s hand in silent encouragement. She sensed the tension emanating from her friend — the calm, accepting strength Gabriella had consistently displayed — but this moment felt distinct. Fragile. On the verge of collapse. "That's enough, Sofia," Hannah remarked tersely, her tone quiet yet resolute. Sofia simply laughed — a harsh, joyles
Weeks went by before Gabriella's weak body started to heal from the sickness that had seized her with unyielding force after her ordeal. She had previously been a lively presence, but now, she sensed that she was hardly living. The illness had exhausted her, stripping away the essence of who she used to be. There were times—shadowy, intolerable times—when she beseeched God, imploring Him to free her from this agony. She had pleaded for her life to cease, incapable of bearing the suffocating burden of her existence any longer. However, destiny had different intentions, and in spite of her urgent requests, she realized she was holding on to life, one delicate day at a time. When Gabriella was eventually permitted to return to the upper floors of the mansion, she was beyond caring. Her spirit was shattered to such an extent that she no longer felt affected by the murmurs that trailed her, the glances that seared her skin, or the burden of her husband's treachery. Dante, the person she
Somewhere in New York.The chamber was chilly. Not the sort of chill that could be remedied with a blanket or a heater — it ran deeper than that. It was the sort of cold that seeped into your bones and caused your skin to tingle, regardless of how many layers you had on. The air felt dense, imbued with a silence that weighed on the walls. It had a slight scent of aged perfume mixed with something more intense — perhaps fear. Bianca stood before the mirror, her fingers gliding mindlessly across the swollen area on her cheek. Despite the thick makeup, it still hurt — a dull, pulsating ache that throbbed with each heartbeat. The foundation was heavy and skillfully applied, yet the bruise’s intense purple still risked showing through. She flinched as her fingers glided over the sensitive skin. It wasn't her most serious injury, yet it somehow felt that way. She should have just stayed. The idea struck her once more, piercing and relentless, as it always did. Years had passed since she
The door clicked shut, and the sound made Gabriella freeze. She stood still, listening closely as the lock turned with a harsh, scraping noise. That sound told her one thing — she was trapped. Outside the room, she heard Dante’s voice, calm but firm. There was no kindness in his tone, only authority."No one goes in or out until I say so. Not even for food."His words hit her like a blow. Through the thin wooden door, she heard the quiet movement of the guards standing outside. They didn’t question him. They simply obeyed.She remained in place, listening intently until she caught the sound of Dante’s footsteps ascending the stairs to the more affluent, upper levels of the house. The stillness that ensued felt denser than the atmosphere surrounding her.Only then did she realize she had been holding her breath.Gabriella eventually scanned the space where she had been confined. It was tiny and barren, lacking anything comforting or inviting. The walls were empty, and the sole piece of
Gabriella“This is your new room now.”Dante’s voice cut through the silence like a knife. It was icy, piercing, and utterly conclusive, enveloping my heart with the heaviness of his words like steel shackles. He towered above me, his towering figure creating a shadow so immense it seemed to engulf me entirely. And at that instant, I understood — truly understood — that any remaining hope I possessed was quickly and irretrievably fading like sand slipping through my hands.My body was in pain. My back ached with agony, and the intense, glaring light streaming in through the windows caused my head to pound. However, none of it measured up to the pain in my heartThe ache of knowing that everything was falling apart. The memories of last night hit me all at once, crashing into me like a storm I wasn’t prepared for. The whispers. The accusations. The fear. It was too much, too fast — and then before I could even catch my breath, the door burst open. It slammed against the wall so hard
Matteo."Now get out. And pray you haven’t ruined everything." The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. I stood there for a moment, fists clenched at my sides, as the walls seemed to close in — the weight of my own frustration pressing against me. Sofia. Reckless, impulsive, foolish Sofia. I’d known from the start she’d be a liability, but I needed her. At least for now. But if she kept pushing like this… well, even my patience had its limits. And Sofia was standing right on the edge of them. I began pacing, each step tapping out my irritation on the hardwood floor. Everything had been going according to plan — perfectly, even — until she decided to take matters into her own hands. I should have seen it coming. She was ambitious, but ambition without control was dangerous. And right now, the last thing I needed was danger from my own allies. I sank onto the couch — still warm from where she’d been sitting — and let out a slow breath,
Sofia.I had not expected the girl to deliver such a great job. I couldn’t believe it had worked. I couldn’t believe all it had taken to turn Dante against her was one reckless night of partying. Just one night — and everything shifted. I chuckled quietly, recalling the expression on Gabriella’s face as she understood there was no way to regain Dante’s approval. The ruin, the embarrassment. She had completed it. What now? Dante belonged to me. The idea sparked a wave of excitement within me. The thought of becoming the upcoming mistress of the mansion, along with its riches and influence, thrilled me to the core. I could already picture it — the lavish gatherings, the power, the pure opulence of everything. Before long, everything would be mine. With a pleased grin, I glided down the corridor toward Matteo’s room, my heels tapping gently on the glossy marble. The atmosphere was heavy with excitement. I opened the door without knocking, eager to revel in my triumph. Yet as soon as
Dante.Everything went still the moment she collapsed. The clang of chains hitting the metal pole resonated into stillness, a stark and conclusive tone that lingered in the atmosphere. Even her screams appeared to be overshadowed by the darkness, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the entire universe had stopped.The silence was unbearable. Maybe—just maybe—I shouldn’t have killed the poor bastard. But the thrill was there, undeniable and electric, pumping through my veins the way it had earlier. That sharp rush, that surge of power, was like a drug.But it was the anger that stayed. It simmered in my blood as I uncuffed her wrists, the marks on her skin standing out like bruised flowers. I cradled her like a child, her body limp and fragile against me. And then I stood over her, towering and silent, just watching her sleep. The room was filled with the scent of sweat, fear and blood. He had died for her—Elio—and she didn’t even know it.In the mafia, women don’t betray their husba
Gabriella"No." I whispered, panic clawing up my throat.Dante's grip on my hair got tighter. "Watch."I fought desperately against the bindings, the metal digging into my flesh; however, I was helpless. Enzo swiftly crossed the room, his gun shining in his hand.Elio's chest heaved and sank in quick, uneven gasps. His gaze fixed on me—imploring, urgent.A profound silence extended between us. And then the pop of the gunshot shattered it.Elio's body convulsed, blood pouring across his chest. A cry escaped my mouth as he crashed down, his head turning to the side."Please don't... no, no, no..." I cried, shaking my head.Dante's grip loosened, causing me to tumble onto the table. My vision dimmed as I watched Elio's body lie still, the light of life dwindling from his eyes.I could not catch my breath."You ought to be grateful to me, my dear," Dante whispered, sweeping my hair from my damp, sweaty face. "He was destined to die." He continued. "At least now... he passed away watching
Gabriella“Arghhhhh!!” I ducked under the dinner table, my breaths shaky as the door to the family room was shot down and three men walked in spraying bullets in the air.“Where is my money Antonio” one of them yelled, his eyes sweeping the room, hungry for blood. My chest tightened. “Will this be my last day on earth?” I covered my mouth with my hands, peventing the sobs from escaping.“I— I don't have your money yet” father stuttered from his hiding place beneath the table.The man who had spoken stepped closer, his voice like ice. “You said you had something for me.” chills chased themselves down my spine as I heard my father sobbing. “I’m sorry!” father cried as the man pulled him out from beneath the table by the scruff of his neck.“You know how much I hate games Antonio” he said as he pointed his gun at father’s head with a steady hand. “Wait! Wait! Please!” father cried. I saw the fear in his eyes from my hiding place but nothing prepared me for his next words. “I-I don't ...
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