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Chapter 4

Penulis: Christie Bassey
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-31 16:48:51

ALINA

“They’re waiting for you in the living room,” Pietro said.

The Costa mansion was huge like a giant, bigger even than Luca’s home. Big and cold. 

It had always felt that way to me. More a place of power than a home. I walked up the steps with my father's right hand man, Pietro at my side.

He was sixty years old. Strong and stocky. 

“I didn't ask to see them today.” I snapped, pressing a finger into my forehead. I had a headache 

“They didn't ask for your permission, Al.” Pietro had called me Al as long as I could remember. “They don't need your permission to visit their brother's house.”

I had told him everything in the car. About the two dead men and my fear of Luca. He had told me my uncles were waiting inside the house. 

I nodded, my chest tightening. No, they didn't. 

The house was quiet as I hurried to the living room.

I stepped into the living room and stopped to pull in a deep breathe. I needed patience for this. Either of these men could have killed my father. 

I suspected Angelo more than Roberto. 

My uncles, Angelo and Roberto, sat stiffly on the sofa, their eyes sharp and angry. My mother sat across from them, her hands folded in her lap, her face a mask. 

Everyone knew better than to spill blood with sharks in the water. 

Valentina, my older sister, sat beside her, wringing her hands. Adraino, my brother, only thirteen, was at the edge of the room, his small body almost swallowed by the oversized chair.

“Alina,” Angelo said, his voice sharp. “Come in.”

I stepped inside, holding my head high. He had commanded me into my own home. I could already feel anger heating my blood. 

“Do you want to explain yourself?” Roberto asked. His voice was louder, rougher.

I crossed my arms. “What exactly do you want me to explain?”

“Don’t play games,” Angelo snapped. “You went to Luca Marino. Why?”

I had known they would hate this decision, which was exactly the reason I hadn't informed them. “Because I had to.”

Roberto stood up, pointing a finger at me. His hands were shaking with anger, spit almost drooling from his lips. “You had no right! You didn’t consult us. You didn’t consult anyone!”

“I didn’t need to,” I said. “My father left me the Mafia.”

“You didn’t need to?” Angelo repeated, standing now as well. He looked disgusted. “Do you understand what you’ve done? What kind of man he is? And since when does the Mafia belong to one person? A woman at that?”

“I know exactly what kind of man he is,” I said, my heart running too fast. 

My mother’s voice broke in then. She never would have spoken if my father was in the room. “Then why, Alina? Why would you go to him?”

I took a breath. “Because someone had to do something. If we keep waiting, this family will fall apart. Luca is strong enough to protect us.”

Angelo let out a bitter laugh. “Protect us? By making us his? You think he’ll stop at marriage? He’ll own everything! He'll take you, then he'll take us.”

“Better him than you,” I said before I could stop myself. “Than either of you.”

The room went silent. I had made enemies of my uncles. 

“What did you say?” Roberto growled, stepping forward and slapping me hard across the face. Pietro walked in beside me and glared at Roberto who didn't step back. 

“You heard me,” I said, my voice shaking, my eyes bright with stars and pain from the slap. “Do you think I don’t know what you’ve been planning? Both of you would tear this family apart if it meant taking control. You’d let us die if my father's men would be loyal to you. I won’t let that happen.”

Roberto stepped closer again. his fists clenched. “Careful, Alina.”

“Stop it!” Valentina said, standing up. She was weeping softly. Adraino was watching wide eyed. His childhood ruined before it had even started. “All of you, stop it!”

Angelo looked at me, his face cold. “You’re making a mistake, Alina. A mistake that will cost all of us.”

“Maybe,” I said. “But it’s my mistake to make.”

I turned and walked out of the room, my legs shaking with every step.

By the time I reached my father’s office, my hands were shaking too. I pushed the door open and sat down behind his desk, trying and failing to stop the tears in my eyes from flowing out. 

A knock came at the door. I sat up and cleaned my eyes. 

“Alina?” My mother’s voice was soft outside the door. 

“Come in,” I said.

She stepped inside, closing the door gently. She didn’t sit down, just stood there, looking at me.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked. Mother was beautiful. Stunning even. She looked like a model even though she was almost fifty. 

“Yes,” I said. “I am.”

Her shoulders sagged a little, and for the first time, I saw the worry in her eyes. “You don’t have to do this, Alina. We can find another way.”

“There is no other way,” I said, my voice breaking. “Luca is our best chance. He’s the only one strong enough to keep us safe. You saw Roberto just slap me. He will kill us all if he can.”

She walked over to me, reaching for my hand. “Do you even know what you’re getting yourself into? What he’s capable of?”

“I know,” I said. “And I’m ready. I saw two dead men today, mother. I know.”

She squeezed my hand, her eyes filling with tears. “Alina, I love you. I love you so much. But you have to be ready for what comes next. Once you make this choice, there’s no going back.”

“I know,” I said again, my voice barely above a whisper.

She wiped at her eyes and straightened. “If you do this, you’ll have to deal with the consequences.”

I nodded. 

The phone in my pocket rang before I could think of what to say, making me jump. I pulled it out, my hands trembling as I saw Luca’s name on the screen.

I answered, my voice shaking. “Hello?”

“Alina,” his deep voice rumbled through the line. “I’ve made my decision.”

My heart stopped.

“I’ll marry you.”

He ended the call before I could respond.

I lowered the phone slowly, my hands shaking for completely different reasons now. His cold voice had calmed me. 

My mother was watching me. “Was that him?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice shaky.

She closed her eyes and sighed. “Then it’s done.”

I sat there, staring at the desk, my heart pounding. I’d won. 

But at what cost?

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  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 5

    ALINAMy maid arranged the lace sleeves of my wedding gown for the third time. She put string of pearls around my neck, the coolness of the beads heavy against my skin. "You look beautiful, signorina," she whispered.I gave her a weak smile, my heart hammering too loudly to say thank you. My reflection in the mirror looked like someone else. The dress was beautiful, a classic white gown that tight around my waist and flared out at my hips.The door was pushed open and Valentina burst through the door. She looked stunning in her red dress, but her face was white with worry.She had tried to convince me to cancel the wedding for two days now. I had refused. “Out,” she said, waving a hand at the maid.The girl stopped, but I nodded, and she ran out. “Alina, are you serious about this?” Valentina grabbed my shoulders, shaking me lightly. “Do you know what you’re doing?”“I’m walking down that aisle and marrying Luca,” I said, though my heart was racing. Luca and I had settled on a dat

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 6

    ALINA“I'm the one who packed your bags.” Mother said. My tears dried up at once. Why would she do that to me? “I didn't agree to move in with Luca, Mother.” She shook her head, smiling sadly. “In the Mafia, it doesn't matter, Alina. You will obey Luca. Whatever he says is the law to you.” “But I have so much to do here. I must organize my father's estate. The men are already feeling restless for some direction.” “The men will not listen to you, Alina. Not without Luca backing you. And Luca will not back you if you do not obey him. Don't you understand? He owns you now.” I backed away from my mother, lifted my wedding dress and ran away. Her words “he owns you now” went around and around my head. I hadn't thought this far ahead. I really hadn't expected any of this. My idea of it had been that with Luca’s name, no one would dare command me around. But now, it seemed Luca would be giving all the commands. I need to find Pietro. If I am moving into Luca’s mansion, then he is goin

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 7

    LUCALuca stepped into the room, tearing his suit off. He couldn't remember the last time he had worn one. He snapped a finger at Demetrius, one of his men. “Pour me a drink. Make it a strong one.” Marco waved Demetrius away, and poured the drink himself. He squeezed half a lemon inside the gin, and brought it over. “Don't get drunk. You still have to bed your wife.” Luca grunted and gulped down half of the drink. He grunted, faking a groan. Marco laughed, tipping back half his drink too. “To your marriage. May it give us healthy sons and daughters. Sons especially.”Luca closed his eyes, remembering Alina's wide eyes as she stared up at him, her teeth biting into her lower lip. Oh definitely, they would make children. Lots of them if she kept staring at him like that. “She's going to be a wild one.” Marco said, sitting across from Luca. They had a meeting in three minutes. Someone had thrown a body over his wall, Luca wanted to find out who it was. He was at his small house. A s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-31
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 8

    ALINAI felt my heart climb up my stomach and into my chest. I ran over to Luca, throwing my arms around his shoulder. He winced, and I jerked my hands away.They were stained with blood.Oh God.I had Luca’s blood on my hands. The thought made me stumble as my heart started racing. “What happened?” I hurried to the bed and pulled the sheets off, throwing them on the floor. Luca sat on the edge of the bed.He grunted, gritting his teeth as he looked up at me with angry eyes. “Someone shot at me and Marco.”I inhaled and exhaled. Luca was the King of the Mafia. The Monster. This was normal to him, probably. I wouldn’t lose my cool.I knelt in front of him and started unbuttoning his shirt. “Damn it, Luca. This is our wedding night. The least you could have done was return to me in one piece.”He groaned when I peeled the bloody shirt off his shoulders. “I fucking tried. What do you think I was doing? Waiting there for them to shoot at me like a living target?”I could tell he was in pa

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 9

    LUCAMy hands were shaking, all the blood rushing from my head down to my cock. I could feel how hard it was pressing against my pants.Alina’s eyes were closed tight, her chest rising and falling hard.I growled. “Go on.”She opened her eyes. “Marco is outside the door.”I rolled my eyes. “To hell with Marco.”As if he had heard my words, Marco banged on the door again. For fuck’s sake!I closed my eyes and forced my hands to stay steady. I took a large step away from Alina. “Stay in bed. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”I stepped into her and kissed her long and hard. She was too shocked to kiss me back, but I liked her soft lips against mine.I pulled her gently from the door, stepped outside, and closed it. Marco was covered in blood too.He also looked very sorry, which didn’t make me feel any better. “Marco. You could have given me a few minutes before banging on my door like that.”Marco grinned. “Did I interrupt something?”I walked by him, fists at my side, begging my cock to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 10

    ALINAI opened my eyes, moaning softly as the light coming from the window stabbed my eyes.It was morning already. I closed my eyes again, deciding I really had signed up for more than I could take.I remembered Luca standing in front of that man, his cock falling to the floor like it had never been attached to a human body.“Alina?”I opened my eyes again. Luca was sitting beside my bed. I watched him silently for a second. How could someone so handsome be so devious?Luca was dressed in a black shirt that stretched tight across his shoulders and highlighted his hard stomach.His thighs were thick in his black pants.His thick hair fell over his eyes like he had been running his hand through it all night.I looked away, swallowing hard to clear my throat. My mouth felt too thick, same as my throat. “Did you really cut off his…”Luca stood and came to the bed. He took my hand in his. “Yes, Alina. Sometimes, we have to be evil to stay alive. They almost killed me.”I swallowed again,

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 11

    ALINAI took a shower, dressed, and left my room in less than ten minutes.Pietro was standing outside my door. "He's in the living room."I nodded, dragging my hair into a ponytail. "Does Luca know he's here?""No. I believe he left for his meeting before your uncle arrived. Would you like me to inform him of the guest in his house?"I shook my head. I could deal with my uncle myself. He wasn't the kind of enemy I needed Luca's help with.When I reached the dining room, I found Uncle Roberto seated at the table, eating the breakfast one of the housekeepers had prepared for him. He took small, precise bites, like he was a gentleman, and not someone who had blood on his hands.I inhaled deeply. The last time I had spoken to him, he had slapped me.He wouldn't dare today. I knew that, but my heart still beat too fast.And it wasn’t with the excitement I had felt earlier this morning when Luca’s head was between my breasts."Uncle Roberto," I greeted, bending to kiss both his cheeks.He

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08
  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 12

    LUCAAlina’s look of shocked confusion was almost funny.Her face was burning, and she looked stunning, standing there with her hair around her shoulders, her eyes hot enough to burn.She rolled her neck. “I suspect he did. Why? What do you know?”I shrugged, pulling my jacket off my shoulder. “Nothing.”Alina came over to me. She lifted her large eyes to mine. Her pupils were wide and dilated like they had been that morning. “I'm sorry, I told Pietro not to call you.”“It wasn't Pietro who called me.” I dropped the jacket on the floor, and she picked it up at once, folding it carefully and dropping it on the bed.I sat on the bed, and she sat beside me. I lifted her, dumping her on my lap. She was still shaking. I kissed her ear. “Hey, relax. Your uncle can't do a thing to you.”She nodded, her shoulders relaxing slowly. She exhaled. “Trust me, I know that.”I turned her so her legs went around my waist. She snuggled into me. “I was asking about your father. Do you suspect that Rober

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-08

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  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 65

    ALINAI hated this.I hated that we had to do it. I hated that we couldn’t tell her the plan. I hated that I had to be the one to sit in front of Valerie and ask her if she was willing to walk back into hell.But there was no other way. Luca and I had come up with a plan while driving back home. And we knew it would work. We hoped it would.She sat across from me, her hands fisted on the armrests of the chair like she was preparing for an impact. She looked like she had that moment before Riot slapped her outside the club.I didn’t waste time. It was better to quickly rip the band aid off. “What do you think about getting your son back if you go back home?”Her lips clenched painfully as she bit it. “I want him back.” Her voice was shaking with fear. “But if I go back there, Riot will kill me.”I swallowed. “You don’t know that for sure.”She laughed dryly, looking away. “Yes, I do.”Luca stood against the wall, silent. Watching. He looked like an angel of war. I liked having him beh

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 64

    LUCAI parked outside and waited for Alina.I was picking her up after her meeting. The door opened but it was Alberto who came outside. He walked past me toward his car, his eyes burning with so much hatred, it was almost laughable. If looks could kill, I’d be dead a thousand times over and he wouldn't have been my killer either. I didn’t react. Didn’t even spare him a second look as I pulled open the passenger door just as Alina stepped outside.She pulled her coat tighter, her hair shifting against her shoulders as the wind picked up. She looked tired and majestic at the same time. When I stepped into the car, the driver pulled out, my security detail in front and behind us. After being shot at, I was more careful with security. I watched Alina's face. She looked calm, but I could tell she was worried. “How did the meeting go? Any problems?” She shrugged. “The meeting went fine enough.” Then, after a second, she added, “Alberto threatened to kill you.”I laughed quietly. Why

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 63

    ALINAI stopped outside the door, my pulse steady, my thoughts sharp. I was angry, but I kept my cool.I couldn't afford to let emotions rule me. Not now.Beside me, Pietro stood still like a statue, watching the entrance with narrowed eyes.“Do they have any idea what I’m about to tell them?” I asked, keeping my voice low so the men gathered inside the safe house wouldn't hear me. I had called a meeting like Luca had advised me. I wanted my men to be prepared and ready in case the Alvarados decided to strike.Pietro shook his head “I don’t think so. Which is why we need to get ahead of it and control it. We want them to support us.” I nodded. That was the plan. That had always been the plan; to control the story before anyone else could twist it against me.I started walking again and Lorenzo followed behind me. I turned to him, frowning. Was he trying to follow me into a personal meeting with my men? “Stay out here.”He didn’t move. Didn’t speak. Just shook his head no. I clench

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 62

    LUCAI handed Maya to Valerie and stood. So both of her children were not Riot's? That made more sense. Now I understood why she was so worried.“Maya isn't his daughter too?” I asked, leaning forward with my hands on the table. “No, I already had them before I married Riot. When I couldn't give him a child after a year, he started hating me.” Valerie cried, cleaning her face. If Valerie's son was not Riot's child, then he was very unsafe. They could kill him.We had to find him, and we had to save him.Alina followed me to the door. Immediately we stepped outside, she stopped and her eyes filled with bright tears. “What have I done, Luca? That kid will die, won't he?” I stepped towards her, shaking my head. “He won't die. We won't let him. Go in for work. Call a meeting with your men, and ask them to be careful, we're not sure yet how they will react, but we need to be ready.” Alina gulped and nodded, turned and walked inside. Marco was already standing beside my car. A minute

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 61

    ALINAI woke up suddenly, my heart pounding. The day had already begun, because light was pouring in through my curtains.I groaned and sat up. I never woke up this late. I must have been very tired. Little wonder why Luca had forced me to sleep.I threw off the covers, got out of bed, and quickly showered and dressed. Luca hadn’t woken me up. That meant something was wrong or he was just being a pain in the ass by trying to protect me.Either way, I didn’t like it.When I opened the door, I nearly ran into a wall of muscle.I blinked. Took a step back.The man standing outside my door was huge. He was built like a damn mountain. He had broad shoulders, thick arms, and an expression that looked like he hadn't smiled in years.An eye patch covered his left eye, making him look even more intimidating.I stared at him. Why was he standing outside my door? “Who the hell are you?”He smiled, but on his face, it looked more like a grimace. “Lorenzo. Your new bodyguard.”I laughed. “What?”

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 60

    LUCAI lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.Sleep wouldn’t come. My body was heavy, exhausted, but my mind wouldn’t shut off.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Riot’s face.I heard the bastard’s voice.I thought about Valerie, about the boy, about how fast things were spiraling.I closed my eyes, forced my shoulders to relax, and tried to rest for an hour.I knew the Alvarado Cartel wouldn't kill the boy. They just couldn't.But I couldn't relax. I sat up and rubbed a hand down my face.Someone knocked on my door.I jumped out of bed like I had been waiting for that distraction.When I opened the door, Pietro and Leonard stood there. One look at their faces, and I knew I was in for a long night. Neither of them looked happy.“They’re here,” Pietro said.I nodded and turned back inside. I grabbed a shirt from the chair, pulled it on without buttoning it, and ran a hand through my hair.“Wait in my office,” I muttered as I stepped past them.They left in one direction, but I turned the

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 59

    ALINALuca didn’t wait for me to follow, he just walked, his steps long and purposeful, expecting me to keep up. Marco was right beside him, and I trailed stiffly behind, my mind still trying to catch up with everything that had happened.Just before we stepped out of sight, Luca looked back at Sofia. “Go up and sleep, after the housekeeper has taken Valerie and Maya to their room.”Sofia nodded, her face still tense. I had no idea if she’d actually listen, but I didn’t have the energy to say anything else.I was suddenly tired. Maybe it was the thought of the boy dying because I had interfered where I shouldn't have. I pushed the tiredness away. I would have to live with the guilt forever if the boy died because of me. We entered Luca’s office, and he locked the door behind us. The moment he sat behind his desk, I asked, “Do you think they’d really kill the boy?”Luca exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. “No.” He sounded sure. “The boy is still Riot’s son.”That should have ma

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 58

    LUCA“Find my phone,” I yelled over the gunfire.Alina reached for it, her hands moving fast as I speeded out of the parking lot. The sound of bullets slamming against the armored windows was deafening, like hail against glass, but heavier, more violent.I clenched my jaw and pushed the gas pedal down harder. We needed to get the hell out of here before they found a way to stop us.Alina shoved the phone into my hand. I was about to dial when she grabbed it back.“I’ll call Sofia,” she said. “You focus on driving.”I didn’t argue. I needed both hands on the wheel.She pressed the phone to her ear. She tapped her finger impatiently against her seat until Sofia picked up. “Sofia, get one of the men to open the gates right now. We’re coming home.”Sofia’s voice was sleepy on the other end, but she answered immediately. “Okay.”Alina ended the call, sliding the phone back into its hold. The bullets kept coming, but I could tell we were pulling ahead. Their shots were landing less freque

  • Signed To The Mafia King   Chapter 57

    ALINA I called the number again.Nothing.I stared at the screen, heart pounding.It rang five times, then cut off.I swallowed, hit redial, prayed someone would pick up. The man who had called sounded dangerous, the kind of man who wouldn't care about hurting the child if he could get what he wanted.Was that Riot's elder brother? Did it make a difference who it was?Still no answer.“What are you planning to do?” Luca asked when I almost ran over to the car.I barely looked up. I was glad he was beside me, with his intensity, but the man had asked me to come alone. “I’m going to get the boy.”Luca snapped. “Alone?”“Yes.”Luca stopped and the suddeness of the action made me stop too. “It’s a trap.”I nodded. I knew exactly what it was. “I know.”Luca looked exasperated. His eyes flashed at me. “And you’re still going?”My grip on my phone tightened. “Do you have a better idea?”Luca nodded, looking all sensible, like he needed me to be sensible too. How could I be sensible when t

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