Selena Bennett never thought her life would spiral so far out of control. Sold to the mafia to settle her father’s gambling debts, she finds herself face-to-face with Adrian Russo, the cold and ruthless mafia don who bought her freedom. But Adrian isn’t just any stranger—he’s the ex-fiancé whose heart she shattered years ago. Adrian is determined to punish Selena for abandoning him without a reason, even as old feelings resurface. But Selena harbors a heartbreaking secret: she broke off their engagement to protect Adrian from a truth she couldn’t bear to reveal. As their lives entangle in the dangerous world of the mafia, buried emotions erupt, betrayal lurks in the shadows, and secrets threaten to destroy any hope of reconciliation. Can they overcome the pain of the past, or will the mafia world tear them apart forever?
Lihat lebih banyakThe stench of blood was suffocating.Nina staggered as Jason’s shove sent her stumbling forward, her eyes landing on GT’s lifeless body. He was unrecognizable now, his face swollen, his skin burned, his bones shattered. His once defiant eyes were now dull, lifeless.The sight made bile rise in her throat.She swallowed hard, forcing herself to remain still, but her body betrayed her. Her knees trembled, her fingers twitched, her heartbeat pounded so violently that she could hear it echoing in her ears.“You are quiet now, huh?” Jason sneered, standing behind her. “Not so bold anymore, are you?”Damien scoffed. “She thought she could outsmart the boss. Thought she could play both sides.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “Look where that got you, Nina.”Nina’s throat was dry. She wanted to say something, to defend herself, to plead but what was the point? There were no words that could save her now.She knew what they thought of her.A traitor.And the worst part?They were right.Jason’
The silence that followed was unbearable.The room felt colder now.The room felt like it was closing in on her. Nina’s pulse roared in her ears, drowning out everything else.Nina couldn’t move. She couldn’t breathe.Nina forced herself to breathe, though each inhale felt like swallowing glass.Her body was locked in place, her knees weak, her stomach twisted in violent knots. The chair in front of her, the chair GT was tied to was no longer just a chair. It was an altar of agony, and he was the sacrifice.Jason and Damien stood frozen behind her, but she didn’t dare turn to look at them.This wasn’t about them.This was about her.He had known for a while.He had been waiting for her to slip.To reveal herself.To prove her betrayal.And she just had.Nina clenched her fists, her nails biting into her palms as she fought to keep her expression neutral.Adrian hadn’t said a word since she pulled off the cloth but studied her in silence, as if savoring the moment.Then. “Matteo.”T
The alarms had finally gone silent.The estate was still tense, but the frantic search for GT had died down. Guards returned to their posts, whispers filling the halls about how the bastard had somehow slipped through their fingers.At least, that’s what everyone believed.Nina sat stiffly in Adrian’s office, her hands resting on her lap, fingers curled inwards to keep from trembling. Across from her, Jason and Damien sat just as rigid, though their expressions were unreadable.Adrian had called them in without explanation. That alone was unsettling.The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.Adrian leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lazily against the desk. His sharp gaze flickered over them, lingering on Nina for a beat longer than necessary before he finally spoke.“I gave you one job.”His voice was quiet. Too quiet.Jason tensed. Damien exhaled slowly. Nina forced herself to hold Adrian’s gaze, though her stomach twisted violently.“And yet,” Adrian continued, his
The estate was in chaos.Guards ran in every direction, speaker buzzing with urgent updates as they searched for GT. The sound of boots pounding against marble floors echoed through the hallways.Nina walked out of Adrian’s office with controlled steps, her mind racing despite her calm exterior.Adrian had bought her story.For now.But it wasn’t over not even close.If GT was caught, it would only be a matter of time before Adrian uncovered the truth. And if that happened, she was as good as dead.Her fingers curled into a fist at her side.She had to think.Fast.As she turned the corner, Jason and Damien were already barking orders to the guards. Jason’s sharp eyes flicked to her the moment she appeared."You’re staying out of this, remember?" he said coldly.Nina forced a smirk. "Didn’t realize you were the one giving orders now."Jason didn’t smile. Neither did Damien."If we don’t find GT soon," Damien muttered, "Boss Adrian is going to make an example out of someone."They did
Nina barely slept that night.She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with possibilities. No matter how much she tried to push it away, one fact remained GT knew about her secret. She had two choices.Follow orders and bring GT in.Or find a way to make sure if he is caught he never spoke.Neither option was good. The first meant putting GT directly under Adrian’s scrutiny, where he’d have no way out. The second meant betraying Adrian before she fully understood his endgame. And Adrian saw everything.She sat up, rubbing a hand over her face. She needed a plan, but nothing concrete came to mind. Her hidden boss wouldn’t be pleased to know she was tangled to something like this. Did they expect her to eliminate GT? Frame someone else? Or was she supposed to use this to her advantage?The thought made her stomach churn.She stood and moved toward the small bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes hollow from exhaustion, lip
The moment Nina stepped out of Adrian’s office, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She didn’t need to check to know who it was.Her hidden boss.Her fingers tightened around the device before she slipped into an empty hallway, away from prying ears. She took a breath and answered.“You’re late,” the voice on the other end was cold, sharp. “Why haven’t you reported in?”Nina’s pulse remained steady. “There was nothing to report until now.”Silence.Then, “Start talking.”She kept her tone neutral as she relayed everything that had happened so far, Matteo and Rosco’s test, the man in the chair, the blood, the way Adrian had summoned her afterward. But she left out one crucial detail.She didn’t tell her that she had been ordered to kill.She didn’t know why she hid it. Maybe because she once saw the man with him. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was self-preservation. But something told her that part needed to stay buried, for now.Her hidden boss was quiet for a long moment. Then, a low
Nina’s fingers curled around the handle of the knife, her grip tightening as she stared at the man slumped in the chair. His breathing was ragged, blood dripping from a cut on his temple. He was barely conscious, unaware of the danger he was in.Matteo and Rosco stood nearby, watching her every move.This was it.A test of loyalty.Her heart pounded against her ribs. If she refused, they would know she wasn’t truly on Adrian’s side. If she hesitated too long, they would suspect her. And if she actually went through with it…Her stomach twisted.She could feel Matteo’s gaze boring into her. “What is taking so long?” he asked, amusement lacing his voice.Rosco, silent as always, took a step closer. “Kill him.”The knife felt heavy in her hand. The man in the chair groaned, his head lolling forward. He didn’t even know she was the one holding his life in her hands.She swallowed hard.Think, Nina. Think.She needed to act fast.Her mind raced, searching for a way out, an excuse, anything
The compound was quiet as Nina stepped outside, the night air cool against her skin. A faint glow from the training grounds cast long shadows across the courtyard, and her stomach twisted with unease.Matteo stood in the center, his hands behind his back, his face unreadable. Rosco was nearby, arms crossed, observing everyone with his usual detached expression.The recruits gathered, murmuring amongst themselves, confused by the sudden nighttime summons. Nina kept her face neutral, though her pulse was racing.She saw selene and Victoria also. Something wasn’t right.Matteo’s gaze swept over them before landing on her.“You all think you are ready ,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “That you’ve trained enough to survive in this world.”His lips curled slightly. “Let’s find out.”Without warning, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device, pressing a button.A loud explosion rocked the compound.Nina’s breath caught as a section of the courtyard erupted into flames, s
"Step forward," Matteo ordered, his voice sharp.Nina hesitated for only a second before obeying. She couldn’t afford to look weak.The other recruits stepped back, giving them space. Nina knew she had to be careful. If she held back, Matteo would notice. If she fought too well, she might attract the wrong kind of attention.Matteo moved first, his attack fast and precise. Nina barely dodged in time, stepping aside to avoid his fist. He didn’t give her a moment to recover, coming at her again with a kick. She blocked it, but the impact sent her stumbling.Matteo narrowed his eyes. "You’re too slow."Gritting her teeth, Nina steadied herself and struck back, aiming for his ribs. Matteo dodged effortlessly, countering with a swift jab that grazed her shoulder. She felt the sting but refused to show it.He was testing her limits. Seeing what she was capable of.She had no choice but to play along.After a few more exchanges, Matteo stepped back. "That’s enough." His tone was unreadable.
Selena moved carefully, balancing a tray of drinks as she approached the impatient customer’s table. The man, dressed in a sharp navy suit and gold cufflinks, was already tapping his fingers loudly on the table. His impatient demeanor and piercing gaze made Selena feel even more nervous as she placed the coffee in front of him. “This better not be cold,” he muttered, snatching the cup from the tray. He took a sip and froze. His face twisted into a look of disgust, and Selena immediately knew something was wrong. “Cold coffee?” he barked, his voice loud enough for the entire café to hear. “Are you even capable of doing your job?” “I—I’m sorry, sir. I’ll fix it right away,” Selena stammered, trying to take the cup back. Before she could reach for it, the man stood up and poured the cold coffee over her, the liquid splashing onto her shirt and soaking her uniform. Gasps rippled through the café as all eyes turned to the commotion. “This is unacceptable!” the man shouted again, ...
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