Ava Parker, the daughter of a notorious American mafia family, is about to marry Riccardo De Lucca, her late sister’s fiancé. He’s the guy she’s secretly loved since the first moment she saw him ten years ago when she was only fourteen years old. After two years apart, she’s shocked to find he’s not the same man she fell for. The Riccardo in front of her is a ruthless figure, ready to turn her life into a nightmare. All she’s ever wanted is to break free. Living in her sister’s shadow has never been easy for her. But fate has other plans for her so it seems. Riccardo has his own reasons for wanting to marry Ava. He’s out for revenge against those who caused his fiancée's death and is willing to go to any lengths to achieve it, even if it means hurting the wrong person. He always thought Ava was meek, but he quickly discovers there’s a fiery spirit in her that drives him wild. As the barriers between them start to crumble, their connection becomes something neither can control. Ava has to navigate the dangerous world of the mafia while grappling with her undeniable attraction to the man she vowed to never love again. And Riccardo? He’s determined to claim her completely—body, mind, and soul.
view moreAvaThe door clicks shut behind us, and just like that, we’re on our own. I wanted to be alone but Riccardo followed me as soon as I left his side. The buzz of the wedding—the laughter, the guests—vanishes the moment the room goes quiet. It’s just the two of us now.I glance at him, standing there, tall and imposing. The man I’m now bound to. But it doesn’t feel real; it feels more like a bad dream.I fold my arms, not even trying to hide the resentment bubbling inside me. This feeling has been with me since the start of all this. I didn’t choose this path, and he’s not going to make me follow his lead."Well?" I say, my voice cutting through the silence a bit too loudly. "What’s next, Riccardo? Are you still going to play your little games now that I have your last name? Can you just leave me alone?"His eyes narrow, but he doesn’t respond right away. Instead, he steps closer, and I stand my ground. There’s a chilling intensity in his gaze, but it pales in comparison to the fire buil
AvaI respond with a polite smile, but a wave of discomfort washes over me. It’s not the compliment that unsettles me; it’s the way he looks at me, taking an extra moment to appreciate every detail of my appearance. His gaze feels too intense, making me feel vulnerable, and the fact that he mentioned her.Before I can say anything, I sense it—a change in the atmosphere. Riccardo's body stiffens next to me, and I can almost hear the growl building in his chest. He inches closer, his presence consuming the space between us, his grip on my waist tightening.His voice drops to a low tone, colder than I've ever heard. "Be careful," Riccardo warns sharply, his words slicing through the polite vibe of the gathering. "Don't waste your time and never mention anything about Madeline again."The man blinks, clearly taken aback by Riccardo's sudden hostility. His politeness wavers, and he lets out a nervous laugh, quickly stepping back. "Of course, Mr. De Lucca. My apologies." He bows his head, c
AvaI opened my mouth to respond, but the door creaked open again, interrupting me."There you are!" Bento sauntered in, his smile shining as brightly as the chandeliers in the ballroom. "I thought you two had run off and left me hanging.""Bento." Riccardo growled, clearly losing his patience."What?" Bento shrugged, moving further into the room. "You've got half the guests wondering where the bride is and the other half trying to figure out who sent that lovely gift."I frowned, feeling a knot in my stomach. "Gift?"Bento's smile grew even wider. "Oh, you missed it? The flower in question is a black dahlia. Very dramatic. Definitely gives off 'we're not fans of your marriage' vibes."My stomach churned, and I looked at Riccardo. His face was unreadable, but I could see his hand twitching at his side, as if he wanted to grab something."Who sent it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper."There was no name on the card." Riccardo replied, his tone icy."It's a threat."Bento leane
AvaThe ballroom felt stifling. The crowd swirled around me, glasses clinked, and the guests' watchful gazes weighed heavily, making it difficult to catch my breath. I slipped out through a side door, carefully holding my gown to avoid tripping, and found a quiet corridor.At last, peace.I leaned against the cool stone wall, shutting my eyes. The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my ears, drowning out the distant noise of the party. I struggled to steady my breath and regain my composure.The gown felt heavier now, the corset tighter, as if it were working against me. It didn’t matter how beautiful it was; I felt confined. I felt like a princess trapped in a cage.A faint but sharp scent of roses lingered in the air, reminding me of the black and white bouquet I had carried earlier. The black roses reflected how I felt right now.Why couldn’t he love me? It might have been easier if he did, but deep down, I knew Riccardo De Lucca would never see me that way. To him, I was just his fian
AvaThe ballroom was awash in shades of black, silver, and white, with the gentle clinking of champagne glasses and the hum of conversation creating a lively atmosphere. As I glanced around, I felt the weight of many gazes on me—some filled with admiration, others calculating, and a few outright judgmental. I could catch snippets of my family's whispers. How could she marry her sister’s fiancé? Was this her plan from the start? Her sister must be rolling in her grave.But the key thing to remember was that they weren't seeing Ava Parker anymore; they were seeing Mrs. De Lucca.I barely sipped the champagne in my hand, the delicate glass quivering slightly. My dress sparkled with every step, its silk fabric both comforting and a stark reminder of the recent events."Breathe, Sorella," Steph whispered as she joined me, her dress glimmering with each movement. She linked her arm with mine, providing a steadying presence."I am breathing," I replied, forcing a small smile."Barely," she m
RiccardoI've definitely seen her before—always in stunning dresses, looking flawless. But this time... it feels different. As if I see her for the first time for who she really is.As soon as she appears, my heart does something I really don’t want it to. It flutters, soft and unexpected. I quickly push it down, hiding it under my iron grip of control. She's finally making her way down the aisle toward me, and all eyes are on her. But honestly, I couldn't care less about them.The white gown hugs her curves in a way that's almost sinful, the corset lifting her chest, while the long, flowing skirt trails behind her like a snowy river. Her lips are a delicate pink, but it’s her eyes—those deep green ones—that pull me in. They’re wide and anxious, but there’s something else lurking there too. Something wild. Something I intend to claim.Her father holds her arm tightly, guiding her forward, but she’s avoiding my gaze. She glances at Richard first, then Steph, and finally Bento. And then
AvaI can feel my dad's grip on my arm, firm and unyielding. The weight of my dress feels like an anchor, dragging me down, yet my feet move automatically, as if I’ve rehearsed this moment countless times in my head. The gentle swish of the silk and lace accompanies my every step, matching the rapid beat of my heart.The long aisle stretches out before me, illuminated by rows of tall white lanterns flickering gently, casting a dreamlike glow over the crowd. The grand hall is a blend of black and white, with soaring ceilings that seem to reach the sky. Everything is meticulously arranged, every detail in place, but it all feels surreal, as if it doesn’t truly belong to me.As we near the entrance, I steal a quick glance at my dad. His expression is as stoic as ever. There’s no comfort in his grip, no warmth—just a chilling reminder of my obligations. This is my destiny, I remind myself, trying to calm my racing heart. This is what I have to do.The front row is filled with familiar fac
AvaThe ceremony was about to start any moment now.A gentle knock interrupted my thoughts. Before I could reply, the door slowly opened, and Amara De Lucca stepped in.Her arrival instantly changed the atmosphere in the room. Dressed in a stunning dark green gown that sparkled under the lights, she moved with a quiet elegance. Her grey eyes softened when they met mine."Can I have a moment with you?" she asked softly.I nodded, holding still as she came closer. She reached out to adjust a loose strand of my veil, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders."You look absolutely beautiful, mio figlio," she said, her smile warm yet carrying an undertone I couldn't quite identify."Thank you," I replied, my voice feeling small.She took a step back, her hands neatly clasped in front of her. "I wanted to talk to you before you leave this room. There’s something important you need to know." My heart raced at her serious tone, but I tried to remain calm. "What is it?"Amara paused, her gaze
RiccardoI stood in front of the mirror, gripping the collar of my white dress shirt while I adjusted my cufflinks. Each motion felt intentional and precise. My silk tie was perfectly knotted, as usual, and my dark suit hugged my body just right, tailored to perfection. My broad shoulders filled it out well, the sharp black fabric slicing through the air like a predator on the prowl. The suit was flawless, the white shirt underneath crisp, and the black jacket smooth and polished.My hair was slicked back with just the right amount of gel, dark strands falling into place as they always did, never out of order. The roughness of my jawline was softened by a clean shave I had just done minutes ago. But something felt off. Not today.I wasn’t anxious in the way a man should be on his wedding day. No, I felt something different—distant. Detached. I could sense the weight of the day pressing down on me, but it wasn’t the ceremony that troubled me. It was the reality of the life I was about
Ava Tonight is a big deal for my dad. I’ve already been warned to behave myself after I ordered a yellow dress for the occasion, but when he saw it, he completely lost it. “You can’t do anything right, can you? You know Maddy hates yellow, and yet you went and ordered one!” He snatched the dress and tossed it to the floor. Then he told the maids to get rid of it. “Why can’t you think about others? You did this just to annoy me!” He shoved me down and walked away. I wanted to say I actually liked yellow, but I knew better than to argue. I glanced at the clock and realized I had only ten minutes before I had to meet my parents downstairs. If I was even a minute late, my dad would make me pay for it. I remembered that night two years ago, right after my sister passed away. I was ten seconds late, and my dad made me eat outside, forcing me to eat my food off the ground like a dog. I shook my head to push that memory away. Then I caught my reflection in the full-length mirror. The w...
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