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17: The Devil's Bargain
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2025-03-19 09:37:45The phone call ended with a sharp click, but Edwards Kale barely registered it.
His fingers clenched around the device, the plastic creaking under his grip. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs.Luca Avancii.Even the name made his skin crawl.That man had walked into his life like a storm—violent, chaotic, and merciless. And he had taken everything.Maria should have been his.She had no parents, no siblings, no one else to run to. She should have depended on him.That was always the plan.He had never meant to divorce her. No, that would have been too easy. Too clean.He had wanted her to feel trapped.She would cry, she would beg, but she wouldn’t leave—because she would have needed him. Relied on him.And then, when she was too exhausted to fight anymore, he would have married Grace. Maria would have accepted it because she wouldn’t hav
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Maria Dominic never thought she would end up on her knees. Not in front of him. Not in front of the man she had loved, trusted, sacrificed for. But here she was—kneeling on the cold, immaculate marble floors of Edwards Kale’s office, her dignity slipping away with every second that passed. Her hands trembled as she clenched them into fists against her thighs. She had come here for justice, for fairness, for something that resembled the years she had lost. But as she looked up at the man seated in his oversized leather chair, all she saw was apathy. Edwards leaned back, exhaling slowly as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. The sound of ice clinking against crystal felt like a hammer against her skull. His navy-blue suit was perfectly tailored, his golden cufflinks gleaming under the warm office lights. Everything about him screamed power, wealth, control. Everything about her felt powerless. “Get up, Maria,” Edwards said, his tone flat, emotionless. “You’re embarrassing you
Last Updated : 2025-02-22THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 2: The Art Of War
The drive was quiet.Maria sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the hem of her dress as the city passed by in a blur. The streets of Hay Port were still waking up, bathed in the soft gold of the morning sun, but Maria couldn't appreciate the beauty outside.Her mind was still stuck in that office.Still kneeling.Still feeling the cold marble against her knees, the weight of humiliation pressing down on her chest as Edwards dismissed her like she was nothing.She clenched her jaw, staring down at her lap.The silence between her and Luca stretched. The man beside her-her brother's best friend, the reckless boy who had once been a constant presence in her childhood-was now driving her away from everything she had once called hers. Away from Edwards. Away from the life she had built for him.But strangely, she didn't feel lost.She felt... lighter.Like she was no longer carrying all of it alone.Still, confusion lingered in her chest."Why did you do that?" she finally
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Maria followed Luca into SpitFire Autos, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor.The moment she stepped inside, she felt small.Not because she was intimidated—but because this place was huge.The main hall stretched out before her like a grand atrium, its ceiling impossibly high. A massive chandelier hung above, its golden arms spiraling outward, dripping with thousands of tiny crystals that caught the light. It was the largest she had ever seen—bigger than the one Edwards had installed in their penthouse, bigger than the one in his company’s lobby.Her gaze moved downward, following the elegant design of the escalators.There were several, each leading to different sections of the building.Some moved slowly, taking employees to open workspace floors. Others had security scanners at their bases—meaning they required a special pass to access. Those escalators led to the more exclusive parts of the company.Maria recognized this kind of system. It was something on
Last Updated : 2025-02-24THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 4: The Plan For Ruin
Maria finished the last bite of her pastry, wiped her fingers on a napkin, and rose to her feet.Luca watched as she walked toward his desk, her steps steady but slow, as though she was absorbing everything.She placed a hand on the polished wood surface before turning her attention to the floor-to-ceiling window.From up here, Hay Port stretched far and wide, the skyline gleaming under the morning sun. The world outside was calm, unchanged, completely unaware of the war that was about to begin.Maria folded her arms."What's the plan?"Luca pushed his chair back and strode over to her, standing beside her but slightly behind-close enough for his presence to be felt, but not overwhelming."First," he murmured, "you'll go through with the divorce."Maria's expression didn't change, but she gripped her arms a little tighter."He'll give you something, even if it's just a fraction of what you deserve." Luca leaned against the desk. "We'll take it."Maria nodded slowly.Then Luca smirked.
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Maria barely registered the nod of acknowledgment she gave before Luca spoke again, his voice calm but edged with something deeper.“How long did you say you two were together?”Maria exhaled softly, fingers brushing the polished surface of his desk.“Ten years.”Luca’s brows furrowed, his brown eyes darkening as he tilted his head slightly, processing her words."Ten years?" His voice held an edge of disbelief, almost as if he was confirming something for himself. “And you never had kids?”Maria’s throat tightened. She shook her head.“Edwards wanted to wait a while.”Luca went very still. His gaze burned into her like the midday sun.Then, in a voice that sent shivers down her spine, he said,"Marie, ten years isn’t ‘a while.’" He leaned in slightly, his presence overwhelming. “It’s a decade.”The weight of those words pressed against her.Maria opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Luca suddenly grabbed her by the waist. A surprised gasp barely escaped her lips before he ho
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"Mr. Avancii."Gina’s voice was flat, unimpressed.Maria stiffened, her heart stalling in her chest.Luca, on the other hand, remained completely unbothered. He didn't even turn to acknowledge Gina properly—just kept his hand possessively on Maria’s thigh like nothing had changed.Gina exhaled sharply, shifting the tablet in her arms."Never in all my years of working here did I think I would ever hear you say that."Maria blinked, confused.Luca, however, smirked."What, ‘fiancée’?" His voice was smooth, amused, as if he found her disbelief entertaining."That," Gina said pointedly, "and watching you actually use your office for something other than business."Maria’s face flamed, but Luca only chuckled."You wound me, Gina.""Do I?" she deadpanned.Luca let out a low laugh, finally straightening to look at her fully."You need something?"Gina pinched the bridge of her nose."You have a meeting in five minutes."Luca tilted his head."And?""And," Gina gritted out, "your presence is
Last Updated : 2025-03-05THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 7: Tables Turned
It was still morning.Not more than two hours since she had walked out of Edwards’ company, but now she was on her way back.Maria sat in the back seat of the car, her body tensed as the other vehicle followed closely behind in the steady rhythm of traffic. The ride was smooth, the city moving at its usual pace, but she barely noticed any of it. Her thoughts were tangled in the heat sitting low in her stomach, the lingering sensation between her thighs that refused to fade.She clenched her legs tighter, willing herself to ignore it."Why did I let that happen?"Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress as memories of Luca’s touch played in her mind.The rough drag of his calloused fingers up her thigh.The firm press of his lips against hers.The teasing way he had adjusted her underwear, like he had every right to.A shiver ran down her spine, her nails digging into her palm.Luca Avancii was dangerous.And the worst part? She had let him. She had leaned into it, craved it, le
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Maria stepped into SpitFire Autos, the air thick with the scent of gasoline, leather, and a lingering trace of Luca Avancii.She had barely settled in before his secretary, Gina, informed her that Luca was still in a meeting."You can wait in his office, Miss Dominic."So she did.Maria stepped inside, her heels clicking against the sleek black floors. The space was nothing like Edwards' sterile, lifeless office. Luca’s was lived-in. Controlled chaos.Dark walls. Polished wood. A liquor cabinet against one wall, a gun safe against the other. Papers scattered across his desk, blueprints of cars, notes written in his sharp, unmistakable handwriting.The chair behind the desk was large, commanding, like a throne.Maria ran her fingers over the edge of the desk, imagining him here—seated, leaning back, his sharp eyes assessing whoever sat across from him. Judging. Calculating. Owning.Her stomach tightened.She turned away, deciding to busy herself with the bookshelves instead. But before
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THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 17: The Devil's Bargain
The phone call ended with a sharp click, but Edwards Kale barely registered it. His fingers clenched around the device, the plastic creaking under his grip. His breath came in short, uneven bursts, his heartbeat hammering against his ribs.Luca Avancii.Even the name made his skin crawl.That man had walked into his life like a storm—violent, chaotic, and merciless. And he had taken everything.Maria should have been his.She had no parents, no siblings, no one else to run to. She should have depended on him.That was always the plan.He had never meant to divorce her. No, that would have been too easy. Too clean.He had wanted her to feel trapped.She would cry, she would beg, but she wouldn’t leave—because she would have needed him. Relied on him.And then, when she was too exhausted to fight anymore, he would have married Grace. Maria would have accepted it because she wouldn’t hav
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 16: A Storm Brewing
Luca stood at the entrance of the hospital room, his eyes fixed on Maria’s unconscious form. Bruises marred her delicate skin, a stark contrast against the sterile white sheets. The sight made something dark and violent coil inside him.She had almost died.Someone had dared to touch what was his.His jaw tightened as he exhaled sharply. "Stay with her," he ordered the doctor, his voice sharp and cold. "If anything happens—if she even stirs—you call me immediately."The doctor nodded nervously.Luca turned on his heel and stormed out.He had business to take care of.The drive back to the estate was silent, but his mind roared. Every second, every breath, was consumed by an uncontrollable rage.By the time he arrived, the entire household was already awake, summoned by his wrath before he even stepped inside.His men stood stiffly in a line, eyes wary, their shoulders tense. The housekeepers,
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 15: A Package And A Warning
The morning was bright, the sun casting a warm golden glow over the estate as Maria knelt on the small patch of barren land, her fingers digging into the soil. Sweat trickled down her temple, and a light breeze carried the scent of freshly cut grass from the other side of the garden. She had spent the past hour working, determined to bring life to this neglected patch of earth. The estate itself was beautiful, nestled in the quieter part of the city, surrounded by tall trees that shielded it from prying eyes. It was a world of its own—a place where silence was only broken by birds chirping, the distant hum of the fountain, and the occasional laughter of the staff moving about their tasks. Maria wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and leaned back, surveying her progress. The land still looked lifeless, but she wasn’t giving up. Just then, the crunch of approaching footsteps made her look up. Mr. Collins, or Cole as
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 14: Unspoken Boundaries
Morning light streamed through the sheer curtains, casting golden streaks across the bed. The sheets beside her were cold.Maria turned her head, staring at the empty space where Luca had been.Gone.She wasn’t sure why she expected anything different.Her thighs still ached from last night—her skin tingled with phantom touches, and her lips were swollen from the way he had kissed her, claimed her, devoured her. She squeezed her thighs together, remembering the way he had pulled her apart with nothing but his hands, his mouth, his voice.And yet… he had left without a word.Maria let out a slow breath and sat up, pulling the sheets over her bare body. The heavy silence of the room felt suffocating.She hated this.Hated how her heart clenched at his absence.Hated how she missed him.Last night wasn’t supposed to mean anything—at least, that’s what she told herself. It was just a moment of weak
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 13: The Ministration On His Desk
Maria's breath stuttered, her body trembling as Luca's mouth moved over her, slow and deliberate, tongue lapping through her slick folds with practiced ease.He had been at this for minutes now-teasing, tasting, savoring.Maria was a wreck against the mahogany desk-legs spread wide, robe fallen away, the cool air making her nipples pebble, heavy breasts rising and falling with each desperate breath.Luca's grip on her thighs tightened, fingers flexing against soft skin as he pinned her open.He was loving her like this-bared, breathless, needy.He could feel the way she pulsed against his tongue, taste the way she was already soaking for him, her body offering itself up, willing, desperate.And he loved that she still had the nerve to act like she wasn't.Maria let out a ragged little moan, fingers tugging at his hair, trying to pull him deeper, closer.Luca let her.Let her take what she needed.
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 12: Crossing Boundaries
Maria hesitated at the doorway, fingers trembling against the smooth wood.She should leave.She should ignore the way Luca’s voice had curled around her like smoke, whispering promises in the dark.But her body was already betraying her.Slowly, she turned back.Luca had shifted his laptop to the side, his chair angled toward her as if making space just for her. His dark eyes flickered with something undeniable, unreadable—a warning and an invitation all at once.Without speaking, he lifted a hand, fingers beckoning.And Maria moved.Each step felt heavier, like the air had thickened around her, wrapping her in something hot and electric.When she reached him, Luca’s fingers wrapped around her wrist—warm, firm, commanding. He pulled her closer, guiding her onto the desk with effortless strength.Maria let out a soft breath as the cool surface kissed the backs of her thighs, but she barely noti
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 11: A Day In The Avancii Estate
Luca had already left for work when Maria began exploring.She wasn’t sure when he had slipped out, but by the time she finished having her bath, the house was quiet, the lingering scent of his cologne the only trace of his presence.It left her with nothing but time—and an entire estate to acquaint herself with.The Avancii estate wasn’t as large as she had expected. It was grand, yes, but not the overwhelming kind of wealth that screamed opulence. Instead, it was refined, designed for comfort rather than excess.The main house had seven bedrooms, meant to accommodate Mr. Collins—or Cole, as Luca called him—along with the two cooks, and now, Maria herself. The rest of the staff lived in the boy’s quarters, a separate building housing the gardeners, security, fish workers, house keepers, and drivers.A swimming pool gleamed on one side of the house, reflecting the early morning sun.And beside it, a small patch of land lay stubbornly bare, unlike the rest of the land.Maria paused, ti
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 10: The Morning After
Maria woke to warmth.Not just the kind that came from thick blankets and soft sheets, but the kind that seeped into her bones, a heavy, steady heat pressed against her back.Her eyelashes fluttered as consciousness slowly returned, the memories of yesterday drifting into focus—Edward, the divorce papers, the rings, Luca—Her breath hitched.Luca.The realization sent a bolt of awareness through her.He was behind her.Close.Too close.Maria’s entire body went rigid as she took in the situation. Luca wasn’t just lying beside her—he was molded against her, his chest pressed to her back, his arm slung low around her waist.His warmth surrounded her.His scent—smoke, leather, and something darkly spiced—lingered in the air, wrapping around her senses like an invisible cage.She barely breathed.She needed to move.Slowly, carefully, Maria tried to inch forward.
THE PRICE FOR HIS NAME 9: The Cost Of A Signature
They were already there before he got there.Edward Kale had been drinking and partying at The Monarch, an elite nightclub reserved for men like him—rich, powerful, and untouchable. Or at least, that’s what he thought. One moment he was sipping on whiskey, Grace draped over him in a sequined dress, and the next, hands had grabbed him, dragging him through the back of the club. He had fought, of course—he had money, influence—but his protests were drowned by the pounding bass of the music. No one saw him leave.By the time his head cleared, he found himself sitting on a cold metal chair, wrists bound behind him. The room was dimly lit, one single ceiling bulb swinging slightly, casting long, jagged shadows on the concrete walls. The air smelled like damp earth and motor oil, the kind of place where secrets were buried—literally.Men in dark biker helmets stood like statues around him, unmoving, faceless, armed. His pulse hammered in his
