Matteo's PovI can recount the number of times when my wife was so happy the child in her surfaces. And the happiness and joy she feels today is worthy to be taken note of.She’s all flustered, her chest heaving, her face wide with a huge grin, and her eyes locked on the shiny ring around her finger.As I drive us back to our home, I feel a sense of fulfillment, of joy, knowing that I’m the reason my woman can’t stop herself from expressing her profound joy.“I still can’t believe this. . .oh my gosh!” She shrieks, slapping her hands over her thighs. I snort a laugh, shaking my head at her cuteness. She's like a kid on Christmas morning, her eyes sparkling with excitement.“You’re gonna wear it out if you keep staring at it, baby,” I say in an attempt to gain her undivided attention."Matteo, just look at it! Isn't it stunning?" She asks for the umpteenth time, waving her hand in front of me.I chuckle and take her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's beautiful, amore. Almost as be
Mirabella's PovIn my younger days, my mother made it a point to make me feel like a princess. She’d dress me up, doll me up, making sure I felt as content, beautiful, seen, and happy as possible.“You’re a princess, my love, and all princesses always have their wish granted to them. All you have to do when you want something is to wish upon it and it’ll all be yours. You deserve all the best life has to offer,” she’d say.I didn’t believe her.And the tragic events of my life were enough reasons not to believe her.But today, as I stand by the grand door of the St. Peter’s Basilica Rome, with my daughter by the right side of me, and my son by the left side of me, both of them holding my hands and ready to lead me down the aisle where I’ll once again exchange my vows with their father, this time in truth and from the depth of my heart, I now have an understanding of what my mother used to say to me.As my husband comes into view, holding our eight month old babbling daughter to his ch
Genre: Romance, Mafia.Theme: Dark romance.Setting: The book unfolds in Italy and migrates to Russia, and is set to occur in the 21st centuryTone: Dark, wild, and steamyCharacters:-Mariana Denaro: Female lead.Alexandr Radimr Vastlav: Mariana’s husband.Alejandro Raes Vastlav: Mariana’s brother in-law and her love interest.Mariano Denaro: Mariana’s brother.Mr and Mrs. Denaro: Mariana’s parents.Story Extract:“I want you, Mariana.” Alejandro asserts.“I’m Married.” I whisper.“I. Want. You.” He pushes.“I’m Married. . .to your brother.”He tuts, “quite an unfortunate situation for you, wouldn’t you agree?”. . .She’s a liar.He’s smart.She’s a con artist.He’s a psychotic maniac.She’s on a mission of discovery.He’s on a mission of destruction.Mariana Denaro, the first daughter of the powerful Italian mafia family, is a force to be reckoned with. Behind her polished facade and designer gowns, she conceals a sharp mind and a calculating heart.To the world, she's a spoilt bra
Mariana's PovMy life is fucked.There’s a certainty that the devil is clapping and laughing in pride, rejoicing over what I’ve become—a slave to his evilness.It’s laughable how I’m supposed to be in control of my life, yet, I’ve opened myself up to the dirtiness and suffering of humanity, pushing my body to a point of eruption with self destruction.The heel of my boots knock against the tiled floor, the sound bouncing off the walls in echoes. I leisurely stride into the large living room of my parent’s manor with a bottle of scotch in one hand, and in another, between my index and middle finger, a joint.My parents took up half of the estate, building their manor and I sometimes wonder what they do with such a large space when it’s just the two of them. A few helps included.“Where are they?” I ask the maid who comes to usher me in. But instead of giving me an immediate answer, she takes her time, judging my outfit, her disgust laced eyes roaming my barely covered body from head to
Mariana's PovI walk into the pool house only to find it crammed from wall to wall with drunken and overly horny adults. Letting out a somewhat quiet laugh, my eyes desperately scan the entirety of the room inch after inch until they finally land on the one person I hoped to see.“Leah!” I yell out in excitement as I run towards my best friend, engulfing her in a playful hug whilst she laughs, playfully kissing my cheeks and wishing me a happy birthday.Our fingers lace together and she twirls me around three hundred and sixty degrees, letting out a low laugh before affirming, “You look absolutely stunning, birthday girl!”Dramatic much.Laughter bubbles out of me with my head thrown back. “You look absolutely stunning, sister in law,” I tease and she rolls her eyes at me, a shy scoff eliciting in her throat.Minutes after conversing with Leah, I make my way to the middle of the room with a bottle of scotch in hand, screaming my proclamation. “Thank you all for attending my sick party
Mariana’s PovI’m seated alone when all of a sudden, I feel a presence beside me. I look up and my eyes find Mathew staring down at me with his creepy smile.“Penny for your thoughts?” Mathew plops down beside me, breathing out an alcohol reeked breath. I have to physically force my throat to tighten in order not to gag.Out of all my friends, Mathew is the one I mistrust the most. I often find his traits very bizarre and he’s someone who exudes desperation for attention.More like he wants to be noticed by me but for a specific reason.“Hey Matt, having fun?” I question and he hums with his eyes closed shut.We both maintain the very much needed silence for some minutes before he speaks up. “What exactly is your deal, Mariana? You have access to drugs, you’re sometimes covered in blood, you live in this castle with lots of guards. . .” He trails off and my eyebrows furrow at him.A sudden gasp that has me flinching erupts from his throat, “Your father is a drug lord? Tell me! It make
Mariana's PovTime and time again, I’ve heard People say that there’s a fire burning in my soul, a fire threatening to reduce me to nothing but ashes, a fire that might make or mar me—only time will tell.But do I care? No.I have not a care in the world about what that fire does to me because I’m twice as dangerous. People might not see it, sometimes they look at me and think that I’m just another woman whose only concern is to whore around until her entire life is fucked up. Sometimes I’m overlooked because of my gender, especially in our world of crime.But I’m the danger you should avoid. I’m the danger that comes at you without warning. Everything about me screams danger but I made a choice a long time ago to suppress my demons.I suppressed the urge to be evil and all of a sudden, my life crumbled from every corner. And now, I’ve truly become just another woman. A daughter born to the Denaro’s. A daughter born to the most powerful family in Italy who’s been prepared to be marri
Mariana's PovFather smiles as though accepting the challenge. “What the fuck did you just say to me, young lady?”Leah side steps Mariano, exposing herself to the danger coming after her. This girl—her oblivion will be the death of her. “I said,” she gulps, “with all due respect, sir, I’d like to point out that you’re the most uncultured human being I’ve ever come across.”It’s silent for a second, filled with heavy, angry, and fearful breaths. But the look in my father’s eyes is familiar. I know him well enough to know that instead of being angry, he’s impressed by her boldness.But she doesn’t need to know this, so that it doesn’t become a constant habit of hers to talk back to the Godfather of Italy, especially with his subjects around.Father chuckles.That stupid man scoffs, excitement dancing in his eyes.Mariano swallows hard, desperation filling his orbs as he whispers a few things into Leah’s ear but she’s not having it.And my mother’s lips are turned up the slightest bit.