MasukShare
070. Meeting Luca
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-12-31 03:41:38
Bab terkait
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 071. Who is Luca?
Sierra’s POVLuca’s story was pretty sad.However, I still believed he was struggling with other things he wasn’t sharing. I couldn’t imagine how a boy at the age of seventeen could look so unapproachable and guarded. His defenses were high up there.Brandon said Luca had joined college in his sophomore year. He was a good kid. He took his grades seriously and was also a part of the basketball team. When he got to his finals though, he became a different person. Nobody knew what had happened. Brandon was suspicious it had something to do with his mother. The school had lost all forms of communication with her. When they asked Luca about it, he simply told them that she left. Nothing more was said about her. I walked out of Brandon’s office to meet Luca, still waiting by the door, with his ears plucked in. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting,” I apologized.He didn’t say a word, he simply started walking ahead of me. Whenever we got to a place he wanted to show me, he'd point to th
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 072. Who is Luca? (II)
Jordan’s POVNews had gotten to me that Carlos Moretti was beginning to speak to former allies of his brother Lorenzo. In addition to that, he was also causing a lot of trouble. As a means to call me out, bodies had been turning up in alleys and backstreets. I had done my findings and Carlos was responsible. He was pissed that I wasn’t giving him any attention. I didn’t know what he expected of me, but I wasn’t going prance around in uneasiness simply because some guy thought the mafiasco was family business. When the time came, he would have me to contend with.Luckily for him, the bodies that had been turning up were those of drug addicts and street criminals. Carlos knew the game he was playing. He wanted to cause trouble without causing trouble. Meanwhile, Gabriel Draven had been making his own moves as well. Still smarting from what happened at the auction, he had declared me his rival, a challenge I was willing to go unanswered as long as he never stood before me again.If he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 073. A Special Evening
Sierra’s POVAs I walked into the office, I couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. I had expected things to be a bit awkward after Jordan's visit the previous day, but to my surprise, Brandon greeted me with his usual charm."Good morning, Sierra! How are you today?" he asked, smiling brightly at me."I'm good, thanks." I replied, trying to sound casual. "Just getting some coffee before our first class."Brandon nodded, falling into step beside me. "I'll join you. I could use a caffeine boost myself."As we walked to the break room, Brandon chatted with me about everything from the weather to our shared love of literature. It was as if Jordan's warning had never happened.However, when we got to the coffee machine, Brandon's tone shifted, becoming more flirtatious. "You know, Sierra, I've been thinking. We should grab lunch together sometime this week. Just the two of us."Who the hell was this guy? Did he ever learn? "I don't think that's a good idea, Brandon.” I replied, tr
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-31The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 074. Veronica is Dead
Sierra’s POV “It’s about Veronica.” “What about her?” I asked. “After the last time we talked about her, I couldn’t help but feel like something was off. That was the third time Veronica didn’t send me greetings on my birthday, so rather than letting things go as usual, I decided to break my promise to her.” “You did some investigations?” “Yes,” Jordan took a deep breath before speaking. "It turned out that Veronica went into hiding a few years after she left the mafia life. She was living in a small town, trying to keep a low profile." "That makes sense," I said. "You said she never really wanted to have anything to do with this life." Jordan nodded. "Yes, well, she didn’t. However, she met someone. She met a man who she fell deeply in love with." "Who was he?" I asked, unable to hide my growing interest. "His name was Alessandro. I had met him a few times. What Veronica didn't know was that Alessandro was very committed to the mafia. As a matter of fact, he was the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-01The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 075. The Disappearance
Sierra’s POV After my call with Jordan, I paced the living room length, my thoughts consumed by Luca. Something about his absence gnawed at me. This wasn’t like him; he was always consistent, always present. Even after our last conversation, his interest in staying connected was tangible. By the time Jordan arrived home, my nerves were frayed. His stepping through the door provided some relief, but the strain in his expression quickly made me back on edge. “Did you find out anything?” I asked, crossing the room to meet him. Jordan sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “Nothing definitive. I spoke to some of my contacts in Crystal Bay, and they’re looking into it. But so far, there’s no sign of Luca anywhere.” “Could it be that he’s just…taking a break?” I suggested, though I didn’t even believe my own words. Jordan’s eyes locked onto mine. "You and I both know that this does not feel right. Luca is an intelligent child, but he is also vulnerable. "If someone is attempting to u
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-03The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 076. Gearing up
Sierra’s POV I could tell there was more to Luca’s disappearance hadn’t come, that there was something much darker involved, and the idea of it couldn’t be taken easily in stride. The phone rang on the coffee table; I picked it up. Jordan texted: “We’re almost there. My heart turned three-sixty inside my chest. The message held my gaze for a few moments while a curious mix of relief and horror rushed through me almost at once. I typed back quickly: “Be safe. Please”. I hit send before I could do some second-guessing and dispatch it to the recycling bin. I just couldn’t stop thinking about Jordan. What if he doesn’t return tonight? The thought made my stomach twist with pain, and I was sure that anxiety was all over my face. She must’ve noticed, because she stood up from the kitchen table, flailed her arms around as if we were robbed, and turned to me with a dubious look. “You’re not okay,” she said gently but sharply as if she were calling me out on something I couldn’t deny.
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-04The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 077. Charging In
Sierra’s POVThe hours dragged on, and the ticking of the clock seemed to mock me. Every minute that passed without a word from Jordan felt like an eternity. My legs couldn’t stop moving about the house in a pensive yet slow walk, my thoughts a whirlwind of worst-case scenarios. My phone sat on the table, buzzing every so often with meaningless notifications, but none of them were from Jordan. I couldn’t stop myself from checking it every few seconds, hoping for an update.Amelia had gone quiet too, her usual energy replaced by a kind of tense focus. We were both on edge, the uncertainty hanging in the air like a storm waiting to break.I couldn’t help but think of Luca. Was he scared? Was he alone? Every scenario I imagined made my chest tighten with fear.The sound of a car pulling into the driveway broke my spiralling thoughts, and I rushed to the window. I couldn’t see much, but the headlights of a car cutting through the darkness brought a small flicker of hope. That was until
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-05The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 78. The Betrayal
Sierra’s POV Every second stretched into minutes that sank my heart deeper into my gut like a leaden weight. Our plan had been simple; find Luca, extract him, and survive. But now on the docks, looking out over the open sea, I felt the weight of the entire world on my shoulders. My pulse raced in my ears, adrenaline all through me, yet my heart would not calm. Next to me, Amelia stood upright and alert, brows furrowed, eyes drawing in everything around us. I found myself admiring her coolness. She was the sort of person who wouldn’t let on fear even as the walls were closing in. Andrew was with us, his face a mask of grim resolve. I had thought he would be the one who was calm, yet he appeared more shaken than myself. He glanced at his phone one more time before looking back at us. “We’ve got eyes on the warehouse,” he said softly. “But there is something... wrong. I haven’t been following Enrico’s men for years, but these are different people. They’re more organised, mo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-07
Bab terbaru
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 150. A Strange Happenstance
Sierra’s POVAmelia finally spoke, her tone gentler now. “Tomorrow, when there’s light outside, we’ll work up a plan. We’ll arrive in Jordan, but tonight we’re holding. If we act now, it’ll be irresponsible and reckless doesn’t do anybody any good.”Physically and mentally drained, I shut my eyes. Tomorrow seemed a lifetime away, but tonight, Amelia was right. We couldn’t make any more mistakes, and as I sank to the other end of the couch, the fatigue trapping me deeper and deeper into its hold, I couldn’t help but feel the gravity of the decision. Tomorrow, we’d deal with whatever lay ahead. But tonight, we were left with no alternative but to wait.****The next morning, sunlight filtered gently through the curtains and warmed the room with a soft glow. I woke suddenly, my body stiff and sore from the tension from the night before. All that had just gone down still loomed in my mind like a thick fog. But as the stillness of the morning settled into my consciousness, it became kn
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 149. What does the Guard Know?
Sierra’s POVI swallowed hard. “No,” I whispered, and for the first time, the weight of those words washed over me. I had no idea what I had done, who I had crossed, or what I could be carrying that would have made me a target.Amelia exhaled slowly, pressing her fingertips against the sides of her head as if she could wash away a burgeoning headache. “Well, we know one thing,” she muttered, looking at the door. “That guard did not believe me.”It sent a chill down my spine.“What?” I asked, my voice hoarse.“He was testing me,” she said, shaking her head. “Oh, the way he asked where you were, the way he hesitated before leaving, he knows something. He just didn’t have any evidence yet.”I realized this, to our surprise, with the force of a tidal wave.“He’s going to report back,” I said in hushed tones.Amelia’s jaw tightened. “Exactly.”I could hardly breathe in the room. It felt as though the walls were closing in upon me and my heart started to beat against my ribs as if a bird d
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 148. Someone's After Me
Sierra’s POVAmelia stood just inside the door and held it half-open, fingers clenching the edge as if she was weighing whether to slam it in the guard’s face. But the man didn’t move. His eyes were dark and inscrutable as he scanned the space behind her as if he were a predator hunting for prey.My breath hitched. He was looking for me. I melted deeper into the shadows, flattening my spine against the cool tiles as though I could make myself unseeable.My pulse thundered in my ears, blocking out all sound except that too-loud silence stretched between Amelia and the guard. Then, he spoke again.“We received a report.” His voice was low, too calm, like a small storm right before it let loose. “Someone was screaming here.”Amelia gave a soft, incredulous laugh. “That is my friend,” she said smoothly. “She fell and hit her head. I was just helping her up. No need for concern.”I could hear the steady firmness in her tone, too, but I also knew Amelia well enough to detect the faint edge
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 147. A Hatched Fear
Sierra’s POVA loud tap on my shoulder shook my body awake. My eyes snapped open, and before I could process where I was, panic rippled through me. My arms flailed, panting and heaving, the scream itself ripped from my throat.“Leave me alone! I don’t have the necklace! There is no key! Why are you after me?” My voice broke with fear, and I scrambled backward, flailing my arms blindly in defense.“Hey, hey! It’s me! It’s Amelia!”Her voice sliced through my hysteria like a knife, pulling me back from the trench of my fear. My thrashing slowed, and I blinked up at her, my sight blurred. Amelia knelt next to me, her face set and terrified, her hands ghosting above me as if she feared I’d shatter.My chest felt heavy, and I looked at her as if she were someone I didn’t know. The bathroom walls felt like they were closing in on me, the shiny tiles glistening under the fluorescent light. The realization crashed over me, I was not running. There weren’t any dark alleys, there weren’t any
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 146. A Trance of Some Sort 2
Sierra’s POVHe took a shaky breath. “The guards, they’re not here to protect me.My blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"He opened his eyes again, piercing me with his stare. "They're here… for you."I looked at him, my mind spinning. "For me? But why?"“Because,” he said eventually, his voice growing fainter, “because you’re not who you think you are, Sierra.”I frowned, confused. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm Sierra. I'm your wife."He shook his head slightly. "No," he whispered. "You're… you're not my wife. My wife … my real wife … died years ago.” My heart pounded in my chest. "What are you saying?" My voice trembled as I stuttered.“You’re … you’re an imposter,” he said as his eyes closed once more. “They’re here to take you … home.”"Back?" I whispered, my mind racing. "Back where?"He didn't answer. His breath shortened, and it became ragged. I moved in closer, straining to hear what he had to say.“The… the necklace,” he stammered, voice just a breath. "It's… t
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 145. A Trance of Some Sort
Sierra’s POVMy mouth filled with the metallic tang of blood. I attempted to sit up again but this time I felt lighter, like my spirit was out of my body. Immediately, I felt my head making a weird noise, and another wave of nausea washed over me. I groaned, shutting my eyes against the whirling room. I needed to get up. I needed to find Jordan. But my body felt heavy, unyielding. I tried to call out for help, perhaps Amelia might hear me and come to my aid but it seemed like the muscles of my vocal cavity were limp.I remained on the floor, my body getting weaker by the second. The tile under my body was as cold as ice. It was as though it were the actual earth, the cold creeping up from underneath it like ice water and penetrating my skin, leeching into my bones and freezing me from the inside.Through a fog of pain and disorientation, I heard a faint knocking at the door. "Ma'am? Ma'am, are you alright?" It was one of the guards. His voice, muffled by the door, had an edge of conc
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 144. The Fall
Sierra’s POVWhen I got to the entrance of the mansion, which was my home, the wrought iron gates, normally a welcoming beacon, now leered at me. Two huge figures in black tactical gear I had never seen loomed as sentinels. Their faces, hard and impenetrable, were lit by the bright glare of the porch light. Before now, I hadn’t seen such a uniform on them, let alone the fierceness of their faces coupled with the air and authority that sat boldly on their faces.There was something about how they conducted themselves. They had a kind of inflexible formality that spoke to something far more than just routine security.I began to wonder how they managed to get to my doorstep at a time like this. A twist of discomfort pulled tight in my gut. This wasn’t right. This was my house, but it felt like it wasn’t my house.I tiptoed up, pretending to be nonchalant. My heart thudded against the cage of my ribs like a bird on the prowl for exit. “Evening,” I shouted, attempting to make my tone ch
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 143. What Could be Wrong?
Sierra’s POVI got talking with Amelia as we drove, I wasn’t very sure if she would stop by at her house first or head straight to mine. She had been the one assisting me with picking Luca up from school.In fact, Luca now had a handful of his things in her home that he need not come over to pick anything up if he needed to crash there. I was more than grateful that I had Amelia in my life at a challenging time like this. I couldn’t thank her enough.For some reason, I decided to sit in the passenger seat as Amelia drove. From time to time, Amelia would always check up on me asking if I was okay or needed anything and I would respond that I was fine.It kept happening for close to four times till I told her to just focus on driving that I would and can take care of myself. Little did I know that I had set myself up for a lot of untold troubles.I reached into my bag and picked up my phone to call Jordan and see if he was faring well. Of course, I knew that I had just left the hospital
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 142. The Ploy
Author’s POVCarlos took another swirl of whiskey and tilted the glass until the amber liquid gleamed in the dim light, and then he took a slow sip. He said this with a smirk that never left his face as he looked Lorenzo up and down, glancing between amusement and contempt.“Jordan was attacked,” he said, finally, gauging Lorenzo’s reaction. Lorenzo stiffened for an instant, but he held his surprise in check. “Attacked?” he echoed.Carlos laughed and pounded his glass on the desk. “Oh, yes. Right in his hospital bed. Imagine that. The mighty Jordan, the vulnerable, the helpless, with a needle in his neck.”Lorenzo’s brows furrowed. “Somebody tried to kill him in the hospital?”Carlos nodded. “When it was all functioning, it was beautifully orchestrated, well, almost. Someone got past his guards. Slipped right into his ward.” He sighed dramatically and shook his head. “Such a shame they failed.”Lorenzo exhaled, rubbing his jaw as he registered the news. Jordan was never supposed to be
