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096. What's on His Mind?
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-01-22 23:56:47
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The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 097. Who is She?
Sierra’s POV The next morning, I woke up to find out that Jordan had left. The warmth still on his side of the bed told me he hadn’t left long ago, but he’d snuck out without a sound. There was a note on the nightstand that drew me in: “Gone to handle some things. Don’t wait up. Love you.” I looked down at the note, prickles of unease dancing across my skin. Jordan rarely left without telling me his intentions in person. Something about the vagueness of “handle some things” rubbed the wrong way. I wanted to see how Luca was doing, so I throttled to his room, I knocked gently on his door and waited for a reply. None came. “Luca?” I called, pushing the door open. The room was empty. His bed had been made, and his backpack was missing. I felt a surge of panic wash over me. I rushed downstairs, asking the first guard I came across if he had seen Luca leave. “Around an hour ago,” the guard said. “He said he was going to the training grounds.” I felt a momentary sense of reli
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-24The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 098. You Two?
Sierra’s POVThe guards eventually released the woman but their reluctance was almost something else. She stumbled a little and righted herself before adjusting the strap of her threadbare bag. Her hair fell messily in front of her face, but as she looked up, I saw sharp features and piercing green eyes. She was more out of place than anyone I had ever seen in the sparring arena, her clothes were practically torn, and she had a wildness to her that stood out in the crowd of polished fighters and trainers. But there was something in the way she looked at the people in the room, a confidence or maybe a defiance, that transfixed the room.“Thank you,” she said, low but strong. She took a quick look at me, then Amelia, as if assessing how much trouble she had given.“Who are you?” I inquired, stepping forward. My tone wasn’t hostile, but I made sure it exuded enough authority to elicit a response.With that, the woman squared her shoulders and pushed her hair off of her face. “My name’
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-24The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 99. Shadows of the Past
Sierra’s POV“What was that I saw in there, Amelia?” “It’s nothing,” she dismissed with a wave of her hands and threw her face away.“Don’t tell me you are considering having a fling with Brandon. For crying out loud, you are married to a great man. What else are you looking for?” I spoke with so much passion and from a place of pain.“How come I didn’t see this all along? How long has this been going on, Amelia? Amelia”“Hey! Stop probing me. You aren’t my mother!” she spat and walked away furiouslyAs Amelia got lost in the crowd, I couldn’t help but look back. There was something about her presence that just gnawed at me, but it was more than just the tension of the situation or the presence of Elara. It was the warmth and how Brandon talked to Elara that got me, the whole situation had some almost eerie resemblance to someone I never thought I’d be thinking of treating me in the past.The picture of Dominic hit me with the force of a tidal wave. His easy smile, the mischievous t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-25The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 100. Accusations
Sierra’s POVI wheeled my cart down the bright aisles of a shopping cart, the fluorescent lights buzzing faintly above me. The distant taste of air conditioning interrupted by the clatter of customers was in some way reassuring. This was also rare, but Luca went inside with me. Usually, he’d invent some excuse to wait in the car, absorbed in his phone or sketchpad.I looked back to find him lounging against the counter near the entrance, scrolling through whatever was on his phone. His appearance, while unusual, was comforting. It was difficult a few days ago, and any indication he was interested in staying close was a modest victory.“Stay where I can see you,” I said lightly, although I knew he wouldn’t wander far. As I walked down the aisles, I selected items with care, plucking fresh vegetables, a carton of milk, and a loaf of bread. I thought of dinner, there was a thick stew, maybe, something that would have enticed Jordan to the table, both physically and emotionally.As I r
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-26The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 101. What Smell Is that?
Sierra’s POVThe drive home was peaceful and the night wind was cooling as the sky darkened behind the trees. I hummed steadily to the cassette playing on the music player as I drove. The evening shadows stretched long and thin across the asphalt, playing their fleeting games on the pavement. Shades of amber and violet smeared the sky, the first few stars shining faintly like a baby trying a joke for the first time as the moon rose higher.I looked over at Luca in the passenger seat. Since leaving the shopping mart, he had been unusually silent, his face turned to the window. He frowned slightly, and I could tell he was lost in thought, but I didn’t know what he was thinking.“Everything okay, Luca? What’s up with you?” I asked gently, shattering the silence.Without turning his head, he shrugged. “Yeah, just tired.”I nodded, allowing him the space he seemed to require. Another silence lay between us, but it was not an awkward silence. Instead, it was quiet, as if the events of the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-27The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 102. What Happened Here?
Sierra’s POVGroping in the dark, my fingers brushed against the cool and smooth surface of the kitchen wall as I looked for the light switch. I knew it should have been there, to the left side of the doorframe. With my fingertips gliding across empty air, the absence of the switch in its frame sent shivers through my spine, my heart began to race. It seemed as if it had been erased, uprooted from the place I had instinctively gone a hundred times before.The thick, acrid odour of smoke burned my nostrils, driving me to fumble more desperately. My fingers finally discovered the switch and with a click, the room was lit up.The kitchen snapped into focus, the tableau nothing like what I had expected. Slender grey wisps of smoke curled lazily from the toasting machine on the counter, where two blackened pieces of bread remained forgotten within. It was jarring the gleaming, polished countertop alongside the charred, ruined mess.I froze, my breath hitching in my throat as I struggled t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-27The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 103. How Did He Get here?
Sierra’s POVI spun around and slammed into something solid, more like someone solid. Before I knew what was going on, I was in the strong, sturdy arms of Jordan in a bid too steady myself from the imminent fall.The realization coursed through me, a sudden and shockingly sweet sensation mixing surprise with something else, something softer, warmer. In instinct, my hands squeezed his forearms to steady myself, and my breath hitched in my chest as I held, for a brief moment, there. His scent surrounded me like a musky mix of woodsy cedarwood and something of Vinnie, masculine and intoxicating. It awakened something within me, a wish to remain in that moment a little longer.But reality elbowed me, and I straightened up fast, breaking the spell as I backed off and I locked eyes with him, my heart racing from the fire in his eyes.“Are you behind this?” I said, my voice firmer than I felt as I pointed to the dining table, the candles flickering in the corner of my vision.Jordan didn’t
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-27The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 104. The Surprise
Sierra’sJordan snatched the silver-domed plate cover, lifting it from the table with exaggeration to display a perfectly arranged plate of Coq au Vin. It was a French dish that constituted of the tender pieces of chicken rested in a dark, thick wine sauce, flecked with caramelized pearl onions, mushrooms and crispy lardons. The smell was heavenly, a warm symphony of savoury and earthy notes that had my stomach growling in anticipation.“Coq au Vin,” Jordan said, tinged with pride. “Classic French comfort food. I felt like you could use something to stick to it tonight.”I looked at the dish, half impressed and half sceptical. It looked restaurant-worthy, the sort of dish that takes hours of simmering to make just right. The chicken glistened in the soft light, the sauce having clung to it in such a way that it looked as if it would melt in my mouth.“I knew you’d be tired when you came home,” Jordan said, his tone softening. “And I wanted you to unwind and have a lovely meal without
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-27
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The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 175. We Won
Jordan’s POVThe war didn’t end overnight. It took us months of intentional planning, restructuring and rebuilding trust.Carlos and Lorenzo Moretti not only maintained control of their syndicate but did so under stricter rules. Enough with the senseless bloodshed.” No more betrayals.Alessandro emerged as the power broker but moved to settle relations among erstwhile opponents.What about Gabriel Dravamen? He continued to be a wild card but honoured the pact. It meant Sierra would never have to see him again. He slipped away into the shadows, leaving us in peace.***I should have known that peace was an illusion. The second we made a truce, I felt the claws of the past itch at my back, lying in wait for an opportunity. The life we had struggled to break free from wasn’t going to be free easily. When our fragile new beginning unravelled, it was the enemy without who tore it apart but it was one of our own. Night had descended, cloaking the safehouse in lulling tranquillity. Sierra
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 174. A Truce Or Blood Feud
Jordan’s POVIt was a lengthy, ruthless and tumultuous struggle. Blood spotted the pavement, and the air was still tinged with gunpowder and sweat. Gabriel Dravamen’s cultists had shaken the very foundation of the city’s underworld when they turned against the men of Carlos Moretti. But now, looking at the rubble, I knew this battle would not last forever. I glanced at Sierra, her face smeared with dirt, her hair a wild tangle from their adventure, but the spark in her eyes was still bright with fierce determination. She had fought for me, she had risked everything, and I’d be damned if I was going to let her spend the rest of her life in constant fear. We had to put an end to this insane battle by hook or crook regardless of how weak I felt.“Jordan…Do you think this battle is worth it,” she asked but I looked at her and suddenly lost my words.“What do you suggest we do?” I asked her after taking time to think on her question for a few minutes.“End it. Reconcile with your enemies
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 173. To Hell With Fate
Jordan’s POVThere was a palpable tension in the night air, a heavy mix of unvoiced threats. My fingers flexed at my sides, and every muscle in my body stood up, ready to pounce. The instant the door opened on the van I sensed it. Before us, lined up like a barricade, the fleet of cars stood, their headlights casting harsh beams into the dark, illuminating the figures waiting beyond. Dressed in shades of dark, masked under darkness, armed men stood at attention. Their postures screamed discipline, precision, and most importantly, prepared to unleash hell. From the outside looking in, it was evident these were not just hired guns. They were men trained for combat, their loyalty inextinguishable, and their mission palpable. Carlos Moretti moved like a man in command, rolling the cuffs of his pricey suit as though he wasn’t in the heart of a goddamn battlefield. He flourished on chaos; it had shaped him, and if nothing else, I knew he never walked into a fight he didn’t think he coul
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 172. The Surprise
Sierra’s POVSilence enveloped us for a heartbeat, the only noise the drone of the engine and the uneven gasps of our party. Inside the van, the air was thick with anticipation and something more, something dark.Then, as my eyes adjusted to the low-light interior, I froze in my throat. In the corner sat Carlos Moretti, wearing a sleek black suit, and dark glasses on the bridge of his nose. A cigar hung limply from one side of his mouth, a thin wisp of smoke curling up to the ceiling.“You all didn’t know I was here. Well, I accept that compliment you gave earlier,” he said, “Oh, you are welcome,” he barely echoed and pumped out more smoke into the air with reckless abandon.Still talking to himself and all, he chuckled, a slow and gruff laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. It went on too long, stretching that moment into something just disgusting, something grotesque and even annoying, that made my stomach flip.I felt like reaching out to him and smacking him in the face to keep
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 171. A Narrow Escape
Sierra’s POVA sharp crack of gunfire pierced the night, and instinct kicked in. Jordan was tumbling down with me as a bullet whined past us and struck the concrete wall behind us.My pulse throbbed so violently that I feared it might rupture my ribs. Dominic was already shooting back, his responses quick and exact. Ethan drew his weapon too, well braced as he shot at the men surrounding us. “Go! Go! Go!” he shouted to his men and directed them with one hand in the air as he plunged them ahead whilst the other hand rested solidly on his gun. He looked in our direction as well and nodded his head for us to move to where the huge crates were stacked.I held Jordan and moved towards the crate whilst Ethan watched our fours ensuring we were behind the crates before going head into the battle that had been staged. I wondered where all the police vans had gone because such chaos and ceaseless firing should have bought them out of their cocoons except they had been bought over.Hiding behin
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 170. Moretti’s Men
Sierra’s POVI wrapped my arms around Jordan when balance abandoned him and he walked with me like an old man slowly finding his step. He had just been through a serious coma, and I knew he needed time to get his strength back. His body had not fully recovered, but his spirit, his fighting spirit, was as full as a young man's spirit should be. Every step we took together led us onto shaky ground, but I was unwilling to drop the thread. I wasn’t about to let anything or anyone pull him away from me again. As I led him down the sterile corridor, I kept looking back at him, asking him over and over if he was in pain. "How do you feel? Is anything bothering you? Does anywhere hurt?”We had to put up a brave front, of course, but Jordan shot me a cheeky smile with twinkling eyes that had mischief reflected in them, even with that happening.“You’re babying me too much, Sierra. I'm fine," he pouted back with love in his eyes.I couldn’t help but chuckle, though every fibre of my being wa
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 169. On The Move
Author’s POVCarlos stared blankly for a moment, trying to process the gravity of what had been revealed. But he also knew that in a game like this, someone was always behind the curtain, calling the shots. But this new player, this enigma, was the wild card he hadn’t counted on. He looked over at the door, his brain already working out the next few things. The stakes had never been higher. The fate of his family, even the power dynamic in Crystal Bay, it all was at stake and if this new player had been behind it all, the rules of the game would have changed and Carlos needed to adapt fast, or else lose it all.He walked around the room, the quietness in the area surrounding him was murky. The unknown player stuck in his mind and gnawed at him. Who were they? Why had they decided to make their move now? Because he knew all too well that everything was about power in this world, but the ones pulling the strings, those behind the scenes could make or destroy it all.His men had been
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 168. Eyes On The Target
Author’s POVOnce Lorenzo and Alessandro were gone, Carlos settled into the same chair, fingertips tapping a gentle beat against his desk as he processed the contents of the file. There was an atmosphere of tension around, and the doubts he had been trying to suppress grew louder by the second. There was no telling the moves of a man who might be willing to betray his own brother.Dominic Pierce was a wild card. But that was something Carlos could not lose, not at stake. Carlos picked up the phone off the desk and dialled a number he recalled by heart with a soft sigh. It was one of his most trusted men, a loyal veteran beyond question. Moments later, there was a click on the phone, and a voice came through to the other end.“Did you knock, boss,” the voices said, low and steady. "What’s the situation?"“I want an update,” Carlos said. His tone was steady, but there was an undercurrent of urgency. “How is it along the outside of the facility where Jordan’s being held?”There was a b
The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 167. A Betrayal in Question
Author’s POVAlessandro had his hands clasped behind his back, standing with a proud and confident posture, but there was a glimmer of awareness in his harsh features. He was expecting this conversation. He knew Carlos would bring up his concerns, it was his nature. No victory was ever too quickly celebrated, and no ally was ever completely trusted.After a long silence, Carlos released a breath. “You’ve done well, Alessandro,” he eventually said with a smoothness that had an edge of something sharper.“Getting Dominic Pierce to play our little game was no small task. You managed to do it, and for that, I salute you.”Carlos leaned back in his chair, his eyes cold, and warm applause echoed through the crowded room. The gentleness of his tone was just a preface to something colder.“But…” he said, letting the single word hang in the air like a dangerous pause. “A brother betraying his own blood?” He cocked his head a little, studying Alessandro’s face. “A man of this sort is not to be
