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108. Vacation or Staycation
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2025-01-28 00:01:08Jordan’s POV
Sierra nodded, squeezing my hand a little tighter. We said nothing more as we lay back in bed, the heaviness of the night sank in around us.But as I lay there, looking up at the ceiling, I couldn’t get Luca’s frightened face out of my head. So whatever healing he needed, we had to get a way to help him. I scooted over on the bed closer to Sierra, wrapping an arm around her and tucking her snugly up against me.Her warmth enveloped me, driving off the residual chill of the night. It was like she was made to be in my arms, something about the way she settled into me made me happy.Her skin was impossibly soft and was as smooth as silk, the warmth she exuded felt like home. As my fingers traced lightly across her arm, I couldn’t help but notice the fragility of it, the way it seemed to glow softly in the darkness of our room.She smelled amazing, a hint of the floral lotion she always used mixed with something uniquely hers,
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The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 109. Fresh Air
Sierra’s POVI woke to the sharp, golden rays of the morning sun forcing their way through the gaps in the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I squinted against the brightness, groaning softly as I tried to shield my face with the edge of the blanket. My body felt heavy, weighed down by the lingering remnants of sleep, but something else gnawed at me. It was a subtle sense of emptiness.Turning to my side, I reached out instinctively, only to find Jordan’s space cold and vacant yet again. My hand rested there for a moment, the absence oddly palpable. With a sigh, I let my gaze drift to the nightstand. The last time this had happened, he’d left me a note, a little scrap of reassurance that he wasn’t far and that I was still on his mind. But today, there was no such note waiting for me.I bit my lip, brushing off the faint pang of disappointment. I shook my head, my hair falling messily over my face as I pushed myself upright. M
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-28The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 111. Priorities
Jordan’s POVI sat behind the heavy oak desk in my office, looking at Ethan standing in front of me, calm and collected. I knew deep down that entrusting Ethan into my right-hand man slot made sense, he was charming, well-liked by the workers, and steady under pressure. I wasn’t going to throw myself into the things I did with Andrew.This time, I had to be explicit. No burdening, no doubling up on duties. Ethan would only handle operations, making sure that the mines were functioning, and the workers were inspired. I craned back in my chair and looked into his steady gaze.“You will manage Crystal Bay's day-to-day affairs while I am away,” I replied, my voice steady but quiet. “But I want your attention only on the mines. Leave the expansion plan to me,” I warnedEthan nodded, his face implacable. “Understood, sir. I won’t let you down.”I believed him. Ethan wasn’t merely competent; he was reliable and yet a part of me couldn’t let go of that lingering doubt. Andrew had been reliab
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 112. Villa Marina
Sierra’s POVThe journey from Crystal Bay to Villa Marina Resorts had been blissfully uneventful, still and serene compared to the turmoil that had just consumed us. This short escape from our bland reality was all that Jordan and I had ever wanted. The resort, nestled on the outskirts of town, promised peace as well, with its lush tropical gardens, twinkling infinity pools and the hypnotic thrum of waves crashing on the far-off shore. Jordan had chosen this spot for its promise of peace, and I couldn’t have agreed with his choice more.The salty air washed over us, mixed with a whiff of blooming jasmine as we turned into the driveway. A glorious and effortless hypnosis in the form of the song of the birds and the faint sound of the waves. I got out of the car and closed my eyes for a moment and took it all in. The briny ocean air felt like a salve on my frazzled nerves, tousling the strands of my hair and caressing my skin with a featherweight that made me feel liberated.Jordan le
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 113. At the Beach
Sierra’s POVWe got out of our room and walked to the swimming pool area of the resort, where the afternoon sun bathed the landscaped gardens in gold. Blooming hibiscus flowers lined the path toward the pool, their greens and reds in stark contrast to the cerulean pool.As we moved close, my eyes fell on two couples relaxing at the poolside. Sprawled side-by-side on what appeared to be the highest-priced sunbed in the city, they looked completely at ease, partaking in what could only be termed as a sexified sunbath naked. I instinctively bit my lip, stifling the laughter bubbling in my chest, and elbowed Jordan gently. “This is… different,” I muttered with a filched grin.Jordan cocked an eyebrow, looking both amused and skeptical. “I guess they’re taking advantage of the ‘private’ part of the resort,” he said, shaking his head dryly. “Let’s just go find our own corner.”We chose a shady corner on the pool’s far side, far from the uninhibited couples. I tossed my towel over a lounge
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 114. The Unusual Event
Sierra’s POVWe walked out of the pool, water droplets trailing down our bodies as the warm breeze dried our wet skin. The sun was going down, spilling golden light all over the resort grounds. We grabbed our towels and dried ourselves off, joking briefly about who had stayed underwater for a longer period. Returning to the primary building, we passed a reception desk and the lively receptionist stopped us a few steps away.“Excuse me,” she said, beaming so brightly it rivalled the resort. She flashed a small, nicely designed card. “We’re having an event tonight, kind of a mini-auction party.” It’s quite the draw here at Villa Marina. Games, dancing, and an opportunity to bid on some rare items. You and he should absolutely see it.”I arched my right brow and looked at the card then took it from her. "An auction at a resort? And a party, too? That’s..... different,” I replied, my voice laced with curiosity.“It’s one of our signature events,” the receptionist said. “Entertainment, an
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-29The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 115. The Auction Party
Sierra’s POVThe short walk to the open-space event centre was imbued with an air of anticipation. The party was already in full swing and the energy was electric. The venue itself was absolutely spectacular. Long tables were set in a U-shape around a small platform, where a tangle of strings of fairy lights sparkled as if they were the stars. And in the background of very vivid disco music that was playing out loud, guests intermixed with each other, laughing and having a casual conversation. The warm night-air setting afforded the cool evening breeze to breathe the pasty fragrance of the ocean.Jordan and I were led to a table for two, decked out with plates and glasses trimmed in gold. There was a silk ribbon in rich hues, fitting the night’s theme draped across the back of each chair. There were cards wrapped in red ribbons neatly laid on the table, and when I untied mine, the content inside instantly struck my attention, it read: “Welcome to the Auction Party of Villa Marina!
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 116. She's Playing Games
Sierra’s POVI put on a smile and nodded, and he took me over to the dance floor. And yet, despite dancing to the music, part of me couldn’t shake the questions circling around in my head. Who exactly was Elara Pierre? And what was she actually doing here?It felt as though the music in the air faded away as my gaze found the man who Elara spoke of. His long beard, braided into a precise ponytail, set him apart. But it wasn’t only the beard that drew my eye, it was his face. It was unmistakable.“Jordan,” I whispered, trying to nudge him gently without creating a stir. My voice must have betrayed more tension than I intended, as he looked at me sharply. “Look over there,” I said, craning my neck slightly to indicate the back corner where Elara was standing with Dominic.Jordan’s jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing as he tracked where I was looking. “That’s Dom?” he muttered, his voice sinking into a low growl.“Yeah, I think so,” I answered, my voice shaking a little. “And that’s Elara
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-30The Mafia's Kingpin's Arranged Bride 117. Where had he Gone?
Sierra’s POV“I know,” I said softly, looking toward the corner where Elara and Dominic now stood with their heads bent. “But we can’t let them win. Let’s go back to our table.”Jordan paused, his eyes still on the duo, before finally giving a nod. “There you are,” he replied, a reluctant weight in his voice. “But this isn’t over.”I doubted nothing of the sort for a second. When the music faded a bit, and party guests transitioned from the high-energy auction to a more festive affair, I scanned the room, looking at each guest and chatting away. They were done with the auction, and just chilling listening to music, and having some drinks, before breaking for the night.Jordan and I pretended to resume our spot at our table, but I soon realized there was little else to be done. Returning to the sanctuary of our room was the obvious next step.I turned toward the elevator, assuming that Jordan was right behind me, but something felt... off. The familiar sense of his presence wasn’t the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-01-31
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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
