LOGINShare
Chapter Twenty-Four
Last Updated:
2023-01-03 20:49:03
Related chapters
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Twenty-Five
Enzo hasn't returned. I spent the day fuming and punching my pillow, imagining his face. The audacity. He really thinks I should be grateful to him, after everything that's happened? After everything he's done. The notion is preposterous. He's so full of shit. What upsets me most is that for a little while, I had forgotten everything he put me through. I no longer remember that first fight, or those first days in that infernal apartment. I'd started to...I don't know, trust him. Not necessarily trust, but I'd started seeing him as someone I could count on. I was wrong, of course. He's waiting for the perfect opportunity to get rid of me, and I don't quite know in what sense. I don't think he's above killing me. He would do it if it benefited him in any way. It's night now. I'm getting used to time flying like this. Some days, when I have nothing to do, it passes by slowly. When I'm occupied, with my thoughts, it usually flies. Today was no exception. I didn't even have lunch, I was
Last Updated : 2023-01-03The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Twenty-Six
"Calm down, Enzo," Gustavo says. "I've come in peace. I have a message to deliver to you. Your...fiancée was kind enough to let me in."I know Enzo is displeased with this. He clearly doesn't want Gustavo Puglia in his house, and I understand why. He isn't 100% trustworthy. He’s Giotto’s son, and that'll never change. Also, the things he said to me downstairs adds to the suspicion. "Upstairs, Chiara." I have to walk past him to get to the stairs. He grabs my arm, "And stay there."Of course I don't. I have to hear everything they're going to say. I don't close the door all the way so I can get in the room quickly if Enzo decides to come upstairs. Without meaning to, I'm already involved. I want Giotto dead as much as Enzo does. I don't know what his motives are, but mine are justifiable. I want to hear every word, I want to know where everything stands. Gustavo has clearly come to talk about his father. "So, what is it that you wanted to say to me? You've come a long way. You could
Last Updated : 2023-01-03The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Twenty-Seven
Maria wakes me up the next morning, telling me there's breakfast downstairs. I take some time to wash my face and brush my teeth, try to tame my hair, then I head to the kitchen. On the dinner table, there's fresh bread, butter, cheese, and freshly brewed coffee. The coffee helps in keeping me awake. I barely slept last night. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that Enzo said, and with every passing hour, I realized he's definitely keeping something hidden. I can't figure out what it is, but it's something big. Nevertheless, I was much more comfortable in the bed than I was in that thin mattress. Once again, Maria doesn't let me clean up. I don't fight with her. I have no choice but to go upstairs and sit on the edge of the bed. I've already cleaned the room, so there's nothing else for me to do. I can't wait for this to come to an end. This mundane existence is killing me on the inside. Approximately two hours later, Enzo appears at the door. He's wearing a baby blue t-shir
Last Updated : 2023-01-03The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Twenty-Eight
We get inside another car to get to the dinner. A black SUV. The whole ride, I'm pinching my legs to keep them still. I'm nervous about tonight, mainly because I don't know what to expect and how everything will go. I hate that I’m doing this. This is more humiliating than ever. Having to sit next to the man who killed my family is beyond difficult, and the fact that I can show no aggression proves how unfair this all is. I can’t understand why a man as important as him chooses to waste his time with me. If there could only be a way of me not needing to deal with him, I would take it. I don’t trust myself in his presence. My throat closes up, and I get the urge to scream until my lungs go raw. I turn to look at Enzo and ask him, "Will Giotto be there?" "No," he says. "But Gustavo will. Do me a favor and don't talk to him. If he strikes up a conversation with you, ignore him.""How can I ignore Giotto’s son?" It’s a relief that he won’t be there and I can hardly believe my luck. As
Last Updated : 2023-01-03The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Twenty-Nine
Enzo parks the car in front of a motel. He tells me to stay in the car while he pays for the room. He says 'room' and not 'rooms' and that makes me a little nervous. Does he expect us to sleep in the same room? I don't comment because there's a lot of tension as it is, and the last thing I need is for him to take out his stress on me. Those dead mice were meant for one of us, or both. I have no idea who could have sent those, but he definitely knows, he's just not telling me. But I'll pester him until I have the answer. Don't I have the right to know who's threatening to kill me? He returns to the car and slams the door. He peaks right in front of the room he rented. He switches the car off and sits with his hands on the steering wheel. Abruptly, he starts pounding his fists against it. I flinch with every punch. After he's done taking all his anger out on the steering wheel, he opens the door and slams it shut again. He walks to the door and unlocks it, leaving it wide open. I clim
Last Updated : 2023-01-03The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Thirty
I clean the room and try to smooth the wrinkles of my dress down. I don’t like looking unkempt. It makes me feel like I’ve lost control, and if there’s anything that I can control it’s my physical appearance, if I can help it. But that’s not entirely it; I’m doing this so I don’t look at the empty spot on the bed and think about what happened last night. I then wash my face with cold, cold water to stun last night's events out of me, and brush my hair with my fingers. Despite not having a brush or comb, it still looks flawless. I’ve never seen my hair like this. It’s incredible what a professional hairdresser can do. Enzo is taking an eternity to return. I have no way of communicating with him. No phone, nothing. Well, there is a phone here in the room, but who would I call? I don't have his number. All I can do is sit here with my grumbling stomach and wait for his arrival. I can't believe that he kissed me last night. In fact, that whole scene is a little hazy so I'm left wonder
Last Updated : 2023-01-04The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Thirty-One
"What do you mean by with us?" He smiles smugly. "I mean that you'll be staying with us, the Puglia family. You'll find that we're very accommodating folk. I guarantee you'll have the time of your life."I sink into the seat. I wish it would expand and swallow me whole. I get the sudden urge to unlock the door, and jump out of the car. Time of her life? How am I going to have the time of my life living with the people responsible for my family’s death? I tell him weakly, “You've got to be joking."He turns and shakes his head solemnly. "I'm afraid it's the truth. Enzo spoke to me this morning and asked the favor personally. It's safer. That way, the de Luca brothers won't get to you."It takes me a moment to process what he's saying to me. This isn't a joke. I'm going to be living with the Puglias, with this man Enzo doesn't even trust. It feels so surreal that my head spins for a beat. I feel nauseous suddenly, like I might throw my guts up. Meanwhile, he keeps both his hands on the
Last Updated : 2023-01-04The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Thirty-Two
I open my eyes and daylight is flooding the room.I sit up quickly and look around for a clock so I can figure out what time it is, but I find none. It's disorienting, waking up in this strange place, surrounded by people who despise me. I climb out of bed and step on one of the bags. The sight of all of them makes me depressed. How am I supposed to deal with all this? Where will I even do my laundry? I fish a pair of dark washed jeans from one of the bags and the only top that isn't excessively wrinkled. I get into the shower and blast the hot water. There are tiny bottles of shampoo and body wash in the shower, so I use those. I completely forgot about the ones I bought the other day; they're probably still in one of the bags. The shampoo dries my hair out and so does the body wash. I let out a frustrated sigh. I wrap a towel around my body and tiptoe back into the room to look for the ones Enzo bought. Bastard. I hate to think of his name. It fills me with a rage that I can’t qui
Last Updated : 2023-01-04
Latest chapter
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Epilogue
I put my favorite pearl earrings on. What I love most about them? They go well with everything. I bought them when I visited Paris. I fell in love with the pair as soon as I set my eyes on them. They reminded me of a pair my mother had but never wore. They sat at the bottom of her jewellery box, but sometimes I'd catch her staring at them. I never gave it a second thought; I never thought that they were valuable. Where would she even get the money to buy a real pair of pearl and diamond earrings? Now, I figured that they were probably gifted to her by my father. So much has happened since I left Italy. I settled down in Lisbon, until I decided I could no longer stay. It was a beautiful city, and I loved the food more than anything. But there was something missing, and that was something Lisbon had in common with every city I traveled to. They were marvelous in all aspects, but they just didn't feel like home. That all changed when I met Eric.He was an American living in Vienna. We
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty-Five
I glance at the time on my phone. It's almost time for me to embark. I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I can't believe I'm finally doing this. The last couple of weeks have been absolutely horrible for me, with everything that happened the night Enzo died.He was dead before the paramedics arrived. If they'd been even a minute later, he wouldn't have been able to make it. They reanimated him with a defibrillator. I watched in shock as his body lurched. It was the worst ten seconds of my entire life. I couldn't go with him to the hospital. I had to explain to the authorities why there were three dead bodies in my front yard. I went with the obvious explanation; I didn't know who they were. I said Enzo was my boyfriend, and we were going to spend a few days here, but when they showed up, he had no choice but to shoot them. I never fired my gun, only he did. I remember these officers. They'd stop by sometimes for coffee and cake whenever they were in the neighborhood. I went to
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty-Four
She fires the first shot. I realize that this is the second time in a matter of hours that someone has tried to kill me. Only, something isn't right. She isn't looking at me, in fact it's almost as if I'm not even here. She's staring at the person behind me, Enzo, and I realize that her gun is pointed at him.She's trying to kill Enzo. But why? No, that's a stupid question. It isn't hard to imagine why. The way I feel about him is the same way she must be feeling, only ten times worse because she knew about what he did all along, and I didn't. I fell in love with him before that, and my love for him cushioned the blow of his betrayal. "No, stop!" I exclaim. She isn't listening to me. She fires another shot, and he falls to the ground. For a breathless second, I thing that maybe she hit him, that he's going to bleed to death on this patio. But he wasn't shot, he's fumbling with his own weapon. Her gun is poised, she's ready to fire another shot. Each step she takes brings her close
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty-Three
I can't bring myself to walk inside just yet. The last time I was here, I was dragged out by Enzo himself. He's standing by the entrance and is watching me as if he knows what I'm thinking. I'm too deflated to be angry, all I can do is look around. My mother's garden is destroyed. Weeds and birds got to it. There are still some flowers I recognize here and there. My hands are itching to fix them, to restore this garden, but I know that that won't ever happen. It won't be the same without her. She spent years and so much effort on this small piece of land, but that has all gone to waste. I settle my eyes on the front door again. Enzo has the keys with him. I don't ask him how he has them. It doesn't matter at this point. He probably got them from one of his men, after they finished the job. "Aren't you going to come in?" he asks me. I shake my head. "Why did you bring me here?" "This is your home," he says. "I thought you'd want to spend the night here instead of some motel."He
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty-Two
I look at Enzo.He's breathing heavily. His eyes search my face and body to make sure I'm safe, that no bullet hit me. We both look at Gustavo, who's lying on the ground. Dead. I place my hand over my mouth. I can't believe that has happened. I can't believe that he was going to kill me, after everything we've been through. This night has turned out to be a nightmare. An absolute nightmare."We need to go," he says to me, as if he didn't just kill his own brother. I'm being unfair, I know that. He was going to kill one of us, and all Enzo did was try to keep us both safe.But he's dead.Enzo lifts me off the ground when I refuse to move. He shoves me inside the vehicle and slams the door in my face. I stare at Gustavo’s body through the window, at the pool of blood around his torso. I'm seeing it, but I can't quite believe my eyes. He gets inside the driver's seat and starts the car.We speed away from the bloody scene. I wonder briefly if anyone will ever find these people. This cab
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty-One
Gustavo is furious.I don't think I've ever seen him like this. I barely recognize him. Why is he holding that gun? And why does it seem like Enzo expected this? I feel like an outsider once again. I have no idea of what's happening right now.He says, "Come with me, Chiara. You," he points at Enzo with the gun. "You stay the hell away from her."Enzo stands up. "You don't tell her what to do. And who do you think you're talking to?" Gustavo ignores him. He turns to me. His brow is furrowed and his lips are in a snarl. For the first time since I met him, I'm afraid of him. I've never seen him like this. He says, "Come, Chiara. You have no business being here with him. I'm going to take you back home, someplace safe." I don't like his tone at all. He's been using it on me for some time now. I'm not a child, yet he keeps treating me like one. "You didn't keep her safe to begin with," Enzo interjects. "You can't keep her safe. She would've been killed tonight, if it weren't for me."En
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Eighty
Flavia finally stands and faces him. "What are you—" He pulls out his gun and shoots her right there. I gasp and watch as her body falls with a thud. I look at him, he's looking at me. I can't believe that this has happened. Flavia de Luca is dead? He just shot her. Right in front of me. A few more men enter the room. I only recognize Vito amongst them. Enzo tucks his gun back in his coat and says, "Untie her. Make sure you don't hurt her. One yelp and you'll meet your maker." He doesn't look at me as he gives those orders which I'm partly thankful for. I'm shocked that he's here, but I push that to the back of my mind. For now. They cut at the ropes and tape, a little too carefully, and I'm freed. Finally. I sit up and my head spins. When I open my eyes, Enzo is no longer in the room. Vito is helping me to my feet. Someone shoves a bottle of water at me. I fumble with the lid, but I manage to open it. "Easy, miss," one of them says. "Take slow sips."I do as I'm told, because my
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Seventy-Nine
They tied me down with ropes, like an animal awaiting slaughter.I knew that this would happen, yet I don't regret my decision. I wasn't going to give up without trying, even if that attempt got me here. I'm so thirsty it's like I swallowed a mouthful of sand. With all the dust here, maybe I have. I just need a sip of water, but I guess there isn't any point in wasting water on a dead person. How long will I have to wait? Not being able to move is torturous. I don't know at this point if I should hope for the best or just give up. I've been here for a long time, if anyone had to find me, they would've already. I'm at the mercy of Flora and her brother, and once again this is all Enzo’s fault. It's getting darker because the room is pitch black at this point. Maybe one of them will light this kerosene lamp. My head is starting to hurt, either from dehydration or this stressful situation. I need to sleep, but at the same time, I can't close my eyes while I'm surrounded by people who m
The Mafioso’s Forced Bride Chapter Seventy-Eight
I'm filled to the brim with a feeling of utter despair. I try to move my hands and feet, but they've been bound with rope and duct tape. I'm in a dark, cramped space. Moving car? Again?I’m overwhelmed with the strong sense of deja vu. This cannot be happening to me. I thought I was finally free. I wasn’t expecting something this absurd to happen to me. What am I going to do? How will I escape? Is this punishment for not caring about Russo’s death as I should or the price I'm paying for getting involved with Enzo? Caio is going to use me to get to him, to hurt him. He doesn't know how he's wasting his time. Enzo won't care about that. All he wanted was revenge, and now that he has it, he doesn't need anything else. He won’t care about me. He won’t sacrifices his new wins and achievements because of me. Let them have me. He disposed of me along ago. He won’t care now, that I know. How long have I been here? What I can't believe is that after everything I've been through, I'm back to
