Mateo's eyes glittered like strokes of light as he slowly strolled down Camellia's body, over each visible curve. Her gown accentuated her perfect shape, the marine blue complementing the diamonds on her neck. She looked beautiful, so beautiful that he wished she were his.
Immediately, he realized the severity of his thoughts and looked away. The Requiem was the most powerful mafia in New York. They were ruthless and bloodthirsty. He knew it would be stupidity to go against them.
He dropped his glass on the tray, making to leave the gathering. He needed to get some air; the night felt too hot.
Camellia moved taking her last step on the stairs. Alejandro helped her down, his hands wrapped around her waist. Slowly, his mouth brushed against her earlobe.
"I said black." he whispered, his words like a silent threat.Camellia's lips curled into a smile, her eyes glowing with excitement. "Really? I thought I heard you say marine blue. Clearly, I did... or perhaps, did I mishear your instructions?" She could hardly hide her smile as it spread across her face.
Alejandro held her tighter, his fingers digging into her waistline. She felt his steamy eyes travel down her body, and she couldn't tell what was going on in his head as his eyes scanned her thoroughly, like he was weighing a piece of meat.
Alejandro took in the sight of her body, tightly wrapped in the body-hugging gown. She had put on blue when he instructed her to wear black. He knew she was challenging him. He could see the fire in her eyes, the one that appeared anytime she was behaving disobediently.
He wished he could rip the gown off her body, push her against the walls, punish her for refuting his orders. However, he couldn't. Not now, at least.
He leaned in closer, his voice a deadly whisper. "Careful, Camellia. I hate disobedience... and worse, lies. I am aware you're trying to get me provoked... but I doubt that you can handle the consequences."
Camellia turned her face away from him, her voice arrogant. "I don't care. I don't give a single damn about your stupid consequences, Alejandro. Toss me away if you find my behavior appalling."
She whispered slowly, making sure she had a wide smile on her face. Alejandro laughed madly, his grip tightening around her waist. Even though anger exploded in his veins, a little part of him felt intrigued, fascinated by her resistance.
"Camellia, Camellia, Camellia," he chanted her name like a deadly song. "Earlier, you said you'll play the part of an obedient fiancée... let's give our audience a great show."
Alejandro pulled her body closer to him, her soft breasts pressed against his firm chest. Her hips brushed against his as they moved together, dancing. Camellia rested her head against his chest. Each step they took pulled them closer.
As she looked up into his dark, tempting eyes, they sent heat down to her cheeks. Camellia felt hot all of a sudden. It wasn't the dance that made her heart beat or how steamy his eyes looked from below, but it was... the loud bangs his heart made against his ribs. She could hear them as her ears pressed against his wide chest.
He wanted her. His lips brushed against her cheeks, the heat from his breath lingering. "You are doing perfect, acting like my obedient fiancée."
Camellia laughed softly, making sure to slap him hard on his chest. "I'll never be yours, Andrew."
His dark eyes fell on her lips, a sly smile clinging to his cheeks. "Keep deceiving yourself, Camellia... you are already mine."
"Only in your freaking dreams." she challenged.
"And in my bedroom, if you keep talking like that." he smirked.
Then, slowly, he pulled away from her. The anger in her eyes tripled. How dare he?
At the worst time, her father, Luca Moretti, walked towards them with a smile pasted on his face. He looked the same, like the cruel man he always was.
"Alejandro!" Luca called out. Slowly, his eyes darted to Camellia, his smile instantly dying off. "You despicable brat... you almost caused me my fortune."
Camellia smiled brightly. "Yes, Papa... happy to see you too."
Alejandro chuckled softly, his eyes flicked to her, watching her roll her eyes in annoyance. How did such a little creature have so much attitude?
"You are a Moretti, you have duties..."
"Duties?" she laughed out. "Tell me more about them, Papa."
"Camellia, you are nothing like your mother. Your mother was well aware of..."
Camellia took steps further away from him, not caring about what he was saying. But she couldn't take any more steps as...
Her father grabbed her hands, his sharp nails digging into her wrist. His wrinkled eyes stared, watching her squint her eyes in pain, his fingers dug deeper into her wrist, reminding her who had the power, who held the strings of control.
Camellia felt pain beneath his hurtful fingers. "You are not going to disrespect me, Camellia Moretti." he warned.
Camellia didn't say a word, but she felt the tears seeping out of her eyes. Alejandro moved slowly, his eyes dark with danger as he gently but firmly brushed Luca's hand off Camellia.
"She's my fiancée," Alejandro's voice was low with a danger that chilled Luca's bones. "Don't you ever touch her again, or I'll make sure you never forget who she belongs to."
Camellia looked up at Alejandro, his eyes warned Luca fiercely. Then her eyes flicked to Luca, he laughed gently, though she could see the anger rising in his eyes, though he had tried to mask it.
"I'm sorry, Alejandro... but a father must discipline his disrespectful daughter." Alejandro didn't respond, instead his eyes glared, casting a cold chill over Luca's body. Luca smiled again, this time he decided to pacify Alejandro.
Camellia watched in disbelief, her own father was behaving like an underdog just to please Alejandro. That Requiem truly held a lot of power.
Camellia decided to take a walk outside, clear her head, and enjoy the night breeze. Her eyes explored around, her heels hitting the marble floor. Soon she stopped, standing by the balcony.
"If it isn't Camellia Moretti..." Mateo's voice rang from the side.
Camellia's eyes fell on him, "How could you, Mateo? How could you betray me? After I gave you my virginity..."
Her voice broke before she could say any other thing, his cold words stabbed into her chest.
"You were just another desperate girl, Camellia."
"You were just another desperate girl, Camellia."Camelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Normally, she wasn't the emotional type, she was rather nonchalant but his words pierced into her deeper than she cared to admit. Another Desperate girl? The words rang in, repeating itself over and over again in her head. Obviously she couldn't be nonchalant, she had fucking given him her everything. Her body. Her innocence. Her will... Her virginity. She couldn't bear it anymore, her hands fisted, her eyes narrowed. Before she could stop herself, her fist landed hard against his cheeks, hot and aggressive. Her punch wasn't weak, it left a mark on his cheeks. Mateo did not budge, he stayed still. Normally he would have brought out his pocket knife, the one tucked beneath his jacket. And In a movement so slick, he would have slit her throat...If she weren't Camellia Moretti. A woman who left him vulnerable, acting out of character. "Another desperate girl, right?..." She yelled at
Mateo sat in his executive seat, the darkness clung to the wide space of his office like a ghost in a haunted house.The footsteps were loud, arrogant hitting the marble floor. "El sicario... We have him." He looked towards the figure they dragged.It didn't take long for the figure to advance from the darkness, beaten, bruised.A child less than ten years. "The Capo of Falcón wants him gone."Blood dripped down his face, sweat clung to his immature cheeks. His crystal black eyes stared out into the darkness, hopeless. His head fell down, both of his hands were held by the men, his legs dragged on the floor. Immediately Mateo held his eyes, voices from the past rang in his ears, bombs echoed in the distance. His eyes were like a portal taking him back in time. Back to the past he had long forgotten. His mother held on to him. Her eyes bloodshot red, eyes still flowed out from them. "Mi amor... Close your ears, it would all soon be over." Mateo held his ears, brushing his litt
"...You will marry, Alejandro Ricci." Those words sliced through the air spitting her heart into two. The sweet aroma of roasted turkey and opus one filled the air, thick and suffocating.Camellia Moretti sat at the long glass table, the soft glow of the chandelier light fell and reflected on the glass table, it's white rays on the marble floor. Everything smelt like power and money, the essence of her family and she hated every bit of it. Her father, Luca Moretti, twirled his wine glass, his eyes were fixed on her, expectations visible in them. His face was stern and unreadable. Around the table sat all of her uncles, her cousins and her elder brother, the so called pillars of the Moretti empire, all chauvinistic bastards, and the most important, the man she hated the most in the world, Alejandro Ricci and a few of his associates. They all waited for her response. This wasn’t a family dinner. It was a business transaction. And she, Camellia Moretti, was the merchandize.Luca p
Chapter Two"Camellia, get back here!" She could hear her father scream, but she didn't listen. Instead, she sprinted through the huge fields, past the familiar walls she grew up in, walls that caged her. As she ran past them, they seemed alien. The cold air sliced through her chest, casting cold chills over her skin.Instantly, she regretted wearing her red off-shoulder gown; it tangled around her heels, making it harder to move. But she didn't let that stop her; she couldn't. As she sprinted further from the mansion into the fields, she could hear her father's voice echoing behind her: "Don't let her go. I need you to find her. Now."Over a hundred footsteps matched the floor, all in pursuit. She continued sprinting down. The cool breeze made it worse, sending a sharp sting to the bruises on her feet. Nobody in their right senses ran with heels this high.Their torches flickered in the distant darkness, their steps drew closer. She had less than three minutes to escape, escape her
She wished he would let her go, but he never did.Camellia didn't remember how she got to Alejandro's Estate, nor did she remember why she was standing right before his SUV. Everything felt blurry; her memory was scrambled. The only thing she knew was that she was caged and had been caged for over a week.She had heard that her father knew she was with Alejandro. She didn't expect him to do anything to help her. He was Luca Moretti, of course, the same man who sacrificed a woman he claimed to love.Very early in life, she swore never to get married to a man like her father. Here she was, being forced to marry someone worse.She was certain that this was the day, the time she would escape. Camellia had her light gun tucked in her leather trousers.She could see Alejandro stroll down, his olive skin shining under the rays of the sun.In a different universe, under another sun, Camellia would have thought he was rather handsome.As he drew closer to her, she brought her gun out, pointin
Camellia wiped his kiss off her lips. Hatred bloomed in her eyes as she lay on his bed. "I'll never forgive you for this," she said, her voice laced with anger.Alejandro's eyes looked down at the petite figure on the bed. He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze unyielding. "... For kissing my fiancée?" he asked, his tone icy.Camellia wasn't going to answer him. Her brain raced with thoughts on how she could escape him. She couldn't live with him anymore. She had to leave before her wedding night, before he truly claimed her.He moved closer to her, his fingers holding her chin, forcing her eyes up to his. "Listen, Camellia... You are no longer with your father. After our marriage, you'll become a Ricci."She wanted to spit in his face. "I would never marry a man like you, Alejandro."He laughed. "You aren't marrying a man like me, dear Camellia... You are getting married to me."Camellia let out a sarcastic laugh. His eyes changed, his grip on her chin tightened. "Camellia... Do
Mateo sat in his executive seat, the darkness clung to the wide space of his office like a ghost in a haunted house.The footsteps were loud, arrogant hitting the marble floor. "El sicario... We have him." He looked towards the figure they dragged.It didn't take long for the figure to advance from the darkness, beaten, bruised.A child less than ten years. "The Capo of Falcón wants him gone."Blood dripped down his face, sweat clung to his immature cheeks. His crystal black eyes stared out into the darkness, hopeless. His head fell down, both of his hands were held by the men, his legs dragged on the floor. Immediately Mateo held his eyes, voices from the past rang in his ears, bombs echoed in the distance. His eyes were like a portal taking him back in time. Back to the past he had long forgotten. His mother held on to him. Her eyes bloodshot red, eyes still flowed out from them. "Mi amor... Close your ears, it would all soon be over." Mateo held his ears, brushing his litt
"You were just another desperate girl, Camellia."Camelia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Normally, she wasn't the emotional type, she was rather nonchalant but his words pierced into her deeper than she cared to admit. Another Desperate girl? The words rang in, repeating itself over and over again in her head. Obviously she couldn't be nonchalant, she had fucking given him her everything. Her body. Her innocence. Her will... Her virginity. She couldn't bear it anymore, her hands fisted, her eyes narrowed. Before she could stop herself, her fist landed hard against his cheeks, hot and aggressive. Her punch wasn't weak, it left a mark on his cheeks. Mateo did not budge, he stayed still. Normally he would have brought out his pocket knife, the one tucked beneath his jacket. And In a movement so slick, he would have slit her throat...If she weren't Camellia Moretti. A woman who left him vulnerable, acting out of character. "Another desperate girl, right?..." She yelled at
Chapter 5Mateo's eyes glittered like strokes of light as he slowly strolled down Camellia's body, over each visible curve. Her gown accentuated her perfect shape, the marine blue complementing the diamonds on her neck. She looked beautiful, so beautiful that he wished she were his.Immediately, he realized the severity of his thoughts and looked away. The Requiem was the most powerful mafia in New York. They were ruthless and bloodthirsty. He knew it would be stupidity to go against them.He dropped his glass on the tray, making to leave the gathering. He needed to get some air; the night felt too hot.Camellia moved taking her last step on the stairs. Alejandro helped her down, his hands wrapped around her waist. Slowly, his mouth brushed against her earlobe."I said black." he whispered, his words like a silent threat.Camellia's lips curled into a smile, her eyes glowing with excitement. "Really? I thought I heard you say marine blue. Clearly, I did... or perhaps, did I mishear yo
Camellia wiped his kiss off her lips. Hatred bloomed in her eyes as she lay on his bed. "I'll never forgive you for this," she said, her voice laced with anger.Alejandro's eyes looked down at the petite figure on the bed. He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze unyielding. "... For kissing my fiancée?" he asked, his tone icy.Camellia wasn't going to answer him. Her brain raced with thoughts on how she could escape him. She couldn't live with him anymore. She had to leave before her wedding night, before he truly claimed her.He moved closer to her, his fingers holding her chin, forcing her eyes up to his. "Listen, Camellia... You are no longer with your father. After our marriage, you'll become a Ricci."She wanted to spit in his face. "I would never marry a man like you, Alejandro."He laughed. "You aren't marrying a man like me, dear Camellia... You are getting married to me."Camellia let out a sarcastic laugh. His eyes changed, his grip on her chin tightened. "Camellia... Do
She wished he would let her go, but he never did.Camellia didn't remember how she got to Alejandro's Estate, nor did she remember why she was standing right before his SUV. Everything felt blurry; her memory was scrambled. The only thing she knew was that she was caged and had been caged for over a week.She had heard that her father knew she was with Alejandro. She didn't expect him to do anything to help her. He was Luca Moretti, of course, the same man who sacrificed a woman he claimed to love.Very early in life, she swore never to get married to a man like her father. Here she was, being forced to marry someone worse.She was certain that this was the day, the time she would escape. Camellia had her light gun tucked in her leather trousers.She could see Alejandro stroll down, his olive skin shining under the rays of the sun.In a different universe, under another sun, Camellia would have thought he was rather handsome.As he drew closer to her, she brought her gun out, pointin
Chapter Two"Camellia, get back here!" She could hear her father scream, but she didn't listen. Instead, she sprinted through the huge fields, past the familiar walls she grew up in, walls that caged her. As she ran past them, they seemed alien. The cold air sliced through her chest, casting cold chills over her skin.Instantly, she regretted wearing her red off-shoulder gown; it tangled around her heels, making it harder to move. But she didn't let that stop her; she couldn't. As she sprinted further from the mansion into the fields, she could hear her father's voice echoing behind her: "Don't let her go. I need you to find her. Now."Over a hundred footsteps matched the floor, all in pursuit. She continued sprinting down. The cool breeze made it worse, sending a sharp sting to the bruises on her feet. Nobody in their right senses ran with heels this high.Their torches flickered in the distant darkness, their steps drew closer. She had less than three minutes to escape, escape her
"...You will marry, Alejandro Ricci." Those words sliced through the air spitting her heart into two. The sweet aroma of roasted turkey and opus one filled the air, thick and suffocating.Camellia Moretti sat at the long glass table, the soft glow of the chandelier light fell and reflected on the glass table, it's white rays on the marble floor. Everything smelt like power and money, the essence of her family and she hated every bit of it. Her father, Luca Moretti, twirled his wine glass, his eyes were fixed on her, expectations visible in them. His face was stern and unreadable. Around the table sat all of her uncles, her cousins and her elder brother, the so called pillars of the Moretti empire, all chauvinistic bastards, and the most important, the man she hated the most in the world, Alejandro Ricci and a few of his associates. They all waited for her response. This wasn’t a family dinner. It was a business transaction. And she, Camellia Moretti, was the merchandize.Luca p