"I'd always find you, Clara," he says, love and hatred burning brightly in his eyes. "There's nowhere you could hide from me. I'd find you anywhere, even in Hell." *** Clara Morelli is the youngest daughter of Nicólo Morelli, one of the most powerful men in the New York mafia. All her life she's been told that she would be auctioned to a strong and rich Italian family, and she believed it to be the highest privilege. She is hated by her mother and older brothers as she is her father's favourite, and so she never got along with them. On the day of her auction, her mother gives her a cryptic message that instills fear in her, but it is too late to turn back. Igor Makárov is one of the richest men in the Russian mafia, and when he shows up at the auction, his presence is unexpected. When he sees the gorgeous Clara on stage, he bids the highest price for her, starting a war between the Russians and Italians. Upon buying her, he makes her sign a bridal agreement where she vows to marry him and swear fealty to him and his family. Their relationship is rocky and explosive at best. She hates him and could never love him as he is cruel and vicious, but that all changes one fateful day. However, things go astray when she uncovers a horrible secret, one that forces her to leave everything behind and carry a secret of her own with her. Igor is not the man she thinks he is. He is much, much worse.
View MoreClara
My heart is in my throat as I stare at my reflection in the mirror.My fingers move to the pearls around my neck subconsciously. I rub the pearls with the tips of my fingers, deep in thought. This nervousness of mine doesn’t make sense because I’ve been looking forward to this day for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was a little girl, to be exact.Father always told me that it was the greatest honor and a privilege to be auctioned into a good family, despite how it sounds. He always said that an auction was different from a sale in a sense that only valuable things are auctioned. I’m the thing of value here and not the other way around. All the families in New York will gather and bid for me. Only the family who wishes to pay the highest amount of money will end up having me.And it isn’t ‘buying’, not in that sense. I’ll have to be married to someone influential in the family and essentially be a part of them. It’ll also promote associations between my family and theirs, so it’s a win-win situation.Yet despite all this, I’m still nervous. I mean, this is the day when life as I know it comes to an abrupt end. I won’t be living at home anymore, with my parents and brothers. I’ll have to live with a family I hardly know and then be married to someone I also don’t know well.That isn’t entirely true. We are well acquainted with all the seven families. I’ve known some of them since I was a child. The issue is that I have no idea who will bid the highest and where I’ll be accepted. It also isn’t easy to predict who in the family I might be married to. There are many relatives in their families that they could marry me off to, both old and young. The decision isn’t mine. It’s theirs.I guess that’s the part about all of this that bothers me. Not having a choice isn’t a easy pill to swallow. When I was at school, all the girls were allowed to have boyfriends and ultimately, the decision about what to do with their lives was theirs. I couldn’t have a boyfriend because I have to be a virgin. That’s one of the requirements. And I also can’t choose who I marry.But that’s the life I was born into and there isn’t much that I can do about it. I can only hope that I’ll be married into one of the ‘good’ families, like the Gianecchini family, or even the Marchettis. They’ve always been kind to me and they don’t have that violent history that is present in all our families. They’re the relatively nice ones.My father enters the small room that’s been reserved just for me. I’m all ready for the event. All I’m waiting for is to be called. The event has already started and since it goes according to last names, I’m last.“How’s my princess doing?” he asks as he closes the door behind him.I offer him a smile. “I’m alright.”“That doesn’t sound encouraging,” he says as he sits beside me.“I’m a little nervous,” I admit.“Perfectly normal,” he answers. “The Di Maggio girl fainted before she got on stage. Humiliated her family, of course, but she’s been sold off to the Gianecchinis. An honor indeed.”My heart sinks a little at that. If they bought one, they won’t buy another. “Do you know if the Marchettis already had their pick?”“Yes, they took Viola. She looked lovely tonight. I would have taken her for Marco but I was sorely outbid.”“I see,” I say, my tongue getting heavier in my mouth.“Don’t worry, Clara, there’ll be a good offer for you. I believe that. I might have heard something about that, actually. There’s a family that wants you. They have a son around your age who’ll need to be married by the end of the year.”I feel only a little relieved at that. “Who?”“Can’t ruin the surprise,” he says, pinching my cheek before pushing himself off the table. “Besides, anything could happen out there. There’ll go crazy when they see how beautiful you look.”I smile after him. He leaves me alone once again and I have to confess that I’m even more nervous about this. Who’s the family? All of them have sons around my age. It’s hard to tell who it could be. I drain the glass of water in front of me and then go back to staring at my own reflection.I’ve done my hair and makeup alone. It’s never been a problem for me. I was taught this as a young girl. Looking presentable and pretty is essential in our world. Tonight, I’m expected to look better than ever and I’ve done my part. I’m proud of how I look, with my auburn hair in a glamorous updo and the dress that is only a few shades darker than my hair.My red hair never fails to remind me of all the times I was bullied because of it, simply because I’m the only redhead in my family. Everyone else is dark-haired and blue-eyed whereas I’m different. Even my eyes are hazel and not blue.I’m just…different from all of them.My father mentioned that one of his grandparents was a redhead. I can’t remember from which side. This explains my hair. Everyone from my mother’s side of the family is dark-haired, so it definitely didn’t come from her.Speaking of which, I haven’t seen her yet. I know she’s here because I saw her get ready for the event before I left home. She didn’t wish me luck. She didn’t even look at me as I said goodbye to her. It’s how it’s always been between us. She’s always been cold to me, ever since I was a little girl. She has always preferred my brothers over me. To her, I’ve always been invisible.I try not to feel sad about this because I don’t want to ruin my makeup by crying. The event is usually an hour long and so I know that my time is near. It’s been forty minutes. I’m the last one. There were only five of us this time around.I’ll be fetched by one of the event managers when the time comes, so I don’t have to worry about being late. I just have to focus on being pretty.I hear the door behind me click open once again. I turn around thinking that it’s the manager. My smile falls when I make eye contact with my mother.She closes the door behind her softly, not taking her eyes off my face. She’s dressed in a light green gown that really brings out the ocean in her eyes. Her hair is as black as a raven’s wings. She moves closer to me with her gloved hands clasped together. I stand instinctively and place two kisses on her cheek.“Mother,” I begin, “thank you for coming.”“How couldn’t I come?” she asks softly, tilting her head as she looks at me. I feel the walls I’ve built around my heart begin to crack a little. She’s looking at me with a soft gaze. For the first time ever, I feel like she’s looking at me with love.She extends her hands and I take them. She squeezes my hands. I feel comforted. She studies my face and says, “You look beautiful.”“Thank you,” I say, meaning it.“I see you did the best you could,” she states before nodding. “That’s good. I’ve taught you well, at least. That way you won’t embarrass any of us.”And just like that, the walls build themselves again. I stare at her face and in her eyes, I see my own hatred reflected back at me. I shouldn’t have believed so easily. I should have kept my guard up.“Why wouldn’t I be happy when today is the day I finally get rid of you?” she asks sweetly. Her expression doesn’t change. “I’ve been waiting for this day for as long as I can remember. You don’t know just how long.”I shake my head and drop her hands. “How can you say that to me?”“It’s the truth,” she simply replies.My eyes fill with tears. I refuse to let them spill. “I never understood this hatred you have toward me. I’m your fucking daughter, not a stranger you picked up from the street. And even so, the way you’ve always treated me is disgusting. I wouldn’t treat a stranger the way you’ve treated me. I don’t think anyone with a heart would.”“Perhaps some day you’ll understand what it’s like to look at a daughter and see nothing of you in her,” she says venomously. “You are his daughter through and through. We have never had anything in common.”“Maybe that’s because you pushed me away whereas he pulled me in.”She shrugs. “Maybe.”I groan and walk past her. I’ll wait for the manager out on the hallway. I need to be the best version of myself today. I can’t look sad.“This is where your life begins, Clara,” she says. I stop in my tracks and look at her over my shoulder. “Everything will become clearer to you after this. Bear this in mind: there are no secrets that time doesn’t reveal.”I furrow my brows. “I don’t understand.”The door behind me opens and the manager walks in. She smiles at us both before saying, “It’s time to go, Miss Morelli.”I follow her out the door, heart racing. I look back at my mother as the manager closes the door. A small smile covers her lips and it’s the last thing I see before the door closes.What did she mean by that?What secrets?I watch the waves crash into the shore while the ocean breeze rustles my hair. I take a deep breath, drawing the salty air into my lungs and holding it in hopes that it’ll become a part of me. There’s nothing as therapeutic as this. The sun is deliciously warm today. Most days, it’s burning hot, but today, it’s just perfect. I’m lounging in the hammock in the porch of our beach house. I do this every morning as soon as I wake up because it helps me dispel my troubled thoughts. Whenever I think about all those traumatic events of the last couple of months, I feel like I’ll never truly move on from them, but when I come out here, my hope is renewed. Things will get better at some point. As long as I’m seeking help and am surrounded by my loved ones, I’ll be perfectly fine. I close my eyes, take another deep breath, and then reopen them when I hear someone approaching. I turn my head to look at the door and see Igor leaning against the door with a cup of tea in his hand. It’s for me
IgorGetting home is my only priority at the moment, and as soon as I step through the elevator, I feel relieved. The first person I see is Anastasia. She rushes toward me with tear stained cheeks. “Igor. For the love of God. Don’t do anything stupid.”“Where is she?” I demand. “Where’s Clara?”“You can’t kill Leo,” she says, following me all the way up the stairs. “Remember the promise your father made you make. You’re supposed to stick together no matter what. You’re supposed to forgive each other.”I ignore her and start opening doors while calling her name desperately. I have to see her. Fuck, I have to hold her. I have to make sure she’s okay before I go looking for that traitorous fucker. “Igor!” Anastasia exclaims, trying to get my attention. A door on the other end of the corridor opens, and she peers out. I race toward her, and when she sees me, she rushes toward me. I drop my bag and gather her in my arms. “Clara,” I say her name. Like a prayer. “My love.”She’s sobbing.
There were more endless hours of waiting. At this point, I've started losing hope. I've already cried and screamed, and now there's nothing left of me to pour out into the world.I’m missing Alex and Dimitri like crazy. I fear I’ll never see them again. I’m starting to actually acknowledge the fact that I’ve been beyond stupid for not having told anyone in the family about my suspicions. Yes, Boris knows, but has news of my disappearance gotten out yet?What’s even going on out there? What’s being said?It’s impossible to know what Leo made up. He could’ve said that he never saw me, and then I’d be screwed. I didn’t encounter anyone when I reached the penthouse; it was just him. I’m hungry and thirsty. My back is killing me, and the pain behind my eyes hasn’t subsided yet. I close my eyes for a few minutes each time, but I open them when I feel myself falling asleep. I don’t want to be caught off guard. I want to see whatever it is that he’ll do to me. The door opens, and I sit upr
IgorI grip my phone tightly in my fist. “What do you mean she’s gone? Gone where?”“That’s what we’re trying to figure out,” Ivan replies, flustered. “Ivan,” I say through my teeth. “You’re not making any sense here. You’re telling me that the driver dropped her off in the garage, and she went up. But nobody saw her in the apartment. And it’s like she’s vanished into thin air?”“Yes, that’s about it.”I sag against the couch, then decide that there’s no way I can sit when this is happening. I run my fingers through my hair, feeling more frustrated than ever. “Is it possible that she stepped out for a bit without telling anyone?”This is reminding me of when she first went missing all those years ago. I was so lost, and hopeful, too. I kept imagining her walking through the door, saying that she just went shopping or something. I had no idea that she’d already found out about everything and left me, feeling betrayed. This is reminding me of that day, that’s for sure, but this time,
To my immense surprise, a smile curves Leo’s lips instead of the opposite. He’s supposed to be terrified that I know his secret, but instead, he’s smiling at me. “Have you lost your mind?” he asks in the most unconvincing voice that I’ve ever heard in all my life. “Is that it?”“You won’t fool me,” I announce. “I know it’s you. You’re behind every single bad thing that’s happened to this family for some time now. You’re not a friend, Leo. You’re a foe. You’re an enemy. You’re the one who ordered someone to hit Igor’s car, and then, you shot Luke in hopes to clean your tracks. And then, when Igor survived the crash, you paid that shooter. And just when we were going to look into, he shows up dead in his apartment. How’s all of this supposed to be a coincidence?”There’s that smile again. Honestly, it scares me. I know what he’s capable of. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be afraid. “Those are some really filthy accusations, Clara. I’ve sacrificed a lot for this family. I’ve risked
I exit Boris’ building with my heart in my throat. The situation is getting out of control. If Leo truly is behind all of this, then I have my work cut out for me. I’m supposed to be working with him (and Ivan, of course) to find out who is behind all of this. Now, I’ll have to work against him. The five security guards are all around me, forming a half-moon shape. Technically, I’m protected from anyone who might want to attack me, but I don’t feel safe. How can I, when I’m living in the same house as the person who wants to destroy Igor? It’s him who’s behind all of this, and the faster I come to terms with this, the more sense everything makes. We’re just stepping outside when a car screeches to a halt in front of the building. Before I can even register what’s happening, they’re pushing me back, trying to shield me from what’s happening. They draw their weapons, and I realize that my head is spinning, and things are happening in slow motion right before my eyes. “Take her bac
“I wouldn’t recommend seeing him,” Ivan tells me. “He’s bad news, and we all know what his intentions with you are. He’ll probably ask you to marry him.”“He’d receive no for an answer,” I state firmly. “He says he might have some information for us. Wouldn’t it be wise to hear him out?”“‘Might’ isn’t a good enough word. He ‘might’ve have nothing valuable to tell us.”“But what if he does?” I ask. “I know he would never hurt me.”“You’re the Head now,” he says with a sigh. “You’re free to make whatever decision you please. For us, that’s sacred, and we don’t take it for granted. Not going is only my advice, but if you wish to go, you’re free to do so.”I sit back, and put my fork down. I think deeply of what he’s saying. Should I go? Would Boris be helpful? I think he will, so I say, “I think I’ll go.”“I’ll arrange a car and a group of security to accompany you, then,” he concedes. “In the meantime, I’m going to start looking into—”We hear the elevator, and soon enough, Leo joins u
I wake up in the middle of the night, sweating, and with Luke’s voice echoing in my ears. This is the first time I’ve dreamt of him since that thing happened. I keep hearing the gunshot, too, and it echoes in my mind. I wipe my eyes, and then sit up. My mouth is parched, so I have to get some water. I don’t have any in the room. I should probably bring a bottle with me from the kitchen so that I don’t have to go downstairs again. I open the door as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake anyone up. Before I head downstairs, I check on the boys first. They’re just next door, so it’s easier for me to keep an eye on them. They’re both sleeping peacefully, so I close the door carefully and then creep downstairs. I step into the kitchen and open the fridge. After finding a glass, I pour water in it, and tip my head back as I down all of it. I immediately feel better; more refreshed and awake. The noise in my head is a lot less, and I feel I can sleep again if I tried. It’s only two in
The boys love Hubert. Then again, if I have to be completely honest, I don’t know who wouldn’t. He’s the most caring person in the world. I’ve told him that I don’t want the boys to know about Igor’s ‘death’ just yet. He isn’t dead, so to tell them something and then have to admit to them that it had all been a lie would be too much. They’re only five years old. This is a matter that would have even adults spiraling. Hubert doesn’t know the truth yet, though. I really feel bad. I can tell that he’s having a hard time coping, but he’s too much of a professional to ever let it show. After dinner, the boys were filled with restless energy, and they were curious about this new place that we would call home. Hubert showed them around, and told them everything he felt they needed to know about the place. It was just the four of us, along with the cook and the maid, both whom I hadn’t seen yet. That was last night. This morning, it’s honestly pretty much the same; the only difference is
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