"I knew that bastard was up to something," Mario growled, his voice seething with rage as he clenched his right hand into a fist. His glare pierced through the dim light, locking onto the woman before him. He pointed at the bound girl. "This lady here happens to be Anna's sister, Kate," he said, though his eyes never left the imposter. "If she says she doesn’t know you, then you’re not Anna. So who the hell are you?"The woman’s lips curled into a cold smile as she slowly raised a gun, pointing it directly at him. "Damon sends his regards."Kate’s eyes widened in horror, her breath hitching as she stared at the weapon aimed at Mario.Mario didn’t flinch. Instead, he chuckled darkly, "A hitman? I didn’t think Damon would stoop so low.""Untie her," the woman commanded, her voice steady, the gun unwavering in her grip.Mario sneered. "You’re a fool if you think you can leave here alive. My men will be on you the moment you pull that trigger.""And you’re a fool if you think I came her
Anna's POVI watched as my father staggered toward us, a bottle clutched in his trembling hand, his bloodshot eyes locked on my frail mother. His voice slurred with venom, "I'm going to kill you," he spat, taking another swig from the bottle.My chest tightened with a surge of anger. Not tonight. I wouldn’t let him treat her like his punching bag again."Leave my mother alone!" I shouted, my voice trembling but resolute."No, sweetheart, stay out of this," my mother pleaded, her voice weak and trembling as she rose unsteadily from the chair."No, Mom," I said, stepping in front of her, my arms spread wide, shielding her. "I won't let him hurt you. Not anymore."My father’s lips curled into a cruel sneer. "You?" he growled, his words thick with rage. "I'll kill you if you don’t get out of my way."Before I could react, he lunged. The bottle smashed against the side of my head with a sickening crack, the shattering glass echoing through the room like a gun
Anna's POVI entered the club, the usual chaos muted by the early hour, the atmosphere quieter but still filled with people. One of the bouncers noticed me immediately, his heavy steps bringing him closer.“You shouldn’t be out in the open like this, ma’am. It’s dangerous. Where are your escorts?” His tone was firm but respectful.“I don’t need an escort,” I snapped, my nerves fraying. “Where’s Bonnie?”He hesitated for a moment, then answered, “She’s in a meeting with the strippers. This way, ma’am. You can wait for her in the VIP section.”Without waiting for my response, he led the way, his broad frame ensuring no one approached. When we reached the VIP section, he signaled to a waitress nearby.“Attend to the Doña,” he ordered, bowing slightly before leaving.Doña.The word clung to me, foreign and suffocating. Was that what I had become? A title, an extension of Damon’s power? My mind raced, but I kept a stern face as the waitress placed a glass of cham
Anna's POV "Are you the animal that's disturbing the peace of my territory?" Damon asked, folding his arms, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation.The sound of his voice instantly calmed the storm inside me, my fear easing as I realized I wasn’t alone.The man turned away from me, his face twisted in rage as he faced Damon. "I'll leave your territory, Damon, but not before I deal with this ant for daring to interfere in my business."I froze, the insult slicing through me, but Damon only smiled—a cold, lethal smile that sent a shiver down my spine. "Call her a fish again," he said, his voice low and menacing, "and I will cut out your tongue."The man’s eyes narrowed, trying to maintain his bravado. "You might be a Don, but you don’t want trouble with my father. He’s not someone you can mess with, so watch your tongue." I watched as he snarled, jabbing a finger in Damon’s direction.I didn't expect what happened next—it all happened so fast.Damon’s fist connec
"Boss, are you sure you want to do this?" Tiger asked, his voice tinged with concern as he stepped closer to Damon.Damon didn’t flinch, his gaze cold and unyielding."First, you killed your Capos, then the Manzoni Don. Killing him would spark a war with the Scorpion Clan," Tiger continued, his words deliberate, hoping to get through to Damon.Damon's eyes narrowed, his expression hard as stone. "Are you trying to say I'm going crazy?" he asked, his voice low but laced with an edge that warned Tiger to choose his words wisely."No, boss," Tiger said quickly, shaking his head. "I'm just worried this girl might be bad business." He hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "She has only brought us trouble.""You do know that girl is my wife now, don't you?" Damon said, his voice cold, "She's part of the family, and I'll protect her with everything I've got."Tiger bowed his head immediately, sensing the finality in Damon's tone. "Yes, boss. Forgive me."Damon’s jaw tightened
Anna's POV"Bonnie, thank you so much for this. I can't imagine how I would've coped without you," I said as we made our way to my mother's ward.The elevator seemed to drag as it climbed to the 25th floor, the tension in my chest tightening with every passing second."You're welcome, Anna," Bonnie replied, her tone warm but laced with seriousness. She took a sip of her coffee and added, "But if I may suggest, I think it's time you started making some power moves."I turned to her, frowning slightly. "Power moves?" My voice came out quieter than I intended, but before she could respond, the elevator dinged, announcing our arrival.The doors slid open, and we stepped into the bustling corridor filled with doctors, nurses, and visitors hurrying past us.I hesitated for a moment, then blurted out the question that had been gnawing at me. "Do you think I should tell my mom about my contract marriage?"Nervousness swirled inside me, tightening my throat as I wait
"You need to let me leave. I have to talk to my sister," Kate said, her tone sharp as she lit a cigarette."You need to take a chill pill, princess. I just saved your life—the least you can do is show a little gratitude," Ghost replied, taking a slow drag from her cigarette.She extended it toward Kate. "Here. Take this. It'll calm your nerves."Kate flinched, her expression twisting in disgust. "I'm good," she said, brushing it off and dropping onto the edge of the bed. Her eyes wandered around the small hotel room, searching for any sign of comfort.Ghost smirked, leaning back against the wall. "Don't worry—Damon will be here soon.""Who's Damon?" Kate asked, her brows furrowed.Ghost was about to respond when a knock echoed through the room. She paused, flashing Kate a sly smile before pushing off the wall and striding to the door."You'll find out," Ghost said, opening it.Damon stepped inside, his sharp gaze sweeping the room before locking onto Kate. He studied her in silence fo
Anna's POV I was still reeling from what Bonnie had told me at the hospital. To be honest, I couldn’t figure out how I’d made it this far without Damon forcing himself on me. On any normal day, he’s exactly the kind of man women dream about—tall, dangerous, and devastatingly handsome—but nothing about this situation was normal. I sipped my coffee, letting the thought simmer. Somehow, I was getting used to this Mafia world, and I hated it. Bonnie’s words kept echoing in my head—"Make a power move." Should I wait for Damon to make the first move? Or should I take control, like Bonnie suggested? The thought made my stomach churn. I couldn’t deny it anymore—I was starting to like him. Ever since he defended me at the club, there was a part of me that felt... safe around him. That feeling scared me. I was about to take another sip when the faint scent of cologne filled the air. My heart skipped. I knew that scent—clean, crisp, and overpowering. Only one person smelled like that.
Damon's POV I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under the fact that I'd almost cheated on Anna, what is left is just to penetrate Rose, but I couldn't do it.I was still battling my lust for Rose and love for Anna when Rose’s voice cuts through the haze of my thoughts. "I want you to fuck me, Damon," she says, her tone bold and unapologetic. Her hands were on me before I can process it, trailing down my chest, fingers brushing the waistband of my pants with a purpose that sends a jolt through me. "I want to feel your dick right inside me."A groan rumbles out of me, because damn it, she’s not wrong—I’m tempted, she's hot. The heat of her touch sears through the fabric, and for a split second, I can picture it: giving in, letting her pull me under, drowning out the mess in my head with something deep. But that’s the problem—it’s too real, too messy, and I’ve spent years building walls to keep messes like this out. "I can’t, Rose," I say, my voice rougher tha
Rose took steps toward him, the she stopped just short of touching him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her breath, smell that spicy perfume that always seemed to linger around her. “I want you, Damon,” she said, her gaze locking onto his, unflinching. “I want you all to myself. No one’s ever shown me what it means to be cared for like you have.”Damon’s chest tightened, her words hitting him like a punch. He’d pulled her out of a dark place years ago, given her a new life, but this—this was something else. His mind flickered with memories of her gratitude, her loyalty, but now it twisted into something deeper, something he wasn’t sure he could handle. He chuckled, the sound rough and tinged with disbelief. “You’re serious?”Her eyes flared, a spark of frustration cutting through the longing. “I killed the Manzoni Queen for you, Damon,” she said, her voice steady despite the weight of her confession. “I took out Scarlett, climbed to the top of this clan, and all I’m a
Damon rolled up to the Manzoni mansion alone, his sleek black car humming to a stop in front of the iron gates. He stepped out, smoothing his black jacket—his favorite color, always had been—and took a deep breath. No backup, no crew, just him. He didn’t want this new Donna, whoever she was, thinking he was scared or uneasy. Showing up solo was a power move, a way to say he wasn’t rattled, even if his gut told him this could go sideways fast. Scarlett Manzoni’s death had hit him like a curveball—he hadn’t seen that coming, and now he couldn’t stop wondering how she’d gone down.The security guys at the gate gave him the side-eye, a mix of suspicion and nerves flickering in their stares. They’d heard the stories—Damon Lockwood, the ruthless Don of the Lockwood Clan, a name that carried weight and a shiver down the spine. But seeing him in the flesh? That was new. He caught a couple of them whispering, their hands twitching near their guns, like they weren’t sure if they should bow
Rose POV I sat alone, my fingers tracing the edge of a crystal glass, the amber liquid inside untouched. My reflection stared back at me from the polished surface of the desk—a woman with sharp green eyes and red hair spilling over her shoulders, a far cry from the broken girl I’d once been. I’d come a long way from the orphanage, from the life that had tried to crush me. But even now, with all this power at my fingertips, there was an emptiness gnawing at me, a void I couldn’t fill.I didn’t know where I came from. No mother, no father—just a crib in a gray-walled room, surrounded by other forgotten kids. The nuns at St. Patrick’s Home for Lost Souls had been kind enough, but they couldn’t give me answers. My earliest memories were of cold floors and whispered prayers, of wondering why no one came for me. As I got older, I begged for clues—anything to tell me who I was. I’d had my DNA tested more times than I could count, scraping together every pen
Anna's POVThen instinct kicked in, and I jerked back, stumbling a step away. “Bonnie, what the hell?” I gasped, my voice shaking, my lips still tingling from her touch.She didn’t answer, just stared at me with those deep, unreadable eyes, her chest rising and falling fast. Then, without a word, she turned and walked out, the door clicking shut behind her. I stood there, my heart hammering against my ribs, my thoughts a tangled mess. What had just happened? Why would she—?And then it hit me, a slow, shattering clarity. The way she’d held me, the protectiveness in her voice, the way her eyes lingered on me too long—it wasn’t just friendship. Bonnie was in love with me. She’d been in love with me this whole time, and I’d been too blind to see it. Now she was leaving, walking out of my life without explanation, leaving me with the weight of her kiss and the chaos of my own feelings.My legs gave out, and I sank onto the edge of my bed, my hands trembli
Anna's POVThe framed picture of Ghost stared back at me from Damon’s desk, I could see the striking resemblance between them, especially the piercing eyes. I’d come looking for him, but he wasn’t here. The room felt hollow without him. I lingered anyway, unable to leave, drawn in by the faint scent of him that clung to everything. My fingers brushed the edge of Ghost’s frame, a restless energy humming through me as I wandered deeper into the space.This wasn’t how I’d pictured things since we got back from Mexico. I’d imagined us wrapped up in each other, a blur of tangled sheets and breathless nights, orgasm after orgasm until the world outside didn’t matter. Instead, there was this gap between us, a distance I couldn’t bridge no matter how much I wanted to. I sank into the chair at his desk, the leather creaking under my weight, and let out a shaky breath. My body felt alive in a way it never had before, a constant drum of sexual need pulsing through
Damon's POVThe rooftop of the mansion was my last refuge, a place where the chaos of the world below couldn’t quite reach me. The night was cold, the air sharp with the scent of distant rain. I stood near the edge, hands gripping the iron railing, staring into the void. My room had felt too small tonight, its walls closing in with every unanswered question, every festering doubt. Up here, at least, I could breathe—even if every breath tasted like fear.I’d never been in this position before. Me, Damon, the guy who always had a plan, always knew the next move. Now? I was teetering on the edge of something I couldn’t name, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive. The Manzoni Clan lingered in my thoughts like a shadow I couldn’t shake. They had to be behind this—the deaths, the chaos, the unraveling of everything I’d built. But who was their mole? Someone close, someone I’d let into my circle. The betrayal gnawed at me, a dull ache tha
Anna's POVThe mansion stood tall ahead of us as the car slowed to a stop, the tires crunched against the gravel driveway, a sound that grated against my already disturbed nerves. Damon’s hand was warm in mine, his fingers laced tightly with my own, but there was something off—something I couldn’t ignore. Even though we were touching, he felt distant, detached, like a wall had sprung up between us. His jaw was clenched, his gaze fixed straight ahead, avoiding mine. I squeezed his hand, hoping for some reassurance, but he didn’t respond. He was here with me, physically, but his mind was somewhere else entirely.We stepped out of the car, and the cool evening air hit me like a slap, sharpening my senses. The mansion’s heavy wooden doors swung open as we approached, revealing a group of Damon’s men waiting inside. Their faces were etched with determination, and the tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. I clung to Damon’s hand a little tighter,
Anna's POVMy hand pressed harder against my mouth, muffling the gasp that tore out of me. The room tilted, the edges blurring as my knees wobbled beneath me. Damon’s men stood there, their pale faces carved from stone, waiting for me to say something, do something. But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Ghost—Damon’s sister, the one he’d spoken of with that quiet reverence—was gone. Murdered. And Damon… where the hell was he?“Where did he go?” My voice came out sharp, cracking at the edges as I lowered my hand. My fingers trembled, and I clenched them into fists to hide it.The taller man—the one with the buzz cut—shifted his weight, his jaw tight. “We don’t know. He got the message, went silent, then grabbed his keys and left. Told us to get you to the mansion before he drove off.”“When?” I demanded, stepping closer. “When did this happen?”“About an hour ago,” he said, his eyes flicking away from mine, like he couldn’t stand the weight of my stare.An ho