The atmosphere was tense as Anna's family gathered in the room. Damon and Bonnie stood silently, observing the heated conversation between Anna, her sister, and their father.“You sold us to Mario Manzoni!” Anna accused, fury blazing in her eyes.Her sister nodded in agreement. "How could you do that to your own daughters?"Their father raised his hands defensively. "You don’t understand. I had no choice!""No choice?" Anna seethed. "That's your excuse for betraying your own blood?"Her father’s voice hardened. "You don’t know Mario like I do. He’s ruthless, and he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants. He'll kill you both if you insist on staying here." He turned to face Damon. "And he'll kill you too if you try to protect them."Damon simply smiled, his expression unreadable. He nodded subtly at Bonnie.Anna’s voice cut through the room. "Then maybe we should just offer you to him since you’re the one who owes him!"Before her father could respond, Bonnie stepped forward,
Anna's POV"My mother used to say, when there’s a heavy downpour of rain, it means the Earth is mourning dead souls."The sharp crackle of lightning lit up the night, followed by a rumble of thunder that seemed to shake the car. The sound jolted me back to reality. I hated thunderstorms—the noise, the darkness, the way my chest tightened every time it struck.I took a shaky breath, trying to focus. "Can you go any faster?" I asked the driver, my voice sharper than I intended.“Sorry, ma’am, but I have to drive carefully. The roads are slick with rain,” he replied, his hands steady on the wheel.I bit my lip, drumming my fingers anxiously on my thigh, feeling like something was clawing inside me. I tried blaming the weather or the pace of the drive, but deep down, I knew there was something else, something I couldn’t shake.Desperate to distract myself, I reached into my bag, searching for my phone. Maybe scrolling through the internet would ease this gnawing
Anna's POVMy head pounded as I came back to consciousness, a dull ache throbbing behind my eyes. I blinked, my vision clearing just enough to catch sight of a man standing over me, his expression as cold as stone. Panic set in, but I tried to keep it hidden, my eyes darting around the room. There were more men, rough, brutal-looking, and then my gaze landed on a particular one amongst them.He sat apart from the others, watching, calm and unreadable. Unlike the others, he didn’t look at us with hostility. Instead, he seemed almost bored, a quiet authority radiating from his relaxed posture. “Get up,” the man in front of me barked, grabbing my arm and yanking me to my feet. My heart raced, but I forced myself to stand steady."Please..." I wanted to speak but a stinging slap to my face stopped my words. The man grabbed my chin, "You don't utter a sound unless you are asked." He said, shoving his scarred face in front of me."Wake the others," he commanded, h
Anna's POVI slept through the night in a room he’d prepared for me in his mansion, but it felt more like a prison than a sanctuary. The memory of my father’s lifeless body, drenched in his own blood, haunted me. What about my sister? My mother? Were they safe? Did they even know I was gone?A fierce anger bubbled within me, directed at the man who had taken me against my will, my so-called “savior.” He was nothing but a demon in disguise, dragging me into a world I wanted no part of.A sharp knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. Before I could even gather my rage, it swung open, and two young maids stepped in, their heads bowed.“Good morning, miss,” one of them said softly. “We’ve brought breakfast. Master requests that you put this on and join him in the main hall when you’re ready.”“Requests?” I spat, “More like demands. Why should I even think about doing anything he says?”They exchanged worried glances, but I didn’t care. I crossed my arm
Damon glanced at his wristwatch, his patience thinning. "She should be out by now, it's been over ten minutes."“Master,” Tiger spoke up, a sly smile playing at his lips. “Is she the one?” Damon asked, his eyes scanning for answers. “Yes, boss, she’s Kane Blackwood’s daughter," He said with a grin on his face."Good; this is the perfect opportunity for us, a direct line to Blackwood territory.” Damon smiled, turning his face to the direction of Anna's room.Tiger’s grin widened. “So, do we call him? Let him know we have his little princess?”“Not yet,” Damon replied sharply."There’s no need to rush. Kane doesn’t even know she’s here.” His voice lowered.A dark smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Once she’s mine in every way, with my seed in her womb, then we’ll make the call. By then, Blackwood will be begging to meet my terms.”He took a step toward the stairs, his tone icy with control. “Tell the men I’m not to be disturbed.”Tiger gave a respectful nod, “Understood, boss
Anna's POVI held my breath, caught between terror and confusion, trying to figure out what had made him stop.He sat down in front of me, his eyes fixed on my nearly bare body, save for my torn underwear.I quickly tried to cover myself with the shredded fabric, tears streaming down my face, but he barely seemed to notice.Lighting a cigar, he took a long drag, letting the smoke swirl around us before his gaze returned to me.“You think I’m a bad person, don’t you?” he asked, voice low.Anger surged through me. "You're a monster," I shot back, my voice thick with fury and fear.He chuckled, a sound without warmth. “A monster?” he murmured, as if amused. “So, that means you’re terrified of me, yes?”I clenched my jaw, refusing to respond. Yes, fear was coursing through me, but I’d never let him know that. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction."Please, just let me go," I whispered, my voice trembling as tears continued to fall. "I'm nothing—just some low-life
“What’s wrong?” Damon asked, his hands casually tucked in his pockets, though his gaze was serious.“It’s... it’s about the men you killed, boss,” the man stammered, swallowing hard. “The ones you took down the day you... took her.”Damon tilted his head slightly, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “And? Are they back from the dead?”“No, boss,” the man replied quickly, his voice shaky. “But their don... he’s saying it was an act of war. Claims you took his property, his words, not mine, when you took the girl.”Damon gave a short laugh, reaching over and brushing a speck of dust from the man’s shoulder, his touch light yet somehow unnerving.“Tell me,” he said, his voice dangerously soft, “which clan does this ‘don’ belong to?”“The Manzoni clan, boss,” he answered, a flicker of dread in his eyes.Damon arched a brow, his lips curling into a faint smirk. “The Manzoni clan, hmm? I’ve heard of their reputation. Apparently, no one crosses them and lives to tell the tale.”The man shifted,
Anna's POV "I'm not sure I want to bring him down, love," she said softly, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "But I do want to help you. I want you to be happy." I let out a dry chuckle, "You barely know me, and yet you care about my happiness?" She smiled faintly, her gaze distant, as if looking at something, or someone, far away. "You remind me a lot of my lover. She was just like you." Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. There was a rawness to her tone that chipped away at my defenses, even as I tried to keep my walls up. "I'm sorry about that," I said softly, unsure of how else to respond. Her lips curled into a bitter smile. "She fell in love with a man and abandoned me for him. They eventually got married, but she died when her husband's enemies came for him." The weight of her story hit me hard, and I felt a pang of guilt for my earlier distrust. No one deserved pain like that. "I’m really sorry," I said ag
The atmosphere was tense as Anna's family gathered in the room. Damon and Bonnie stood silently, observing the heated conversation between Anna, her sister, and their father.“You sold us to Mario Manzoni!” Anna accused, fury blazing in her eyes.Her sister nodded in agreement. "How could you do that to your own daughters?"Their father raised his hands defensively. "You don’t understand. I had no choice!""No choice?" Anna seethed. "That's your excuse for betraying your own blood?"Her father’s voice hardened. "You don’t know Mario like I do. He’s ruthless, and he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants. He'll kill you both if you insist on staying here." He turned to face Damon. "And he'll kill you too if you try to protect them."Damon simply smiled, his expression unreadable. He nodded subtly at Bonnie.Anna’s voice cut through the room. "Then maybe we should just offer you to him since you’re the one who owes him!"Before her father could respond, Bonnie stepped forward,
“Anna,” her father finally said, his voice as familiar and loathsome as she remembered. “It’s been a while.”“Why are you here?” she demanded, her voice rising. She turned to Damon, her eyes blazing. “What is he doing here? What kind of twisted game are you playing now?”Damon leaned back in his chair, his calm demeanor unshaken by her outburst. "Welcome to the family meeting, wifey. please sit down."“I’m not sitting down!” she snapped. “You owe me an explanation, Damon! Right now!”Her father chuckled softly, the sound grating on her nerves. “Still fiery, I see,” he said.“Shut up!” Anna shouted, her voice cracking as she turned back to him. “You don’t get to speak to me. Not after everything you’ve done.”The tension in the room was suffocating. Damon set his glass down and stood, his piercing gaze locking onto Anna’s.“This is not what you think,” he said, his tone low and firm.Anna scoffed, crossing her arms. “Oh, really? Then enlighten me, Damon. What the hell is this?”Her fat
Anna followed Bonnie into the grandiose building, her eyes scanning the polished marble floors, high ceilings, and the faint hum of business activity. The place resembled a bank but had an air of exclusivity that made her feel out of place.As they stepped inside, uniformed officers immediately greeted them with warm smiles and respectful bows. "Welcome, ma'am," one of them said, opening the door wider.Anna looked around, still utterly confused. "Bonnie, what are we doing here?" she whispered as they were escorted deeper into the building.Bonnie didn’t respond, only offering a mysterious smile that only served to irritate Anna further.Soon, they were led to a private office, its decor a blend of luxury and professionalism. A man in a sharp suit, clearly the General Manager, rose from behind a mahogany desk as they entered. His face lit up when he saw Bonnie."Ah, Miss Bonnie," he greeted, extending his hand. "I’ve been expecting you."Bonnie shook his hand, her usual confident deme
The field stretched wide, the distant sound of flying birds occasionally breaking the peace. Anna stood with a gun in her hand, the weight of it unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Bonnie, standing a few feet away, observed her with a smile.“Hold it steady,” Bonnie instructed, adjusting Anna’s grip on the firearm. “And remember, aim down the sights, not at the entire target.”Anna squinted at the paper target ahead, trying her best to focus. She squeezed the trigger, and the shot rang out.It missed the target entirely.“Ugh,” Anna groaned, lowering the gun in frustration. “This is pointless. I’m never going to get the hang of this.”“You’re doing fine,” Bonnie reassured her, chuckling. “It’s your first day. You can’t expect to be a sharpshooter immediately.”Anna handed the gun back to Bonnie. “Maybe I’ll never need to be a sharpshooter. But if I do get good at this, the first person I’m shooting is Damon.”Bonnie burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the field. “If that’s the
The full moon illuminated the night, casting an eerie glow over the hospital's surroundings. Mario's men patrolled the perimeter, their eyes darting at every shadow, fully expecting an assault from Damon. Yet, the true threat lurking in the darkness was far beyond their imagination.Inside, the tension was palpable. Three men stormed into the elevator, ascending swiftly to the top floor where Mario’s ward was located. Their faces were pale, their breaths ragged, and their hands fidgeting with their weapons.When they reached Mario's room, they pushed the door open with urgency."Boss," one of the men blurted, his voice trembling, "it appears we’ve been compromised. You need to evacuate immediately."Mario, calm yet intrigued, shifted his gaze toward them. "Compromised? How?"The man hesitated, his fear evident. "We’ve found 50 dead bodies scattered around the perimeter—all of them our men. Whoever did this… they’re a ghost."Mario’s eyes widened briefly in shock, his composed demeano
Moonlight flooded through the wall-to-wall windows, bathing the luxurious hospital suite in a warm glow. On the bed, Mario Manzoni, the Manzoni Don, stirred awake. The sharp beep of the heart monitor quickened slightly as his eyes fluttered open, his gaze locking onto the male doctor standing nearby."You’re a lucky man, Mr. Manzoni," the doctor said, his voice calm and professional. "The bullet missed any vital organs by mere millimeters. Any closer, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation."Mario’s hand moved slowly to touch the bandages on his chest, his face tightening with a mixture of pain and fury. "Lucky?" His voice was barely above a whisper. "I don’t feel lucky."The doctor gave a faint, polite smile. "You should. Not many survive a shot like that. But with time and rest, you'll recover fully." He adjusted the IV drip and stepped back. "I’ll leave you to your men. Call if you need anything."As if on cue, the door opened, and three of Mario's most trusted men walked in
Anna's POVI 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 sm
"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"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