All Chapters of The Mafia’s Reject: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I tried to breathe, but the air felt thick and suffocating as the black SUV rolled through the gates. The car’s interior was cold, and the only warmth came from Anna, who was pressed tightly against me, still crying. Her tiny body shook, and all I could do was hold her close, stroking her hair to calm her down, though I was terrified too. My mind was racing—my heart pounding as the realization of what was happening hit me again. Millions. My father owed millions to a man whose name was whispered in fear across the city.How the hell could he ever have come to owe that much?I looked down at Anna, her wide, terrified eyes meeting mine, and I felt like I was about to break in half. My thoughts spiraled, each one darker than the last. Where would I even get that kind of money? A quick, desperate idea flashed through my head—maybe I could sell my organs. But no, that was insane. What would I even do? I didn’t have any way out of this.There was only one thing I was sure of: I wasn’t going

I stared at the high ceiling of the guest room—or should I say prison cell?—I was now forced to live in. The luxurious bedding did nothing to comfort me, nor did the plush pillows or the warm glow of the bedside lamp. None of it felt like mine. Nothing in this mansion did. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Anna’s tear-streaked face. Was she happy now? Was she settling into her new life? Did she have anyone to talk to? And then the haunting thought hit me: Was she scared? Alaric’s rules were clear—no contact with the outside world. I couldn’t call her, text her, or even write her a letter. I had no idea how she was doing, and that thought alone tore me apart. My hands balled into fists beneath the soft blanket, my nails digging into my palms as tears burned the back of my eyes. I was her sister. Her protector. And now I couldn’t even do that. The faintest sound outside my door startled me—a footstep, maybe. The guards were always there, always stationed outside like statues,

Weeks had passed in this gilded cage, and I still couldn’t make sense of the pull I felt whenever he was near. It was like being caught in a storm, the winds tearing at me, throwing me off balance. I hated the power Alaric had over me, and yet...something in me couldn’t seem to resist it. Shaking off the thoughts, I grabbed the book I’d been reading and headed to the garden. The soft morning light spilled through the windows, and the air smelled faintly of roses and fresh-cut grass. At least the garden was mine to enjoy—it was the one place in this sprawling mansion that felt almost peaceful. I stepped out onto the stone pathway, my sore body relishing the fresh air. My muscles still ached from the surgery, but I wasn’t one to let pain stop me. I needed to move, to breathe, to find something to keep my mind from spiraling. As I rounded the corner near the east wing, I heard his voice. Alaric’s deep, commanding tone cut through the quiet like a blade. I stopped mid-step, clutch

I woke up to a strange sensation, a heaviness in my chest that I couldn’t quite explain. My body ached, though not in the way it had after the surgery. This was different. My skin felt warm to the touch, almost feverish, and my heart was racing as if I’d been running. Sitting up, I pressed a hand to my forehead. No sweat, no chills, just an odd warmth that didn’t make sense. “Probably a cold,” I muttered to myself, though deep down, I wasn’t sure. The Moretti mansion was quiet as I wandered into the hall. I didn’t have the energy for one of my usual explorations. All I wanted was a cup of tea and maybe a good book to distract me from the weird sensations coursing through my body. In the kitchen, a maid greeted me with a polite, “Good morning, Mrs. Moretti.” I cringed. The title still felt foreign, wrong. “Good morning,” I replied, forcing a small smile. As she prepared my tea, I leaned against the counter, trying to ignore the way my heart fluttered in an erratic rhythm. W

The night was restless. I tossed and turned in the oversized bed, haunted by dreams that made no sense but left me with a lingering heat I couldn’t shake. Every time I closed my eyes, it was him—those silver-gray eyes, the sharp cut of his jaw, the way he seemed to fill the room with his sheer presence. It was maddening, and I hated it. By morning, I was bleary-eyed but determined not to let him invade my thoughts any longer. I threw on a simple dress and a cardigan, tying my red hair into a loose braid. Staying cooped up in the house only made my mind wander, so I decided to take a walk. The grounds were beautiful—vast gardens, towering trees, and perfectly trimmed hedges. It felt like stepping into a different world, one that didn’t belong to the man who seemed to thrive on chaos. My body still felt sluggish, the strange heat in my chest lingering from the moment he touched me last. I shook the thought away. I followed the gravel path through the gardens, clutching a book I’d