All Chapters of Twisted Loyalties : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

“You expect me to marry him?”Rhea’s voice sliced through the dimly lit study, filled with the heavy scent of cigar smoke. Her father, Enrico Moretti, sat behind his grand polished desk, exuding authority as he observed her outburst with cold detachment. Across from him, Dante leaned against the bar, arms crossed, watching her with something close to amusement.“Lower your voice, Rhea,” Dante murmured. “Unless you want the whole damn house to hear you.”“I don’t care who hears me!” she snapped, pacing in front of them. “You can’t seriously think I’m going to marry Adrian Vitale.”“As in, Adrian, the son and successor of our family’s biggest rival?”Enrico exhaled, rubbing his temples as if her anger was nothing more than an inconvenience. “You will do as you’re told.”Rhea let out a bitter laugh. “I knew you were ruthless, Father, but this? Selling me off like a—”“Enough,” Enrico cut her off sharply, his deep voice laced with finality. “This is not about marriage. This is about war.”

The Vitale estate home was everything one would expect from mafia royalty. Deep in the countryside of Italy, it was more of a kingdom than a home. It was also a fortress, as there were security cameras, armed guards, and reinforced gates to ensure no one left or entered without permission.The giant mansion itself was a symbol of old money with an Italian Renaissance theme. Inside the house, opulence dripped from every corner. Long, heavy crystal chandeliers adorned the ceilings, and centuries-old paintings hung on the walls.“Welcome to the family, Rhea.” Luca, Adrian’s brother, smiled, easygoing, warm, like this wasn’t the worst day of her life. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”Rhea matched his expression with one of her own—soft, almost grateful. “Thank you. That means a lot.”Luca tilted his head, studying her. “Are you nervous?”She let out a careful breath. “Wouldn’t any woman be, in my position?”Luca chuckled. “True. My brother can be… intense.”A warning. Subtle

The evening in the Vitale estate was rather uneventful. The cool air drifted through the open balcony doors in Rhea’s room. She found a rare moment of peace for herself.Rhea was sitting by her vanity mirror, combing through her long hair. She knew the weight of her situation still lingered but she convinced herself she was in control.She sat there thinking about the simpler times in her life. She was born into a mafia family, however, it had never been high-stakes for her. She had always assumed that she would get married to a man she loves and sail into the sunset with him while leaving her father and brother in their mafia business. How wrong was she?While in her thoughts, she heard a light knock on her door.“Come in, she said while wondering who her visitor was. Of course, Adrian would prefer to barge in unannounced than ask for permission. A woman entered gently and stood in front of Rhea. She was tall and poised, with a beautiful presence. She had pitch-black hair that was

“We are gathered here today to lay to rest Enrico Moretti. A man of great strength, legacy and sacrifice. A leader to many, a father, a brother, a friend.” The priest’s voice tore through the quiet church.Today the Moretti family buried their patriarch.The funeral started out in the church. Everywhere was silent, but occasionally you could hear soft murmuring of prayers, and also there were some sniffles from those grieving. The Moretti family sat in the front row, and even though they tried to hide it, grief was written all over them.Rhea was seated between her sister, Izzy, and Dante, her brother. It still all felt like a bad dream, and she was hoping that someone would pinch her and tell her it was not real. Her father, Enrico Moretti, lay inside the polished mahogany casket at the altar, dressed in the finest black suit he never got to choose himself.The same priest who blessed her union was the one who also presided over her father’s final farewell. He went on and on about

The ride back home was tense and quiet. Neither Rhea nor Adrian muttered a word to each other. The air inside the car was heavy and thick with something unspoken yet volatile.As soon as they got to the house, Adrian shut the front door behind them; his patience snapped like a live wire.“What the fuck was that back there?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence.Rhea turned to him, eyes narrowed. “What was what?” she shot back, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she walked to the staircase.Adrian was on her in an instant, his fingers curling around her wrist again, yanking her back. “Don’t fucking play dumb with me, Rhea, and don’t you fucking walk away when I’m talking to you,” he growled. “Who the hell was he?”Rhea wrenched her arm free, glaring up at him. “You mean Alex?” she scoffed. “He’s no one. Just an ex who thought he could offer his condolences.”Adrian’s jaw clenched. “That didn’t look like just an ex.”“Oh, and I suppose you’re an expert on what an