Stacey Nathaniel의 작품

Jade's POV I paced the length of the room that Jane, who introduced herself as the head maid, brought me into.She said it was the bedroom Luca prepared for me, for us.I was not admiring the soft lilac curtains, or the soft silk bedsheets that called out to me. None of them mattered.I couldn't sit still, couldn't stand still, couldn't lay down.I have slapped Luca. I have slapped the Mafia Boss in front of everyone he commanded.I expected him to slap me back, to make me feel pain, to show me this is real.I wanted him to drag me by the hair upstairs, choke my neck and lock me up. The same way Bernard would act.So that I will have a reason to weep my eyes out. So that I will ease my self-loathing and have a reason to blame him.He just walked to one of the cars, got in and drove off. Without a word to me. No orders to his men.When I turned to look at them, I could see the fury on their faces. I could feel the anger they held back; they wanted to get even.But no one moved a musc

Luca's POV I expected defiance.I anticipated her screaming for help, begging her mother to save her.I expected her to kick me where the sun does not shine.I expected her to run away, without looking back.But none of that happened.What I didn't expect was Jade to get into the car meekly, sit beside me and look out of the window, without a fuss.She did not stab me.She did not try to strangle me.She just sat there, staring on of the window of the Limousine, silent.I never saw that coming.And the silence was eating me up.“Are you okay, Princess?" I attempted to break the ice.She did not even blink.Minutes passed, the hum of the engine beneath us doing the talking.“Ask me anything you want, Princess. What is on your mind?" I tried again.The Ice defrosted. That was all it took.“It was all planned out, right?" Jade asked, her voice hoarse, still looking out of the window.“What do you mean?" I played dumb. Now that she had found her tongue, I didn't want her to stop talking.

Luca's POV “I am not a religious person, but I know it is a crime to wed another man's wife," I declared.The silence that followed was deafening. Then chaos erupted."And who the heck are you?” Tatiana Roberts screeched, her surgically altered face twisting into a frown."My goodness!” I gasped dramatically, my hands flying to cover my mouth in shock as I made my way to her seat."Excuse my manners,” I took her hand and kissed it. "I am Luca De Santo, your son-in-law. Pleased to finally meet you in person, Tatiana Roberts. I have heard so much about you,” I gave her an evil sneer.Time stood still as my words sank in. Every eye popped in shock."Luca De Santo! The Mafia Don!" Bernard exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief. “In the flesh,” I replied confidently, adjusting the collar of my tuxedo. "Oh, you were not expecting me?” I chuckled."And what the heck are you doing here?!” Bernard Veritas bellowed, stepping into my space, too close to my face."I came to watch you marry my w

Jade's POV The bright morning light filtered through the soft silk curtains of my bedroom, against my wish that the day never breaks.Saturday morning.The day I will wed Bernard Veritas.And Tony’s phone is not going through.I sat up on my bed, my palms sweaty, my spine straight, my mind all over the place as the weight of my stupidity descended on me.Tony had the marriage certificate.“Shit!” I exclaimed, slapping a hand on my forehead.I am a fool. What was I thinking? I got married to a stranger and let him keep the wedding certificate?Someone I have never known in my life?If this was not bottom barrel stupidity, what else could it be?Picking up my phone, my chest tight, my heart hammering against my ribcage, I dialed Tony's phone number again.It went straight to voicemail. As always.I placed both hands on my head in despair as realization dawned on me.I have been played.Tony is one of Luca's men, sent to trick me. Sent to be kind and empathetic. Those tattoos.Those mi

Lucas's POV A knock rasped softly on the door of my study before it gently creaked open.Jane, my head maid and custodian, stepped in, hands behind her back, her head bowed in submission.“You sent for me, Boss,” she said softly."Yes Jane,” I replied, relaxing into my office swivel chair. "Have a seat.”Jane had been among the first people I hired when I became the Don. She had quickly adapted into the Mafia life without protest.When I first got this huge mansion, Jane was the first person that moved in here and made sure the house was in order.She is in charge of everything here, the housekeepers and chefs, and since she knew the Mafia way of life, she did everything as she is told and does not question things other people would. She settled down into the seat in front of the huge mahogany table, her hands folded on her lap, her eyes down.“I want you to change the decor in my wing," I said, my voice controlled.“Change it from dark grey theme to a soft lilac theme, especially t

Jade's POV Goosebumps as big as pimples coated my skin as I stepped out of Mom's Maserati.It wasn't from the cold air that whipped up dresses.It was from the fact that I was standing in front of the most luxurious bridal boutique in Sicily, dressed in my skimpy pajamas that suggested every bit of my curves.Mom had kept her promise. She locked me up in her room, despite my protests and promises, and only dragged me out when she was ready to go look for wedding dresses.All because I protested that I would not marry Bernard Veritas.I caught a few heads turning in my direction as I hurried into the lounge of the boutique, with Ruby thick on my heels, shielding me.“Wow!" Ruby gasped as we stepped into the breathtaking lounge of the boutique. The moment we walked through the glass doors, the world outside disappeared. Soft, golden light spilled across marble floors, and gentle music floated through the air—like a romantic symphony whispering promises of forever.It was like steppin