Novels by Creative inks

CHAPTER 4 ~~Matteo Rossi~~ The drive all the way to the cemetery was quiet. I appreciated that Marco didn’t try to involve me in any cliche discussion. “Just drop me at the main gate” I said to him when we were close enough to the funeral home. He did as told, pulled up to the wrought iron gates and halted the car right there. Raindrops were already beginning to speckle the windshield. “I’ll wait here, sir,” Marco said. “No. Go home. I’ll call a cab,” I lied. I wanted him gone. I needed this space to be truly alone Marco hesitated, concern etched around his mouth. “Mr. Rossi, with the weather turning… and your father…” “Go,” I ordered, flatly. The finality in my tone gave room for no argument. He nodded once, acknowledging the dismissal, and watched me until I stepped onto the wet pavement. Only then did the car pull away. I walked toward the marble mausoleum where Joe rested. I reached the stone bench facing the grave, the engraved name, Joseph Almonte, blur

Chapter 3 “He says you have to meet someone, Matteo,” my chauffeur pronounced, his persistence grated on my nerves. “It’s Eleanor Benett. Your arranged bride.” The words struck me. The name too familiar that I wish I'd heard nothing about it. “No,” I whispered "No. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not meeting anyone.” I started towards the double doors to the operating theatre, my legs moving on their own, by am instinct to go see him. To deny the surgeon’s brutal truth. My chauffeur moved faster. He stepped in front of the doors, blocking my path, his stance immovable. “Mr. Rossi. Please. Your father’s orders are absolute.” “My father can go to hell!” I roared, the pain finally exploding into fury. My hands balled into fists, trembling. “Joseph is dead, Marco! Dead! And you want me to go meet some… some bride? Get out of my way!” I lunged, not to fight him, but to push past, to force my way back into that sroom. Marco caught my arms, his grip firm but careful. He was trying to r

CHAPTER 2 The high pitched shriek of the ambulance was the first thing that welcomed me when we arrived the hospital. The car screeched to a halt. I didn't wait for the door to be opened. I flung it open myself, stumbling out into the hospital air. The air was thick with the sterile scent of antiseptic. I stood for a paralyzing moment, disoriented. I fell through the automatic doors and into a brightly lit reception area. My legs felt wobbly as I staggered to the main desk, gripping the counter so hard my knuckles turned white. A woman with tired eyes and a name badge reading ‘Brenda’ looked up, her gaze expectant “I’m here for Joseph Almonte,” I managed to say, my voice a hoarse croak. I barely recognized it as my own. “He… he was in an accident.” Brenda tapped a few keys on her keyboard, her eyes skimming the screen. “Yes, Mr. Almonte. You’re the emergency contact, Mr. Rossi?” I nodded, impatience making my whole body vibrate. “Where is he? Tell me where he is!” She r

PROLOGUE I had buried Joe. I had told my father no. I had chosen the cemetery over my arranged bride. I felt nothing. I’d lost everything that gave my life meaning in the span of a single night; the very night of my third anniversary. So, when that hand clamped over my mouth, muffling my protest, my instinct should have been to fight, to claw my way out of that grip. But I barely tried. When he called himself Rowan Hayes, when he spoke of my father and my arranged bride, it struck me: This man is Chaos, Hatred, and Ruin all in one. He wanted to destroy me. And in that moment, watching the sedative hiss toward my face, a shameful thought surfaced: Maybe I want to feel something. Something other than the silence. I let the darkness take me, yielding to the ruin he promised. I had nothing left to lose. Let him ruin me. I long to see what kind of darkness he intends to bring to my already wrecked life. CHAPTER 1 ~~MATTEO~~ I glanced around the restaurant, taking in every