'You're mine alone...,' Leo whispered, his breath fanning my earlobes and giving me goosebumps, but I couldn't ignore the wetness between my legs as he called my name in the most sensual and commanding way, 'Lexi!!' *** Lexi Gabe is forced into going in a contract marriage with Leonardo Morano, the ruthless Don of the Morano crime family in a bid to avoid marrying Luca Morano, Leonardo's cousin and rival. As Lexi surrenders to Leo's protection, their arrangement evolves from duty to desire. But there's something else: a one night stand she's had before the marriage leads to her getting pregnant to a mysterious masked stranger. Who is this stranger? And what about Leo? How would he take this news? Will the stranger show up? Then comes... A secret.. A secret neither Leo nor Lexi could handle.. A Life-threatening Secret.
View MoreLexi's POV.
“Get your ass here, Lexi! A customer needs to be served!” I heard Brody's irritating voice through the loud booms of music. I scoffed as I made my way to the counter to collect a tray of exotic alcohol, not forgetting to shoot the disgusting manager a glare. “To the Exclusives. Mind you, these ones like ‘em slender.” Brody said with a snicker and I rolled my eyes. I weaved myself through the crowd of drunk and lust driven people in a practiced manner. Even though it was still early in the night, this casino was already almost full to the brim. One of the reasons why it was the best casino club in the city. I went up to the Exclusive lounge, where the richest amongst the rich were. Contrary to the Gaming Hall, a fine serenade was being played, adding to its posh tranquillity. I spotted a group of men sitting behind a grandiose ceramic table. They all oozed of power and dangerous authority. However, my stomach churned the moment I saw him. They called him “Terrore de Luca”. Obviously to tell how fearful he was but, to me he was not. He was nothing but a sick rich pervert. As I neared them, his gaze tore from the strippers in front of him. He was staring at me. If I hadn't been trained well enough by Madame Wells, I would have stumbled in my tracks. In a collected move, I lowered my head and placed the tray on the table, inwardly praying that he wouldn't do something rash today. I took the corkscrew and used it to open the bottles when I felt a sharp smack on my ass. A short gasp escaped me, synchronizing with a swift turnaround. I was met with brown eyes and a cocky smirk. “Ah…my favourite waitress. What's your name again, cupcake?” Luca asked. I interlocked my fingers and released a deep breath. Losing my temper would only cost me my job so I decided against that and instead put on a smile. “Hannah, sir.” I lied. These kinds of men would most certainly forget my name before the end of the night anyway. In a swift move, the man reached for my arm and in moments, I was above him, leaning so close to his face. I gasped again. He still had the smirk on. “I want you, Hannah.” He declared, his tone husky and dark. A lump rolled down my throat. “A…actually, I don't serve in the stripping department, sir.” I politely stated. He hummed, tilting his head but still holding my gaze. Irritation boiled in me. Before he spoke again, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Seizing the opportunity, I pushed myself away from him and stepped back. “I'm sorry, I have to take this.” I informed after seeing my Dad's name on the screen. “I will have you, Hannah.” The man expressed just before I exited the lounge. “Dad, I'm still at work…” “Lexi…it's your mother…just…get to the hospital as fast as you can!” I heeded to his words as there was panic heavily etched in them. I headed straight for my mother's ward, ignoring the receptionist. “Dad! What's wrong?” I asked as soon as I stepped into what has been my mother's abode for the past month. Father sighed, but I couldn't deny the fear in his eyes. “She…the doctor said she had a seizure. He said it's a side effect of not treating her early.” I walked over to the side of the bed and looked down at her. She was a total stranger compared to the mother I knew two months back. Her skin was pale and shrivel. Her eyes had sunk deep into her sockets and her veins could be seen vividly. I sighed, tracing my hand gently on her head. I shuddered, willing tears away from my eyes. “I thought they said they stabilized her.” I said without facing my father. “He also mentioned that that could only help her for so long before the actual treatment is needed.” He said weakly. I lowered my head as a mixed feeling of anger and despair rose in me. I knew that only meant money was needed. Urgently. I heard footsteps behind and I turned. “Miss Lexi, you're here. Good.” Said the doctor. “We have run the test on your mother and examined her thoroughly. She needs that new bone marrow as soon as possible as her situation is worsening. I believe we have established the fact that Mr. Gabe’s bone marrow is the only one that matches hers?” My father and I nodded. “How much would the bone marrow surgery cost again?” I asked. “Like I've mentioned before, Lexi, the total amount would be seventy thousand dollars.” He announced. Thick silence descended upon the ward as my head fell. Oh…where do I get such an amount of money? My skin crawled with goosebumps and heat from nowhere enveloped me. I heard sobs and I raised my head to see my father in tears. I frowned at him. He was supposed to be the strong one, but I have always been the one pulling the family together. “Doctor…I've spent all the money I have on her for the past six weeks. I have even borrowed money from people…please isn't there anything you can do for us…I just don't want my wife to…” he couldn't complete his words and burst into tears. He looked miserable and it made the corner of my eyes sting. “I can help in a way.” The doctor voiced, piquing my attention. “You can pay a deposit amount of thirty thousand so we can begin the treatment but you'll have to get the rest before the treatment is done.” He proposed. As he spoke those words, an idea formed in my head and I told the doctor and Dad that I would be back before the end of the day. I returned to the casino club with brisk steps. My mother mustn't die. “Hey Brody, I need to speak with Madame Wells!” I said as I walked into the Manager's office. The owner of the casino was a bit fond of me. If I could get a chance to speak with her, I am sure she would offer me some aid. Brody shot me a scowl, “What for?* He growled. “I need to speak with her, it's urgent.” I said, maintaining my vigour. Brody and I engaged in a brief glaring contest before he finally spoke. Or more accurately, barked. “Get out of my office, Gabe!” The next minute, the door was shut at my face. I sighed, gritting my teeth and fishing my hands. Crazy man! I should have known he wouldn't be of any help. And there was no way I could get to Madame Wells directly, the last time I saw her in the casino was about a year ago. I heaved a sigh and aimlessly in the club. I passed by a corridor and a voice caught my attention. “What do you mean she can't do it?” That was certainly Mrs. Kimberly’s voice. She was the one in charge of the strippers of the club. I paused and decided to eavesdrop. “She said she is sick,” another lady said. Certainly a stripper. “Sick, who gets sick on a night like this? Gosh, you whores are so useless!” Mrs Kimberly complained. “What am I to tell this man? He said he wants a slender but curvy girl for the night and unfortunately for me, Layla is the one that fits that description. Ugh, why are you all so fat?” Mrs Kimberly groaned in exhaustion. “What pains the most is that he is ready to pay a huge sum just for one girl.” She added wearily. Slender? Curvy? I glanced down at my body and to my delight, it fitted the description that Mrs Kimberly listed. I could serve the man. I would simply rid myself of a few clothes and dance on a pole right? That didn't sound so hard at all. That was my chance to save my mother. Stepping into the corridor, “Mrs. Kimberly. I can do it. I will serve the man for the night.” I declared.Leonardo's POV.Hours passed by and I remained on the same spot, not moving a muscle. I watched as several ant colonies marched over my ankles. I knew Grayson would have gotten halfway to Brooklyn by the time I called him. But he was the one I could call. Now I was waiting in a lonely bush path, watching my car burn down to dust.There were upsides though. I watched the sun set from a forest view for the very first time in my life. And I saw how termites build their one foot tall mound.It was peaceful, the breeze blew gently against my skin, almost sending me into a deep sleep. But I knew that if I slept off in the middle of the forest, I would have probably been half eaten by the termites by the time I woke up.Instead, I kept my eyes open and my gun in my grip. For a while, a question occurred to me -what if the assassin came back? There was only one single and straight answer to that. I would be dead.Certainly, I would try and fight back and defend myself but I was already wea
Leonardo's POV.“Argh!” I groaned, feeling pain stabbing at my lower belly. But that was not what I was focused on.Some kind of bomb had been laced on the road, causing my car to crash. I could feel my blood running to my brain with the way I was sitting upside down, trapped in the car.I looked out the window, seeing nothing but shrubs and grasses. I had been thrown off the tarred road. The explosion must have hit hard.There was no time to analyse my situation. I stretched my arm as far as I could for the compartment but I just could not reach. I was stuck in my seat.“Argh!” I grunted, stretching harder.Something caught my attention from the reflection of my side mirror.I looked outside through the passenger ‘side window. There was a long shadow there and it was moving!“Shit!” I cussed as I struggled to reach for the compartment. I stretched as hard as I could, forcing my shoulder bones to snap.“Argh!” I groaned but ignored the pain and stretched more. Finally my hand touched
Leonardo's POV.My car screeched to a stop in front of the fortress. I parked next to Luca's Porsche and alighted the vehicle.The place was as silent as a graveyard. The reason being that the fortress was built deep with a catacomb of thick forest and rivers.Don Morano had built the road specially for us so that our cars would not suffer from portholes.I walked into the tall building. Unlike the previous time that I was here, the hall was empty. The goods that had been stored there had been delivered to their various selling points since last week.I went up the stairs and into the room where I was certain the others were.I was greeted with the high ranking members of our gang, sitting around a wide table. On the wall was a large painting of a cracked skull and two pistols crossing each other in front of the skull. Our insignia. Not many Mafia gangs could boast of one, but then we were the Moranos.“Took you long enough.” Marco remarked as I took a seat on the single empty chair n
Leonardo's POV.I pushed the gun against his jaw, pressing it hard against him.“Tell me where the boat is,” I demanded, my voice reeking of danger.Nelson groaned and whimpered, his lips quivering. He shook his head frantically, “I…I don't know what you're talking about…please, boss!” He cried.I sighed. Do I always have to go through this with everyone I need information from?“Perhaps, this would trigger your memory.” I backed up and shot his right foot. It was a silent gun so it was only his loud scream that echoed in the garage.“The last boat at the docks had been missing since two weeks ago when there was an attack, where is it?” I said, pressing the gun back to his jaw.I had discovered that one of the boats that delivered the cargos two weeks ago had been stolen after the attack. Grayson and I had pieced together that the attackers had most likely used the boat to ship the stolen cargo to another location.Now, the Morano family had a specific boat dealer, and that was Nelson
Lexi's POV.My mouth hung open, my eyes were as wide as saucers and I could feel blood leaving my face.What did I just hear? Was I hearing correctly? No, it could not be. I must have had a hearing disorder when I collapsed. No no no, this thing I was hearing from the doctor could not be true! It just couldn't.I glanced at the paper in my hand again, furrowing my brows as I went through it once more. I read it as though it was some kind of text written in a strange language.But it was English! It was written in fucking English that I was pregnant!“Wha…doctor…this is…impossible!” I stuttered, my lips quivering.I stretched the paper back to him, my hands trembling. Blood had drained from my being that the paper felt heavy in my hand.“This is impossible!” I repeated, like it was some kind of mantra.I could not accept it. In fact, it must not be possible.“But, Lexi…it's your test result…” the doctor said but I cut him off.“No it's not! It can't be mine. Doctor, this is not my test
Lexi's POV.Good thing Mason had left, it was as though I could finally breathe again.I was in my parents’ bedroom, sitting on the chair while Mum tucked Dad into bed. He had fallen asleep almost as soon as Mason left. That old man doesn't stress himself.Lucky for me, Mason did not tell them about our relationship. He had only told them that we attended the same college and might have known each other.Of course, I denied ever knowing him and I was glad he played along.As Mum finished tucking Dad in, she sat on the edge of the bed. She tapped the space next to her and I switched my sitting place.“It's good we now have a neighbor. Now we won't feel all alone.” Mum said as I sat.A frown creased my eyebrows, “Mum! You are not lonely!’ I retorted defensively.“But at least now we would have someone other than the nannies to always talk to.” She said. “Your father seems to like him.” She added.I remained silent but deep within me, I was seething with rage. I could not blame my parent
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments