Liya Glensdale would never have thought that her once peaceful life would one day end in a marriage with the feared and dangerous Aldo Marino. Caught in a deal to save her careless brother, Liya is forced into a crime world filled with power struggles, betrayal and shocking secrets. Aldo, a powerful businessman and crime boss known for his ruthlessness sees Liya as merely a tool in a game against his rival, Damian Viktor. But as time evolves, their once-cold relationship grows into more than an alliance that neither of them could see coming. As tension continues to grow and dangers mount, Liya must learn to sail the difficult and dangerous game while acknowledging the growing feelings between her and Aldo. Together, they’ll face their enemies hiding in the dark but their greatest troubles may be the feelings they refuse to acknowledge.
View MoreLiya Glensdale stared blankly at her untouched coffee while the rain washed against the windows of the little diner she sat in. She constantly picked at her nails with nerves unsettled as the minutes flew by on the wall clock, drawing the inevitable meeting with the man who could decide her brother's fate, closer.
When the bell above the diner rang, Liya’s eyes popped up as she watched a man enter and shake the rain off his trench coat, his presence immediately changing the atmosphere of the entire room. Her heart began racing as she watched Damian Viktor approach her table. He was by far taller than she had thought, with a scrawny face and a smile that made him look more sinister and cruel than kind. Even with his sharp suit that emphasized he was well-off, his appearance screamed that he was a dangerous man, the kind you don't get involved with. He sat down across from her, skin spread like he owned the place. “Liya Glensdale,” he said with a flat yet rough voice. “I’ve been anticipating this meeting. Liya gulped, her pulse racing. “Let’s cut to the chase. This is about my brother” “Oh, Liam”. Damian cut in. “ What a rash and audacious boy. He has quite a gift for making enemies but is lucky enough to have a dear sister to beg on his behalf.” “I’m here to strike a deal, not beg. Name your price and I’ll pay you back.” Liya shot back with a shaky voice despite her bravery. Damian let out a hollow laugh that made her shiver in her seat. “ Oh darling, trust me, you would not be able to afford what Liam owes me. Except…” He narrowed his eyes as he calculated her. “Except what?” Liya asked “ Ever heard of the saying one good turn deserves another? Well, someone owes me a favor and you’ll be the perfect settlement to make us even.” Marcus spoke as though he was talking about the weather or the latest fashion. Liya’s stomach knotted “ And what do you mean by that.” Leaning forward, Damian gives her a wild wide smile. “I want you to marry Aldo Marino.” She sucked in a choked breath at the name. A name that ruled the city. Everyone knew Aldo Marino— a billionaire who allegedly had ties to dangerous people. He was feared as he was respected and no one dared to rupture the fort he had created around his private life. “That must be a joke. Are you insane?” Liya said disturbed. “ Not at all,” Damian said, joining his fingers. “Aldo and I have…a complex history. He owes me a good deed, and you are going to make sure he pays it. In return, I’ll wipe your brother’s debt clean.” Her mind raced. The idea was ridiculous and impossible. She didn't know Aldo, but he was the kind of guy your mother warned you to stay away from. However, the vision of Liam—beat, bloody, and petrified flashed in her mind. If she didn't act fast, Damian would make good on his threats. “What if Aldo rejects the idea.” She voiced quietly. “He won't,” Damian said with confidence. “Aldo doesn't have the luxury of refusing. You are going to be his salvation. Think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement.” Liya stared at him in disbelief “Why me?” Damian’s smile became wicked. “ simple. You're the best option. Beautiful, clever, and desperate enough to do anything. Aldo will see your worth just as I do.” Liya wanted to yell and tell him he was out of his mind. But the burden of her brother’s life weighed heavily on her, drowning any argument. “What if I refuse?” she asked, already terrified by his answer. Damian’s gaze clouded. “Then Liam’s debt becomes yours. And trust me, my tolerance for repayment is shorter than you think.” Her chest tightened at his words. She thought of her brother, her careless, lovable brother who always found himself in some kind of trouble. She had spent her life tidying up his messes but this…this took the crown. “I’ll do it,” she whispered, the words tasting like ash in her mouth. Damian clapped his hands, his grin stretching. “Excellent. I knew you were wise.” He slid her a business card. “Be at the address tomorrow evening. Aldo will be expecting you.” “And you promise Liam’s debts will be wiped clean?” Liya asked him instead. “Spotless,” Damian said standing. “As long as you don't play me, your brother is a free man. I'm a man of my word, Liya.” With that, he turned and left the diner. Leaving Liya alone with her thoughts and the gravity of what she had just agreed to. ———————————————————————— Liya couldn't sleep that night. Anytime she closed her eyes, images of Aldo Marino danced in her mind. Though she had never met him, his influence was terrifying and she dreaded getting involved with him. The next evening, dressed in the only formal wear she owned, stood before the gigantic gates of Aldo’s estate. The entire mansion looked like an inaccessible castle with stone walls and sky-high windows screaming both wealth and isolation. The gates automatically opened and a sleek black car approached her. The driver stepped out, nodded, and opened the door for her. “Miss Glensdale, Mr Marino is waiting,” he said. She hesitated, her mind yelling at her to walk away from the madness. But she had to stick to her words. Straightening her posture, she climbed into the car. The ride to the mansion was long, and the driveway felt like an eternity. When the car finally stopped at the entrance of the mansion, new waves of fear washed over her. With her stomach in knots, she stepped out, her heels clicking on the pavement as the door swung open. A lady stood at the door, her stern face softened only by the slightest hint of curiosity. “Miss Glensdale,” she asked. “Yes,” Liya said in a shaky voice. “I’m Melinda Gusto, Mr Marino’s assistant.” The woman said stepping aside to let her in. “He’s waiting for you in his study.” Liya followed Melinda through the winding halls, her footsteps echoing against the marble floors. The house was cold and unwelcoming, just like she had guessed. It was filled with furniture, paintings, and dim lighting which gave it an eerie look. When they reached the study, Melinda knocked once before pushing the door open. “Mr Marino,” she announced “ Your visitor is here.” Liya stepped inside, her breath hitching as her eyes landed on him. Aldo Marino stood by the fireplace, his talk frame broad back to her. He turned slowly, his electric blue eyes fixating on hers. He was extremely handsome, but there was an edge to him, a quiet fierceness that made her blood turn ice. “Liya Glensdale,” he said, his voice low and menacing. “I’ve been expecting you.” She opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. Aldo’s stare was hard to read, his appearance a mask of calm and authority. “I believe Damian went through the arrangement with you,” he said, stepping closer. “Is there anything you'd like to ask?” She swallowed, her throat dry. “Why would someone like you agree to something like this?” Aldo gave a faint, humorless smile. “Let's say I have my reasons. Just like you.” His reply only added to her restlessness. Before she could question him further, he extended his hand. “Shall we,” he asked. Liya hesitated, she felt like she was about to dive into the unknown. As her hand touched his extended hand, the lights suddenly blinked, and then there was a smashing sound followed by the sound of glass shattering. “What’s happening?” Liya demanded in a panicked voice “Don't leave this room,” Aldo ordered as he moved towards the door. She looked through the window, the shadows running and shifting. And that's when she saw it, a figure stood in the darkness, watching her beyond the glass. She could see the outline of a weapon aimed at her. Suddenly, the window shattered, and Liya let out a loud scream.He didn’t expect that to be the first question that Liya was going to ask him. His denial was at the tip of his tongue, but as he looked at her, there was no way he was doing that. “Yes,” he said, and Liya scoffed as she freed her arm from his grip and took a step back. “You’re disgusting,” she whispered, and Aldo looked away. “You wanted me to meet her? You wanted me to see the person who hurt you? You wanted me to see the one person whom you refused to tell me her story? For what exactly?”“This was the same reason why I didn’t want you to go there in the first place!” Aldo said, slamming his hand into the door. Liya took a step back. She could swear that she had never seen Aldo that angry. He was practically fuming. The muscles in his jaw were popping. But she didn’t want herself to bow to him. Not this time. Not when she was sure that he was the one in the wrong. “So you didn’t want me to go there just so you could hide your little secret?” She asked, and she didn’t miss the pa
“Has she called?” Aria asked as she stood right beside Aldo. Aldo was pretending not to care about Liya. He was trying to pretend like he wasn’t waiting for the phone to ring with her name on the caller ID. “No,” he finally answered, as he shook his head, looking at Aria. “I think she is having so much fun that she forgot to call.”He meant it jokingly, but at some point, it felt like he meant it for real. He didn’t know why she didn’t call. He had checked her tracker, and it showed that she was already out of Damian’s house. So where the hell was she? And why hadn’t she called him yet?“Have you tried calling her?” Aria asked, and he sighed. “Twice already. She doesn’t even want to answer the damn phone.”Aria smiled, but at the same time, she was worried. She knew just the kind of monster that Damian was. Could it be that he had done something to Liya while they had dinner and they were busy getting rid of her?“Fuck, I’m not going to stay here while she just ignores me,” Aldo sai
“Is there a problem?” Alana asked, narrowing her eyes at Liya. Liya quickly shook her head, but took a step back. Was it the same Alana? The same one that hurt Aldo and Aria so much that it was hard for them to even recover from whatever she had done? Was this really their ghost from the past?The features were matching. But how was she Damian’s wife? What the hell was going on?Liya was stuck in the middle of running out of the house and laughing out loud. She couldn’t even understand what was going on anymore. Was it some kind of game that they were playing with her?“Are you going to join us at the table or not?” Damian asked, making Liya snap back to Earth. She plastered a fake smile on her face as she nodded, walking towards where Damian was gesturing for her to sit. For a second, she tried imagining that she was there as a normal employee who was invited to her boss’s house to have dinner. But that didn’t sit well with her. She had just started working at the club a few days ag
Aldo paced around the living room. He didn’t know how else he was supposed to remain calm. There was something that made Damian ask Liya to come over to his house. He knew the man more than he knew himself. And as far as he was concerned, there was something more than he was letting on. There was more than anyone could imagine. More importantly, he was already regretting not telling Liya everything that she was supposed to know already. At the back of his head, he could already see her leaving him. He could see Aria never forgiving him for taking away the one person that she had come to love after his first love. She never really bonded with the occasional flings. He didn’t tell her about everything because he was trying to keep her safe. But then, something told him that he was going to regret not telling her. “You didn’t tell her, did you?” Aria asked, and he could barely say anything to defend himself. He just looked away, and he heard her scoff. “She’s going to leave us. Isn’t
Liya looked at herself one more time in the mirror. After Aldo had driven her back to her little apartment where she lived her life as Irene, a little package had shown up at the door. It was a dress from Damian. “Who the fuck does he think he is, sending you things like this?” Aldo asked, obviously annoyed. Liya could barely hold back her smile. She loved seeing Aldo like that. She loved seeing the jealous side of him. She was still filled with the bliss from everything that had happened last night. Aria had jumped on her in joy like a monkey. Aldo insisted on making food that late. She ate, they had sex countless times, and she was exhausted. Even while she was asleep, she could feel Aldo’s firm kisses on her forehead. He made sure that she was calm the whole time, before she finally decided to head back to her little apartment. And even while she was there, he still wasn’t letting her get any kind of peace. At least not in the way she wanted. He was practically fussing all over
Damian frowned as he stared at the screens in front of him. He couldn’t seem to understand what Aldo was doing, pulling Irene towards him. He had Liya, didn’t he? And the Aldo that he knew was the most loyal human to exist. He couldn’t cheat on Liya unless something had happened, and he wasn’t aware.As far as he was concerned, no one got access to touch Irene. She was his. Damian felt his hands ball into fists at the sight. “Bring Irene to my office immediately,” he called out to one of the guards and they hurried off to call Liya to Damian’s office. He felt himself exhale as Liya stood right in front of him. ““Irene,” he mouthed her name, and Liya shivered. She didn’t miss the look on Damian’s face. He looked like he was going to kill every single person in the room. She wondered if he had found out that she had come to his office.“You called for me, sir,” she whispered, and he nodded, beckoning her into the room. She took cautious steps, as she allowed him to wrap his hands arou
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