His obsession: The Mafian King's Groom

PROLOGUE

THE Blood Oath

10 Years Ago…

Liam’s POV

“I'm telling you now, Sabasto, you either pay me your debts, or I will kill you and your family and make them watch you bleed to death!Don’t you ever try to test me, you know? You owe me, and this is the last chance I’ll ever give.”

Mr. Mark yelled at my father; his voice was very ruthless and hollowed the air. His hand gripped the gun he was holding so tightly that his knuckles whitened, and he pressed the gun straight at my father’s forehead.

His entire face was filled with fury, and I could see his veins pulsing out of his temples as his nose flared up. Everything that he claimed to do to my father is the truth; he wasn’t bluffing…. Everyone knows him in Barcelona; he is the most feared in the city.

Don Mark Ronaldo is a ruthless, merciless, and heartless Mafia lord whose name could be heard through whispers.

No one dares to say it loudly, or that is the end of that individual. Everyone in Barcelona knew who Mark was. And now, here he is…standing in our living room and trying to end my father’s life. The worst part? That's his best friend.

I froze at the spot where I was, my arms wrapped protectively around my little sister. Eleven-year-old Ella was already crying and trembling in fear as tears rolled down her cheeks…. I was only thirteen. Watching my father die right in front of us is one thing that would forever leave a scar that could never fade.

It was Christmas Eve, and we were celebrating the season of love in our sitting room. Laughter and joy filled the room as we exchanged gifts, but all of that ended immediately the second that they barged into our home and fired a gun in the air.

Our house, filled with laughter only a few minutes ago, was now filled with the smell of metallic guns, and no one needed to tell us that our security men outside had been killed first… Everywhere smells of the stench of blood.

Pleading to those men was of no use because upon seeing the logo tag on their suits, we already knew who they were working for. We were dragged outside to the yard into the cold air as they made us all kneel…each of them pointing guns at us.

That was when a shiny black car drove in through our mansion gate; it had this tinted and dangerous aura around it… Its engine was growling like a predator marking his prey. It stopped right in front of us as the door opened… Mr. Ronaldo stepped out of the car; his black coat swayed as he walked, his jaw was clenched, and his eyes were staring furiously at my father.

At first I wondered if he was here to talk business with my father like they always do—old-time friends stuff—but I was brought back to reality when a cruel smile gleamed in his face and he pulled out a gun.

The door opened again, and his son Elijah walked out. My eyes widened in shock at how cute and ruthless he looked at the same time; he had perfect blue eyes and curly golden hair, and he was wearing a tailored suit. He looked older than me, and I guess he might be fifteen… He stared at me for a while and then looked away.

He just leaned in the car and folded his arms as if he owned the night…so full of himself! He stared at me in every passing second. I couldn't bear it anymore, so I quickly lowered my gaze, holding my sister's hand tightly. She buried her face into my shoulder, sobbing softly.

“Ronaldo, please, I'm begging you…” My father’s voice broke as he fell to his knees. His hands were shaking, raised in surrender. “Don’t hurt my children. I’ll pay you back. I swear I will. Just give me a little more time…”

“Time?” Ronaldo’s voice cut in immediately; it was smooth and mocking. “You think time erases betrayal, Sebasto? This is the price you will pay for betraying me; you were my most loyal friend. And you dare to cheat me? No one walks free from me without paying their debt. You know the rules.”

My father’s eyes brimmed with tears. His voice cracked as he pleaded, with desperation leaking into every word. “Don Please, you were my good friend. We grew up together; don't forget that we built this empire side by side. If not for me, think of my children! Ella and Liam—they have no one else. Don’t punish them for my mistakes.”

Tears blurred my vision as I watched my father beg for our lives to this cruel man. My chest ached hearing him beg. I couldn’t believe that one day my father would beg for his life this way because my father was a man I once thought was untouchable and ruthless too because he is not a saint—he's also a mafia lord, but Mr. Ronaldo has a higher rank than him.

I swallowed hard; my young voice was trembling as I cried out, “Please, Mr. Ronaldo. Don’t kill him… Please—we’ll pay you back. I promise!”

Ella, who was fumbling my hand and sobbing loudly,clung to my shirt so tightly like her life depended on it. I knew that even if I couldn't do anything as a child, I would make sure I always protected my little sister at all costs, shaking in fear… I stepped forward and shielded her with my small body.

Ronaldo’s eyes gazed at me briefly when I said that to him. I thought he would order his men to shoot me, but he didn’t do anything to me or give orders, but his cold smirk didn't soften. Instead, his lips curved into something darker and crueler.

“You care for your father, boy?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered, choking on my tears.

“Then watch him pay for what he did!”

He cocked the gun and pointed it at my father, who slowly shut his eyes. But before he could pull the trigger, Ronaldo’s gaze shifted to Ella. His smirk widened immediately. He turned to my father. “Perhaps there is another way…maybe I won’t have to kill you all after all.”

Immediately I heard that my face lightened immediately as well as my father’s, whose eyes opened, and he asked eagerly, “What do you want? I will do anything you ask for as long as you don't kill us.”

Mr. Ronaldo turned his eyes again at Ella, who was sniffing and crying, “A contract would be perfect.”

My father’s head snapped up. “What contract?”

Ronaldo’s words sliced into me like knives immediately after I heard what he had to say: “Your daughter, Ella, will remain a virgin until she turns twenty-one. Then she will marry my son, Elijah. Along with her, every piece of wealth your family owns will belong to mine.”

“What?” My throat tightened. I couldn’t breathe. My fists clenched as I held onto Ella. She was just eleven. How could they…?

Arranging a contract marriage for someone who doesn't even know what marriage is all about!? So cruel!

My father froze, his mouth widened in shock as tears streaked down his cheeks, and his lips trembled as his eyes were just filled with hopelessness.

He didn’t have a say here…

His lips trembled, but I could see the hopelessness already sinking into his eyes.

“And as for your son,” Elijah’s voice cut in; it was so venomous, and this was the first time I heard him talk ever since they got in. He pushed himself off the car he was leaning onto and walked closer to me with both hands in his pockets… His face was masked with a cold smirk.

His eyes locked into mine as he was just standing in front of me; he lowered his head slowly, my breathing caught in my throat, and said into my face. “Liam will never marry without our permission, and he will work for us for his entire life…. His freedom is gone.”

His words came like an electric shock to me, and my eyes widened instantly. What the hell did he mean by that!? The words are replaying in my head, with each syllable caging me. I wanted to scream or even fight, but I couldn't because my body was frozen.

My heart beats faster the moment I slowly glanced at Elijah again; I could see the hunger in his eyes and his wicked grin… It wasn't just cruelty anymore; this time around it seems to be possession.He looked at me, biting his lips like a predator marking his prey.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Ronaldo raised his gun slowly to my father. I thought he was going to shoot him this time after seeing our disapproving look…but he quickly fired the gun in the air instead. The deafening crack of the gun made Ella scream.

My father jerked up immediately when he heard the gunshot and rushed to us; the man who was pinning us to the ground stepped backwards, and he hugged us tight.

That was when it occurred to me that the gunshot was a way to confirm that the contract deal had been sealed.

The contract was done, and Ronaldo signaled his men, and they retreated… He turned back and headed into the car, but Elijah, instead of going in with them, moved closer to me. He came closer until I could feel his breath hot on my neck. His eyes were fixed on mine, and he slowly whispered into my ear. His voice was low and sinister; it seemed like it was meant only for me as he gripped my hand.

“My plans for you are already falling into place, Liam. In just ten years…”That’s all I need. When your sister turns twenty-one, you won’t escape me because I will be back to haunt you.”

His words were so cringy and made my heart skip a beat… My expression was a mixture of confusion and rage; I didn't understand what he was trying to say at all.

I quickly drew away from him and yanked my hand out of his grip, glaring at him, but that only made his smirk deepen.

Without giving him another chance to torment me with his words, I rushed back to where my father was and clutched Ella’s shaking body.

Mr. Ronaldo's men climbed into their cars, and they all drove off; all we could hear was their engine roaring and tires splitting the gravel as they disappeared into the night. I breathed out in relief immediately after they left, but there was dead silence everywhere.

We went back inside with my father. His face was so pale and his hands were trembling. He squatted down in front of me and my sister; his voice was broken, hoarse, and shaky as he looked into my eyes… His eyes were burning with determination.

“Liam,” he said, gripping my shoulders firmly despite his shaking hands. “Remember this: you must always protect your sister. Even if I am not here in the future, that will be your duty…did you understand?”

Tears blurred my vision as I nodded slowly. My throat was broken because of the tears. Even though I was trying to hold it back, I forced the words out. “Yes, Father.”

He hugged the both of us, but even though he was giving us reassurance that everything will be fine, I couldn't stop replaying the words that Elijah said to me over and over again.

Because I knew, deep down, that this night had bound us to a fate none of us could escape.