LANABefore I could escape, Mark grabbed my arm. I tried to push him away, screaming, "Let go of me!"He turned and slapped me hard across the face, leaving my head buzzing. "If you don't want to get hurt, you'd better cooperate and behave."My ears rang from his fierce warning, and I struggled to keep my eyes open as he dragged me down the mountainside.When I looked around, he was already pulling me into a cave. Armed men with guns surrounded us, and I knew I had to plead for mercy. "Mark, think of your friendship with my dad. Please let me go."He laughed, looking at me with disdain, then ordered his men, "Tie her up."He shoved me to the ground, pain shooting through my body from the impact. I looked at him with resentment, but he ignored me and walked away.Once I regained my senses, I found myself being tied up with ropes. No matter how much I struggled, they easily restrained me and forced me into a corner.I had lost track of time in the dark cave. My body ached, and exhaustio
LANAMaximum didn’t finish what he wanted to say, but I could sense his meaning, and it shook me to my core.He turned off the television and walked toward me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. “Don’t be scared, Lana. I promise I’ll come for you. We’re going to get married.”I looked into his eyes and nodded. “I believe you,” I replied softly.A smile spread across his face, and he kissed my forehead again before saying, “You can leave now.”I felt a wave of reluctance wash over me, but I knew that staying would only provoke my father further. I turned toward the door, glancing back more times than I intended.As I descended the staircase and stepped outside, I was met with a scene of chaos: rows of police cars lined the street, and helicopters hovered above.A small smile tugged at my lips; I never imagined such a grand display was all for my return.My gaze swept over the crowd until I spotted my dad, deep in conversation with someone. When he noticed me, he abruptly halted
LANAI thought that by staying silent and ignoring him, my dad would just leave. Instead, he shut the door and strode over to my bed. He sat down and remained quiet for a while, and I hoped he wouldn’t say anything. But then he broke the silence."Lana," he began, "I know you might suspect me—think I’m behind the kidnapping, that I set up Mark for this."He paused, taking a sharp breath. "I’ll admit, I wanted Maximum dead. But not at the cost of your life. I won’t put you in danger to achieve my goals."My heart raced. I had never expected him to confess that he wanted Maximum dead. I wanted to pretend to sleep, but I couldn’t keep my composure any longer.Then, to my shock, he continued. "I know you’re listening and questioning why I want him gone. He hasn’t told you, but that bastard did something unforgivable. I won’t rest until he pays."I froze at his words, feeling a chill run down my spine. He sneered, "He killed my brother, and he has to die. Goodnight, my princess."In that m
LANACan my life get any more miserable? I stared at the cake that Granny Hart, my kind neighbor, had given me. I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting on the floor, lost in thought. She had taken pity on me, having witnessed countless birthdays go by without a single song or celebration. Damn it!Is my life really this messed up? Once again, my mom had deceived me, promising she would be home early to wish me a happy birthday. But here I was, all alone on what was supposed to be a special day—the day I turned eighteen. As I wallowed in my disappointment, the front door creaked open, the bell jingling softly. When I saw who it was, a wave of anger surged through me. My stepfather stood in the doorway, and he was no better than my mother. “Honey,” he called out, his smile unsettling. Hearing him say that made my heart race. He had never used that tone with me before. He was always strict and unreasonable, even resorting to violence. Just a few days ago, he had beaten up a boy fro
LANAHe parted my legs and positioned himself between them, his gaze locked onto mine. Opening his mouth, he said, "It will be a little painful at first, but you will feel good as we go on."My entire body tensed, but I could already feel his penis nudging at my opening, and I was dripping wet."Relax; you’re so wet," he said, pulling me tightly into his embrace.Before I could fully process what was happening, I felt intense pain between my legs. I tried to move, but he held me firmly, not allowing any space to escape."Relax; the pain will soon go away," he cautioned.As I closed my eyes, tears rolled down my cheeks. I didn’t know how long it took, but soon I began to feel a sensation I had never experienced before, and it felt incredible."Umm... oohhh," I moaned as he began to thrust in and out. I felt his fingers around my neck as he breathed into my ear, "You are so sweet, Lana. I can’t get enough of you."This drove me wild, and I grabbed onto the bedsheet, moaning even louder.
LANAI knew my mom too well. The moment she landed that first slap, I could tell she was gearing up to follow through on her threat to break the landlord's head. That would surely send us into the streets—and straight to the police station.I stopped in my tracks and sprinted over, my heart pounding with dread.“I don’t hit women, that—” the landlord was saying when my mom turned around, grabbing a heavy object.Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and fled. He must have heard the stories about her and her knack for getting into fights.The neighborhood was terrified of her fiery temper and sharp tongue. People often wondered how my stepfather, Bernardo, had managed to put up with her for all these years. But I knew the answer: he had been completely subdued, his own temper extinguished after realizing that my mom never held back when she went off the rails.I paused just short of the door, exhaling in relief. But when I caught sight of the object my mom had seized, my stomach dro
LANAI didn’t need to see who was behind the door to know they were there to cause trouble. The thought that our landlord might have sent street thugs to make our lives miserable sent a wave of fear coursing through me.Bernardo shot me a wary glance and whispered, “Who are they?”A loud bang echoed at the door, followed by a booming voice demanding, “Open up! If not, we’re kicking this damn door down!”I turned to my dad and whispered, “Mom.”That was all it took for his expression to darken. He gritted his teeth, grabbed my arm, and we tiptoed out through the back door.Behind our flat was a dark alley, seldom used by anyone except the residents of our building. We ran swiftly through it, and as we emerged, Bernardo flagged down a taxi.“Go, go, go!” he urged the driver the moment he slipped into the back seat.I glanced back and saw the thugs at our door had spotted us; they were charging after us, wielding steel bars. Fear gripped me, and I scrambled into the car.I kept looking b
LANAI felt a sudden tug on my arm, jolting me from my daze. I turned to see it was Bernardo, my stepdad, gripping me tightly. His warning glare sent a shiver down my spine, and memories of his past violence flooded back. Even my mother had turned a blind eye to it.I quickly lowered my gaze, trying to make myself invisible.Maximum, the leader of the group of men, suddenly stopped and looked directly at me. His piercing gaze felt intense, and I couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he was up close. A rush of excitement coursed through me, igniting a desire I hadn’t felt in a long time.But just as quickly, he walked away, leaving my heart racing. I was smitten.As I daydreamed, Bernardo’s grip on my arm tightened, and I hissed in pain. "Um, you’re hurting me," I managed to say.Bernardo shot me a fierce glare. "Do you know who that man is? He’s Maximum, the most feared man in the country. He could kill you without a second thought, and no one would ask a question. Stay awa
LANAI thought that by staying silent and ignoring him, my dad would just leave. Instead, he shut the door and strode over to my bed. He sat down and remained quiet for a while, and I hoped he wouldn’t say anything. But then he broke the silence."Lana," he began, "I know you might suspect me—think I’m behind the kidnapping, that I set up Mark for this."He paused, taking a sharp breath. "I’ll admit, I wanted Maximum dead. But not at the cost of your life. I won’t put you in danger to achieve my goals."My heart raced. I had never expected him to confess that he wanted Maximum dead. I wanted to pretend to sleep, but I couldn’t keep my composure any longer.Then, to my shock, he continued. "I know you’re listening and questioning why I want him gone. He hasn’t told you, but that bastard did something unforgivable. I won’t rest until he pays."I froze at his words, feeling a chill run down my spine. He sneered, "He killed my brother, and he has to die. Goodnight, my princess."In that m
LANAMaximum didn’t finish what he wanted to say, but I could sense his meaning, and it shook me to my core.He turned off the television and walked toward me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. “Don’t be scared, Lana. I promise I’ll come for you. We’re going to get married.”I looked into his eyes and nodded. “I believe you,” I replied softly.A smile spread across his face, and he kissed my forehead again before saying, “You can leave now.”I felt a wave of reluctance wash over me, but I knew that staying would only provoke my father further. I turned toward the door, glancing back more times than I intended.As I descended the staircase and stepped outside, I was met with a scene of chaos: rows of police cars lined the street, and helicopters hovered above.A small smile tugged at my lips; I never imagined such a grand display was all for my return.My gaze swept over the crowd until I spotted my dad, deep in conversation with someone. When he noticed me, he abruptly halted
LANABefore I could escape, Mark grabbed my arm. I tried to push him away, screaming, "Let go of me!"He turned and slapped me hard across the face, leaving my head buzzing. "If you don't want to get hurt, you'd better cooperate and behave."My ears rang from his fierce warning, and I struggled to keep my eyes open as he dragged me down the mountainside.When I looked around, he was already pulling me into a cave. Armed men with guns surrounded us, and I knew I had to plead for mercy. "Mark, think of your friendship with my dad. Please let me go."He laughed, looking at me with disdain, then ordered his men, "Tie her up."He shoved me to the ground, pain shooting through my body from the impact. I looked at him with resentment, but he ignored me and walked away.Once I regained my senses, I found myself being tied up with ropes. No matter how much I struggled, they easily restrained me and forced me into a corner.I had lost track of time in the dark cave. My body ached, and exhaustio
LANAI didn't completely trust what Maximum had said about my father, but in that moment, I realized it was crucial to help my mother break free from her one-sided love for him.I took her hands, and for a brief moment, she seemed present. To my surprise, she smiled brightly, and I felt a flicker of confusion at the sudden warmth in her expression."Mom," I said softly.Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears as she replied, "I’ve been waiting for this moment, Lana—the day you finally forgive me."I was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.I squeezed her hands gently and said, "Mom, what if you’ve been living a lie? What if everything you believe about Dad isn’t true?"Her expression shifted to one of confusion, and I realized she had no idea what I was trying to convey. I pressed on, "Consider this: what if Dad doesn’t love you? What if he’s been using you to achieve his own goals? What if—"Before I could finish, she jerked her hands away, her eyes narrowing with fury.She lea
LANAAfter living with my mother for so many years, I could easily tell when she was lying; her body language gave her away.I sneered, "Stop trying to fool me, Mom. The Lana you knew is gone. If you think I’ll fall for your lies, you’re dreaming."My mom wasn’t shocked. Instead, she became furious and snapped, "What kind of daughter are you? Aren’t you worried that your father hasn’t kept his promise? He hasn’t even introduced me as his fiancée to any of his friends, but he’s been flaunting you around?"I shrugged nonchalantly. "Not my problem, Mom. You’ve spent years in street fights and passed out drunk in bars. Do you think Dad wants to show you off with that history?"She froze at this, and I realized she’d either forgotten her past or was choosing selective amnesia. Did she think her past actions were forgotten just because she claimed to have changed?With a sigh, she asked, "Lana, are you going to judge me like everyone else?"I yawned, stretched, and replied, "Mom, I’m tired.
LANAStanding behind me was Maximum, my boyfriend, wearing an expressionless face. He reached out and pulled me into his arms, and I buried my face in his chest, feeling a mix of comfort and tension."Stop trying so hard. I will never let you have her," Maximum warned sternly, his voice low.I turned to glance at Mark. His face was dark, fists clenched tightly, clearly furious that Maximum had interrupted."Stop acting arrogant. You’ll never be able to marry her. The more you try to ruin my plans, the more painful it will be when I finally take her to the altar as my wife," Mark replied confidently, a smile creeping onto his face.I was taken aback by his stubbornness. Did he really think he could have me despite my relationship with Maximum? He certainly had a big heart."Really? You’re sure I can’t marry her?" Maximum retorted playfully, a glint in his eye."Yes, you can’t," Mark shot back confidently.Then, in a shocking twist, Maximum dropped to one knee. The music in the backgrou
LANAWhen I heard the news, I was speechless. Though I had never shown much interest in my dad's business, I knew that Lionel's Corporation was publicly traded and ranked among the top twenty companies in the state."Dad, you don't need to do this..." I tried to reason with him, but he replied firmly, "You are my princess. You deserve this and more."I stood there, unsure of what to say next. My dad was incredibly stubborn; once he made up his mind, there was no changing it. I finally resigned myself to the fact that he wouldn’t be taking back the shares."Lana, are you coming home with me?" he asked.I hesitated. I didn’t really want to go back, but since he had made the effort to come to my place and made promises, I replied, "Let me just tidy up here, and I’ll come with you."He smiled and said, "Dress up! I’ll pick you up in an hour."Before I could ask where we were going, he had already left. I quickly cleaned my room, then headed to the bathroom for a shower, knowing my dad’s p
LANAI had no idea when I drifted into a deep slumber, and I couldn't recall if he had answered my question.The next morning, I was jolted awake by heavy footfalls and the forceful swing of my door.I sat up to see my dad bursting into my room, flanked by a team of security personnel. He looked down at me with a cold stare. "Where is he?"I rubbed my sleepy eyes, still groggy from sleep, and stammered, "Who?"Ignoring my question, he barked at the security team, "Search the room."Panic surged through me as I remembered last night—Maximum had been with me, and we had sex. My heart raced when one of the guards opened the bathroom door."Dad, why are you invading my privacy?" I shot back, standing up in a mix of anger and anxiety.He glared at me, unfazed, and scoffed, "Where is he?"Frustration bubbled over. "Can you take a break, Dad? He’s not here. Just stop this madness! If you don’t want me in your house anymore, I’ll leave!"With that, I stormed out of my room, hoping he would or
LANAI watched him narrate his struggles, his emotions palpable, and I couldn’t hold back my own tears. I broke down and embraced him tightly.“Dad, that’s enough. I’m not blaming you for anything,” I said, my voice trembling.He patted my back, reassuring me. “Lana, I promise I’ll call it quits when the Wilson family shows no interest in settling scores with me anymore.”Hearing those words filled me with relief and joy. No one had ever made such a sacrifice for me, and he did it without me even asking.“Thank you so much, Dad,” I said, reaching out to embrace him again.He stood up, but halfway to the door, he paused and turned to me.“Lana, do you know why I don’t want you to end up with your boyfriend, Maximum?” he asked, his expression serious.This was the answer I’d been waiting for. “I don’t, Dad,” I replied, eager to hear him out.He sighed, a deep, rueful sound. “I don’t want to end up a widow or be killed by a psychopath in the street. The life of a mafia is unpredictable.