Chapter 1

Atasha's POV

I roamed my eyes around the place while my body shiver in fear.

"Sit down," the man commanded but I refuse.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked bravely trying to fight the fear that consumed me.

"Your father didn't tell you?" he asked with a smirk on his face.

"Tell me what?" I asked with confusion written on my face.

"You are bound to marry me Atasha. The day we are born we are already tied to each other," I looked at him in disbelief then let out a sarcastic smile.

"You are insane," I responded but he just laughed at me.

"Deny it all you want Atasha but you can't escape the fate that's already been written," he uttered then walked towards the kitchen leaving me in the living room all alone.

I feel my knees weakened but I gather all my strength and carrying the last courage that I have I slowly walked towards his door.

I let out a deep breath and then held the doorknob but before I could fully step out I heard his voice.

"You will just tire yourself Atasha," he coldly uttered and when I turned around I saw him holding a glass of liquor while leaning against the wall watching me intently.

"You don't fucking own me!" I uttered firmly and with all my strength I opened the door knob and run as fast as I can.

When I am in the hallway of the condominium I tried asking for help from the staff but they ignored me as if they heard nothing.

"Shit!" I cursed when none of them bother to help me.

When I am about to exit the building men wearing black suits blocked my way.

"Mr. Sawyer told us to escort you back to his room," one man uttered then held my arms but I forcefully removed his hold.

I tried to fight back and kick the man's knee but I guess I don't have enough strength to even hurt him.

"Let her go," when I heard his cold baritone voice I turned around and gave him a death glare.

"Let me go!" I shouted echoing to the whole reception area but none of them seems to care.

Tears cascaded down my face and without any hesitation I kneeled in front of him.

"Please let me go," I pleaded but it didn't even affect him.

I saw the man let out a deep breath and then after a while walked towards me. He scooped me from the floor and then carried me like a sack of rice.

"Let me go," I keep punching his back but he keeps on walking completely ignoring me.

When we reached his unit he opened the door and then stepped inside. I felt fear run through my system when we stepped inside the room.

After a while, he throw me onto the soft mattress so I immediately crawled up and hugged my body tightly.

"Take a rest," he uttered different from what I am expecting.

The man turned around but before he could even leave I spoke.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Conrad Sawyer," he responded without even looking at me.

"How are you related to my father?" I asked. The man named Conrad fell silent for a while then after that he faced me.

"Your father is one of us," my forehead creased upon hearing his response.

"What do you mean by 'us'?" I asked with curiosity laced in my voice.

"He is part of our organization Atasha, your father is a Mafia," he responded which made me laugh sarcastically.

"My father is a pastor," I firmly uttered.

"I guess he made you live a life full of lies," he responded then put his hands in his pocket.

"Quinn and Sawyer are the most powerful clan in Italy, Atasha. Our family had a very good relationship not until your father fucked up and married your mother. He left the organization by selling you off. He promised my clan that once you reached a legal age you will be married to me to regain the relationship that had once been broken. Your father isn't active in the organization but he continued giving us support by providing weapons." he narrates but my mind keeps on rejecting those words. I don't want to believe him because I can't accept the fact that his words speak for truth.

When I was a kid we migrate to different places from time to time. Dad keeps telling me that he just wanted me to have a safer place to live in. But when I started going to school we settled in Kansas. We had a peaceful life and I grew up contented even though I don't have a mother on my side. Dad claimed that my mother died when I was still a child because of illness, and right now I have no idea if those are true.

I am questioning everything, especially my existence.

"What will happen to me now?" I asked.

"You will join the organization after marrying me," he responded.

"I vowed to save lives not to kill Mr. Sawyer," I uttered firmly.

I know Mafia's works. I have seen those in movies but I never thought that it exists in real life.

I know they are involved in heinous crimes in short they are evil.

"I'll kill for you Atasha, your hands won't get dirty I promise," he firmly responded and after that, he left the room leaving me dumbfounded.

Conrad's POV

I headed towards the kitchen to grab a bottle of liquor and walked towards the living room.

I started drinking to remove the stress caused by Atasha. She is too hard-headed and I am not used to handling people with patience that is why as much as possible I want her out of my sight.

A few minutes passed when I heard the door swing open and upon looking I saw Atasha stepping out of the room.

"I don't have any clothes to wear," she told me so I let out a deep sigh.

"I'll ask someone to buy you clothes," I responded.

"I want the clothes at my house," she answered being hardheaded that she already is.

"You can't fool me Atasha," I told her. I know her tactics. She will run away again and I hate wasting my time on that kind of nonsense.

"Fine. I will sleep naked then," she threatened but I just laughed at her.

"No one's stopping you," I responded and upon hearing my answer she stepped inside the room and then slam the door, acting like a kid.

When Atasha is out of my sight I dialed Veronica's number and after a few rings, she answered.

"Buy woman's clothes and bring them to my unit," I commanded then dropped the call.

After an hour I heard the doorbell ring so I stood up. Upon opening the door I saw Veronica carrying paper bags.

Veronica handed the bags to me so I took them from her hands.

"Where is she?" she asked talking about Atasha.

"In my room," I responded.

Veronica stepped inside my unit and followed me until we reached the living room. Veronica sat on the couch and then grabbed the glass of liquor that I am drinking.

Veronica and I grew up together and she is the only woman who can get this close to me.

"When do you plan to get married?" she asked after drinking the liquor.

"A month from now," I responded.

"Can I see her?" she asked so I nod my head.

Veronica immediately picked up the paper bags that she brought and then headed toward my room. I don't have any interests to join their conversation so I contented myself watching the news.

After a while, I heard my phone ring so I picked up and answer the call when I read my father's name on the screen.

"What is it, Dad?" I asked.

"There's a big event tomorrow, used it as a chance to announce your marriage with Atasha Quinn. Once they knew that Sawyer and Quinn will be tied no one would dare to compete with us even the Hudson. We need to secure our place son so make sure to tame that woman," my father uttered so I nod my head.

"How's Thomas Dad?" I asked out of curiosity.

"He called me earlier begging me to free his daughter," he responded.

"What if he goes against the organization?" I asked. Quinn's had been supporting us for the past few years and losing them will affect the organization's transactions so we can't deny that we needed them.

"Thomas once broke the rules of our organization Conrad and that costs his wife's life, I don't think he will repeat the same mistake," my father firmly uttered.

"Tame that woman and I will handle Thomas. Make sure that Atasha won't get in our way," he reminded me and after that, my father dropped the call.