LOGINJade's POV It felt like I was stranded in the middle of an ocean, an almost deflated lifebouy around my waist, bobbing up and down in rhythm with the waves.Most times I went deep under, most times I got tossed up into the air.And every time I tried to swim my hands felt stuck to my sides.I jumped up with a start.Bright sunlight filtered through the window, hurting my eyes.I shut them back sharply, my head pounding like a wrecking ball.I raised my hand to rub my forehead, but it got stuck. Just like it was in my dream.I tried again. I was awake, not drowned or stranded.It didn't budge. Then, I heard it.Metal clanks. Like shackles.Do nightmares become reality?I slowly opened my eyes again, and this time, it didn't hurt like before.Turning my heavy head to the side, I glanced down my side.The sight that met my eyes made me want to scream.I was chained to my bed. Like a prisoner.How did I get here? How did it get to this? I racked my brain, slowly unlocking my memory vaul
Luca's POV.The dim light in the gym gave a sickly glow, the air thick and heavy with the smell of sweat pouring down from our bodies.I took a swig from my water bottle and leaned against the wall, the chilly sensation a soothing relief against my skin.My men were having their training session.I owned the biggest gym in Sicily. The only place that was known to sculpt muscular frames out of slim boys.A year of intense, brutal training in my gym was enough to create a muscular physique that would put the world's biggest bodybuilder to shame.However, it was out of bounds to the outside world. Only my men had access to it.I dropped my water bottle and stood in front of the punching bag hanging down, taped my hands, and went down to work on it.I slammed my fist into it repeatedly. My shoulders ached from the force, but I couldn't stop.Before long, water was pouring down from my sweat glands like a dam, dampening my gym shorts.I wasn't supposed to be here.I was supposed to be at ho
Jade's POV I paced the length of the room that Jane, who introduced herself as the head maid, brought me into.She said it was the bedroom Luca prepared for me, for us.I was not admiring the soft lilac curtains, or the soft silk bedsheets that called out to me. None of them mattered.I couldn't sit still, couldn't stand still, couldn't lay down.I have slapped Luca. I have slapped the Mafia Boss in front of everyone he commanded.I expected him to slap me back, to make me feel pain, to show me this is real.I wanted him to drag me by the hair upstairs, choke my neck and lock me up. The same way Bernard would act.So that I will have a reason to weep my eyes out. So that I will ease my self-loathing and have a reason to blame him.He just walked to one of the cars, got in and drove off. Without a word to me. No orders to his men.When I turned to look at them, I could see the fury on their faces. I could feel the anger they held back; they wanted to get even.But no one moved a muscl
Luca's POV I expected defiance.I anticipated her screaming for help, begging her mother to save her.I expected her to kick me where the sun does not shine.I expected her to run away, without looking back.But none of that happened.What I didn't expect was Jade to get into the car meekly, sit beside me and look out of the window, without a fuss.She did not stab me.She did not try to strangle me.She just sat there, staring on of the window of the Limousine, silent.I never saw that coming.And the silence was eating me up.“Are you okay, Princess?" I attempted to break the ice.She did not even blink.Minutes passed, the hum of the engine beneath us doing the talking.“Ask me anything you want, Princess. What is on your mind?" I tried again.The Ice defrosted. That was all it took.“It was all planned out, right?" Jade asked, her voice hoarse, still looking out of the window.“What do you mean?" I played dumb. Now that she had found her tongue, I didn't want her to stop talking.
Luca's POV “I am not a religious person, but I know it is a crime to wed another man's wife," I declared.The silence that followed was deafening. Then chaos erupted."And who the heck are you?” Tatiana Roberts screeched, her surgically altered face twisting into a frown."My goodness!” I gasped dramatically, my hands flying to cover my mouth in shock as I made my way to her seat."Excuse my manners,” I took her hand and kissed it. "I am Luca De Santo, your son-in-law. Pleased to finally meet you in person, Tatiana Roberts. I have heard so much about you,” I gave her an evil sneer.Time stood still as my words sank in. Every eye popped in shock."Luca De Santo! The Mafia Don!" Bernard exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief. “In the flesh,” I replied confidently, adjusting the collar of my tuxedo. "Oh, you were not expecting me?” I chuckled."And what the heck are you doing here?!” Bernard Veritas bellowed, stepping into my space, too close to my face."I came to watch you marry my w
Jade's POV The bright morning light filtered through the soft silk curtains of my bedroom, against my wish that the day never breaks.Saturday morning.The day I will wed Bernard Veritas.And Tony’s phone is not going through.I sat up on my bed, my palms sweaty, my spine straight, my mind all over the place as the weight of my stupidity descended on me.Tony had the marriage certificate.“Shit!” I exclaimed, slapping a hand on my forehead.I am a fool. What was I thinking? I got married to a stranger and let him keep the wedding certificate?Someone I have never known in my life?If this was not bottom barrel stupidity, what else could it be?Picking up my phone, my chest tight, my heart hammering against my ribcage, I dialed Tony's phone number again.It went straight to voicemail. As always.I placed both hands on my head in despair as realization dawned on me.I have been played.Tony is one of Luca's men, sent to trick me. Sent to be kind and empathetic. Those tattoos.Those mi







