The Mafia Lord's Substitute Wife

After what felt like hours, I force myself to get off the floor and walk to my room to pack my things. I had to pack before Glinda’s words became reality. She would throw me out of the house, that, I was certain of. And if I didn’t prepare now, I’d be on the street with nothing but the clothes on my back. I reach for the suitcase on the top shelf, but the pain in my injured hand made my grip weak. I stretched onto my tippy toes, wobbling on the edge of the stool I’d dragged inside .The suitcase slipped from my reach. My balance gave out. The stool tipped. And suddenly, I was falling. The impact stole the breath from my lungs, leaving me sprawled on the cold marble floor.I just lie there looking up to the chandelier in my walk in closet. My chest rose and fell in shallow bursts, but my body refused to move. The tears came silently, streaming down the sides of my face into my hair. I didn’t even notice at first. My mind was too numb to catch up. I lie on the cold floor, the cold a

Damien’s POV“Since when the hell do I have a fiancée?” I asked, amused more than anything.Richard cleared his throat. “Mr. Gaze owed… a substantial amount of debt. No sons to carry it, so your mother saw an opportunity. She arranged the marriage.”I hummed low in my chest, stroking my beard as I stared out the tinted window. “Mother knows I don’t involve women in the business. A daughter doesn’t carry her father’s name. She has no place paying his debt.”Richard shifted, his voice quick, rehearsed. “Your mother anticipated you would say that. The wedding date is already set for Saturday. Invitations have gone out to the entire family.”My eyes narrowed. “You knew.”He nodded, sheepish.“And you didn’t tell me?” My tone dropped, dangerous. “Who pays you, Richard? Me, or my mother?”“You, sir,” he squeaked, tugging at his collar.I shook my head slowly. “I don’t know what to do with you people.” The realization that my mother had laid the perfect trap dawned on me. I leaned back rubb

Selina's POV“Good girl.”He dove right back in, leaving a trail of kisses down my body. I purred, my back arching involuntarily to meet him as his mouth claimed every inch of my skin. My fingers dug into his back, nails raking angry red lines across his skin.He turned my face to his, and I looked up at him with pleading eyes. His lips curled into a smirk.“Keep your eyes open. Don’t close them,” he ordered.A shiver ran through me. My breath caught as I forced myself to watch him go down on me, his eyes locked with mine the entire time. Heat pooled in my stomach, but self-consciousness crept in. I squeezed my eyes shut, embarrassed.A sharp sting landed on my inner thigh, forcing my legs apart.“Ow!” I yelped, kicking at him instinctively. He caught my leg easily, laughter rumbling from his chest.“Relax,” he teased between chuckles. “You’re so tense.”“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled under my breath.His lips brushed my thigh, featherlight kisses trailing closer and closer to wher

Selina’s POV I walked quietly down the hallway, my clothes clutched to my chest as Richard led the way. We stopped in front of the last door, the one farthest from Damien’s room. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking. Someone like Damien falling for me? And not just falling, but so fast? It felt ridiculous now. “This is your room,” Richard said softly, already turning as if to leave. I reached out and gently caught his arm. “What happened out there?” I asked. “I… I can’t talk about our operations with outsiders,” he said, not looking at me. “You know that’s not what I meant.” “I still can’t talk about it.” “Please,” I said quietly. “I just want to know what happened. Why he’s being so cold toward me.” “It’s not your fault.” “But I’m the one he’s taking it out on,” I said, letting go of his arm. I turned toward the door, but he spoke again. “He gets like that sometimes after a raid,” Richard said. “He’ll get over it. I just can’t say when.” “Is there anything

CHAPTER TEN Selina's Pov 'Mine' My heart fluttered as I read the word over and over again. I touched the gemstone lightly, biting my lip. A small smile found its way to my face before I could stop it. I took the necklace out of the box and made my way to the mirror, fastening it around my neck. The cool stone warmed against my skin almost immediately. I looked at myself for a long moment. A memory of chase invaded my mind. His hands at my neck, clumsy and careful at the same time. The thin gold chain catching on his fingers while I laughed and told him to hurry up, we were already late for our dinner reservation. A cheap diamond imitation from a window display on Fifth Avenue. It had been my most prized possession. I wore it every day for two years until the clasp broke. I had cried over it for weeks devastated that the jeweler couldn't do anything to fix it. Even now, the broken necklace remained in my bag. My gaze hardened as I stared at my reflection in th