The mafia’s captive

Cassie was at her wedding. It was a seaside wedding as she always wanted.Lilies and yellow hibiscus flowers adorned the walkway and the makeshift altar the silhouette of her husband and the priest stood on.She was in her mother's refurbished yellow wedding gown as opposed to the customary white gown.It had a slit up to her lower thigh with curls and curls of fabric flowing gracefully behind her.Her lone walk to the altar was one of bliss, fulfillment and pure joy. She was about to get married to the love of her life. She was the love of his life too.There would be laughter, tears of joy, and a promise of forever that meant something.As she walked to the altar, she heard someone call her name. She paused and looked behind; there was no one.She was about to continue her honorable walk to her groom when she heard her name again, this time she felt someone tapping her.Before she could make sense of it all, her eyes popped open.She was staring at the annoying hairdresser.Reality d

Shadows of ThreatsDays turn into weeks and weeks turn into months, and Cassie began to see the Blackwood estate as home. She was never mistreated, never taken for granted or disrespected.She even began to have nice conversations with some of the staff. She became close to Mrs. Persephone the housekeeper and her personal maid, Tyler.Bane still maintained a different attitude with bouts of niceness once in a while.Though the Blackwood estate was a new development in her life, it was better than home.It was better than the torture, the insults, hunger and the abuse from Ryder and Elijah.Now she could move more freely within the house and even had the password to some areas.The Blackwood estate was beautiful, almost too perfect from the manicured lawns to the towering walls and iron gates designed to keep outsiders at bay.And yet, Ryder and Elijah could still get in.It started with calls. They came at least an hour after breakfast, almost as if whoever was at the other end of the

Chapter Six – The PartyCassie sat on the edge of her bed, absently twisting a loose thread on her dress as her mind raced. She had spent the last few days trying to figure out how to reach Bain, how to break through the thick walls he had built around himself.That night, when he had let his guard slip, when he had shown her even the smallest crack in his armor—it had meant something. She was sure of it.But then he had shut her out completely.Now, all she heard was his voice booming from the hallway, cold and commanding, giving orders like he was preparing for war.Her chest tightened.She hesitated only for a moment before standing. She needed to see him. Even if he pretended not to care, even if he acted as if she was invisible—she missed him.She stepped out of her room, following the sound of his voice. When she finally found him, her breath caught in her throat.Bain stood in the center of the grand hallway, flanked by his men. His presence dominated the space. He looked sharp,

The private lounge of La Notte Nera was dimly lit, the golden glow of the chandeliers casting long shadows over the polished mahogany table. Bain sat at the head, his fingers drumming lazily against a glass of whiskey, his expression unreadable. Across from him sat Lorenzo DeLuca, a rival who had been pushing into Bain’s territory for months.The air was thick with tension.Lorenzo leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. “You’re losing your grip, Bain. Your men are getting sloppy. Your deals? Crumbling. Maybe it’s time you stepped aside before someone does it for you.”Bain’s jaw tightened, but he exhaled slowly, keeping his fury in check. “Is that a threat, Lorenzo? Because if it is, you’re more foolish than I thought.”Lorenzo chuckled, swirling his own drink. “Not a threat, just an observation. Maybe you should be more focused instead of distracted by that little pet of yours.”Bain’s grip on his glass tightened, his knuckles turning white. “Careful, DeLuca. The last man who under

Chapter Eleven: A Dangerous GameBain’s cousin, Luca blackwood, arrived unannounced.Unlike Bain, Luca was charismatic, effortlessly charming, and had a devilish grin that made women weak in the knees.Cassie noticed immediately.And so did Bain.At dinner, Luca sat beside her, his attention entirely on her. “So, tell me, Cassie, how does a beautiful woman like you end up tangled with my brooding cousin?”Cassie smirked, sensing Bain’s eyes burning into her. “I ask myself that every day.”Luca chuckled, leaning closer. “If he ever gets too boring, you know where to find me.”The tension was palpable.Cassie met Bain’s gaze and, for the first time, she saw something other than cold control.“You know,” Luca murmured, his voice teasing, “Bain never shares. But maybe he should.”Cassie’s pulse quickened. She glanced at Bain—his grip on his glass was iron-tight, his gaze dark and unreadable.She smiled.“Maybe he should.”Bain’s fork hit the plate with a sharp clink.The tension was suffoc