Celia never wanted trouble, just a quiet life, working hard to support her younger brother. But trouble finds her when Rafael, a ruthless mafia boss, walks into her gas station one night. He’s dangerous, untouchable, and completely uninterested in attachments, until she becomes the bait in an ambush meant to take him down. Rafael should have walked away. Instead, he kills for her, rescues her, and drags her into his violent world. Celia fights him at every turn, refusing to be just another possession. But with enemies closing in and no way back to her old life, she has no choice but to trust the man who claims to own her. What starts as a battle of wills turns into something far more dangerous. Celia is no longer just a captive, she’s becoming Rafael’s greatest weakness. And in his world, weaknesses get people killed. But Rafael doesn’t care. He’ll burn his empire to the ground before he lets anyone take her from him.
view moreRafael Mercer’s hands were slick with blood, his or theirs, he couldn’t tell. The bullet holes in his car told a story of their own, a reminder that he had barely made it out alive.
What was supposed to be a private meeting had turned into a bloodbath. A setup. His allies were scattered, trapped in their own hells, and he was tearing through the streets at full throttle, heart pounding like a war drum. His car roared down the asphalt, tires screeching as he pushed past dangerous speeds. He had escaped, for that moment. A sudden beep on his dashboard. Fuel low. "Fuck! Not now," Rafael hissed under his breath. He knew he was being followed, but he couldn’t risk breaking down in the open. He needed gas. His sharp eyes scanned the road. Then he saw it. An old, lonely gas station, flickering lights barely illuminating the night. A girl stood behind the counter, her figure outlined by the dim glow. Celia Romano leaned against the counter, tapping her nails against the surface. It had been a boring shift, until then. A tall, dangerously attractive man stepped out of his car. Blood ran down his temple, yet his presence was calm, composed and deadly. He walked up, barely sparing her a glance, and tossed his card onto the counter. "Fill it up." Celia rolled her eyes, unimpressed. "We only accept cash here." His cold, bloodied gaze flickered to hers. A man like him wasn’t used to being told no or disagreed with. "What kind of outdated gas station is this?" he muttered, his voice edged with irritation. "It’s outdated, but it’s also clearly written on the sign outside," she shot back, unfazed. Rafael exhaled sharply, shoving a hand into his leather jacket. He pulled out a bill, threw it onto the counter, along with something else. A single black glove. Celia barely noticed, but Rafael did. Just as he reached to grab it, his phone buzzed. Mason Dominic. His second-in-command. Rafael answered. "Talk." "Boss, I think you’re being followed," Mason’s voice came through, tense. "I figured," Rafael muttered, wiping the blood from his temple. "When you start driving, they will lose your trail eventually, your speed is untouchable." Rafael smirked at Mason’s confidence. "We will be waiting for you at the underground," Mason added before hanging up. Rafael grabbed the cash, shoved it into his pocket, and walked back to his car, forgetting the glove he had left behind. Forty minutes later, the black SUV tailing Rafael pulled over on the side of the road. "You didn’t drive fast enough!" the gang leader barked, slamming his fist onto the dashboard. "We lost him," the driver admitted through clenched teeth. "But…" one of the men spoke up. "He stopped at a gas station. The girl there must know something about him." "How the hell do you know that?" "He dropped a something, I think a glove or handkerchief With her." Their leader smirked. "That’s evidence. And a reason to pay her a visit." ———————- Celia’s Phone buzzed. A message from Nico flashed across her screen. "I’m going to my friend’s place for a gaming night. Love you, sis. Take care." She smiled, texting back. "Love you too. Be careful. See you tomorrow." She adored her younger brother, Nico. No matter how stubborn he was, he was the only family she had left. She would do anything for him. Celia checked the time. 12:30 AM. "My shift is almost over," she murmured, grinning excitedly. The roar of an engine shattered the silence outside the gas station. It was past midnight. The road was empty, the neon glow of the gas station sign flickering above her. She should have felt safe inside the booth, waiting for her shift to end. But the moment the black SUV screeched to a stop in front of the pumps, she knew, it wasn’t good. The doors flung open, and four men stepped out. They didn’t glance at the gas prices. Didn’t look around for the pumps. They were there for something. Or someone. Celia straightened behind the counter, her fingers tightening around the edge. One of them marched straight toward her. Her stomach twisted. Not normal. Before she could take a step back, a rough hand clamped around her wrist. “Where is he?” Celia’s breath caught. He? Her mind raced, who were they talking about? The man’s fingers dug in tighter, and her skin burned under the force of his grip. “What are you talking about?” she asked, forcing herself to sound confused, not terrified. The leader’s dark gaze flicked across her face, studying her, testing her reaction. “Rafael Mercer,” he said flatly. “He was here.” Celia’s stomach dropped. Rafael. The man with the deep voice, the sharp eyes, the fresh wound on his forehead. The man who had handed her a credit card, The man who left in a hurry. “I don’t know who that is,” she said. His grip didn’t loosen. “Don’t play dumb.” “I swear, I don’t know him! I just work here.” The gang leader’s jaw twitched. He didn’t believe her. Celia swallowed hard, keeping her face blank. Staying calm and not showing fear. Then his eyes shifted to the counter. The glove, Rafael’s glove. She had not even noticed it was there. A slow smirk curled the man’s lips as he plucked it from the counter, holding it between two fingers. “Just work here, huh?” he mused. Celia’s pulse roared in her ears. “It’s not mine,” she blurted. “He just forgot it and I di…." The slap came fast. Her head snapped to the side, pain exploding across her cheek. Celia gasped, bringing a hand to her face. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. “I see,” the leader murmured, voice eerily calm. “You want to play dumb. Let’s see how long you last.” A thick arm wrapped around her waist. Celia thrashed, kicking out. “No! Let go of me!” A cloth covered her mouth.Not enough to knock her out, just enough to shut her up. They shoved her out the glass doors, the bell jingling like this was just another late-night sale. Her nails dug into her captor’s arm, but his grip only tightened. The cold air hit her skin as they dragged her toward the SUV. Her stomach churned with terror. This can’t be happening. They yanked open the car door. Celia kicked out violently, but one of them grabbed her legs, hauling her inside. The last thing she saw before the doors slammed shut was the empty gas station, “Drive,” the gang leader ordered, tossing the glove onto the seat beside him. “Let’s see how ready Rafael Mercer is willing to risk for her life.” Celia’s heart pounded as the SUV sped into the night. No one knew she was gone and no one was coming to save her. Then the SUV sped into the night, taking her with it.They both burst into laughter as Rafael climbed into the bed and pulled Celia gently into his arms. The room fell into a peaceful silence, broken only by the sound of their breathing. Soon enough, Celia fell asleep, and Rafael exhaled softly in relief.But as time passed, the warmth of her body next to his began to make him uncomfortably hot. Not wanting to disturb her, he stayed still until he was certain she was in a deep sleep. Then, as quietly as possible, he slipped out of bed and went into the shower for a cold bath. Afterward, instead of returning to the room, he settled on the couch in the living room to give her space and rest properly.The night passed quietly, and morning crept in gently. Celia was up early, and before long, the smell of freshly cooked breakfast filled the house. The delicious aroma stirred Rafael from sleep. Sleepy but curious, he rubbed his eyes and followed the scent into the kitchen.“What are you doing?” he asked, his voice laced with concern. “Don’t
There was a pause on the line, and then both Nico and Lilly started yelling over each other.“No way!”“Is that a Range Rover?” Lilly gasped.“What the hell!” Nico exclaimed. “Are you serious right now?”Celia turned the camera back to her face, her cheeks glistening as tears of happiness welled in her eyes. “I feel so happy.”Behind her, Rafael leaned on the doorway, arms still folded, watching her light up in ways he had not seen since before the kidnapping. His chest ached with how much he wanted to keep that smile on her face forever, even if she was mad at him.Lilly’s voice rang out again. “Girl, I’m happier but you have to marry that man!”“Like immediately.” Nico added.Celia laughed through her tears. “We are on a break.”“Break from what?” Lilly asked, narrowing her eyes.“Our relationship,” Celia replied casually, as though it were nothing.“Doesn’t seem like a break to me. And what are you doing back at your house? Too many things are going on right now!”“I’ve got to go r
“Everything’s in place?” Rafael asked.Viktor gave a short nod. “Arranged,” he said simply, his eyes sharp. “its being moved from your place to hers,”“Good,” Rafael said, jaw tight. “No slip-ups. I want it to be perfect.Viktor gave him a look that said, There won’t be, then turned back toward the door.Inside, a nurse had just finished helping Celia into the wheelchair. She sat stiffly, her expression unreadable, but her eyes briefly searched for Rafael when he walked back in. He stepped forward, lifting her small hospital bag in one hand and wheeling her out himself.The hallways of the hospital echoed faintly with their footsteps. Viktor moved ahead to bring the car around. Rafael didn’t speak, he didn’t try to force a conversation. He just pushed her gently, carefully, the silence between them heavy but not cruel. Just uncertain.At the hospital entrance, the black car pulled up smoothly. Viktor stepped out, opened the door, and then opened the trunk to load the bags. Rafael bent
Two days had passed since the chaos unfolded. Viktor had already dropped Falco off at the dungeon they used for interrogation, a dark, unforgiving place where prisoners went without food or comfort. Falco was left to rot, a silent punishment for his reckless gamble.Meanwhile, Rafael barely ate, his world reduced to the hospital room where Celia lay unconscious. He sat by her side hour after hour, anxiety gnawing at him despite the doctors’ reassurances that she was stable and would wake soon. Yet, every quiet moment felt heavy with fear, the unknown pressing down on him like a weight.In a quieter part of the hospital, Mason stepped into Dalton’s room, his heart tightening when he saw the man awake. The relief surged inside him, but Mason buried it deep, this wasn’t the time to show weakness. Instead, he masked his feelings behind a guarded voice.“Oh, you are finally awake,” Mason said, trying to sound casual.Dalton gave a faint nod, his eyes searching Mason’s face.“Can’t speak ye
Mason drove at breakneck speed, weaving through traffic with one hand gripping the wheel and the other braced against the dashboard as adrenaline surged through his veins. Celia lay in the backseat, unconscious but breathing. Her pulse was weak, her skin cold, and the marks on her neck were stark reminders of how close she had come to death.As soon as he reached the hospital, Mason leapt out and flagged down the emergency team. “She’s in the back! She needs help now!”Doctors and nurses rushed toward the vehicle, swiftly placing Celia on a stretcher and wheeling her into the emergency unit. Mason followed as far as they allowed him, his chest heaving with every breath, until the swinging doors shut him out. A nurse turned to him.“She’s stable for now,” she said gently. “But she’s unconscious. We’ll monitor her closely.”Mason gave a tight nod, his eyes still locked on the doors. “Please take care of her.”He took a moment to collect himself, then approached the front desk. “I need t
The car came to a sudden halt, tires grinding against the cracked concrete as Rafael slammed the door open. Without hesitation, he led the charge toward the rusted entrance of the warehouse. Mason, Viktor, and Dalton followed closely behind, their footsteps echoing in the chilling silence.Rafael kicked the heavy metal door, which groaned but gave way, swinging open just enough for them to slip inside. Shadows danced along the peeling walls, lit only by the faint glow of their tactical flashlights. The air was thick with dust and the stench of damp decay.As they moved deeper into the cavernous warehouse, the sharp crack of gunfire shattered the tense silence like a thunderclap. Dalton ’s eyes widened in shock, his body jerking as a bullet tore through his chest. The pain hit him like a freight train, raw, searing, and immediate.He gasped, clutching desperately at the wound, crimson soaking his fingers. His breath came in ragged, shallow bursts as the world around him blurred. His k
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Mga Comments