1. THE DEATH

LUNA

Somewhere in this world, there are beaches. Somewhere in this world, there is a girl like me, strolling barefoot on the sand, inhaling the salt air, tanning under the sun. Somewhere in this world, there is a girl like me, running along the shores, her hair swaying in the wind, her eyes so bright, her laugh so loud that everyone looking at her wonders how happy her life is.

—Luna's journal

Smile. Don't show your teeth. Open your eyes. Don't open your mouth. Smile.

Walk. Don't move your hands. Take small steps. Don't run. Just walk.

Breathe. Don't let them see you can't. Don't make a sound. Just breathe.

Smile. Don't raise your voice. Nod your head. Don't talk back. Don't scream.

Smile—

"Luna? Luna?"

Someone shook my shoulders. I turned, too fast, too sharp and found Remi's concerned gaze. His eyes zeroed in on my turtleneck.

"You okay?" he asked.

I nodded and gave him a tight-lipped smile. The one I'd perfected a long time ago.

"You know I hate turtlenecks," I whispered. "Or anything that—"

"Covers your neck. Makes you feel suffocated. I remember." His dimples flashed. He leaned closer, breath warm against my ear. "Fiancé."

I smacked his hand.

Fiance. The word itself makes me uncomfortable.

Remi is my fiancé, and we are getting married in two days. Just two.

My first engagement got cancelled before I even met the guy. Rumours started to spread wildly. Something about my father's reputation. Something about me being damaged goods. So Colton, my father, did what he always does: he fixed it. By selling me to his second-in-command's son.

Remi took my hand. "We're going to be fine," he said. "It'll all work out in the end."

No. It won't.

But hope is a wicked thing. And I keep hoping, knowing there's nothing left to hope for.

Maybe this marriage will be my escape.

I tugged at the fabric around my neck for the hundredth time. I should be used to this by now. All my life, I have worn high necks, full sleeves, layers of armour disguised as fashion. It should feel like a second skin. But I couldn't breathe.

My father, Colton, sent a warning glare from across the room. Just a flicker of his eyes. That's all it took. My hand dropped from my neck instantly.

"Smile," he ordered.

My lips stretched on command when all I wanted to do was break his teeth, one by one.

sy on my fiancée." Remi stepped closer to me, shoulder brushing mine.

Four sets of eyes stared at him. Mine. My father's. His parents'. No one, literally no one, spoke for me as he did. Especially not against my father.

"We need to discuss—" I couldn't hear the rest of what my father said.

In our world, women have no business learning about what men do. Their jobs are none of our concern. We were too dumb to understand them. We are beneath them to even join them.

Not that I want to. My father runs a mob, the kind that was an Interpol nightmare.

Remi kissed my hand. Promised he'd be right back.

My father muttered something about being "pussy-whipped" before the men stepped out to discuss business.

I waited. And waited. And waited for my fiancé to come back and stand beside me.

It was less threatening when he was near.

Without him, I was just... on display. People stared as if I were a showpiece on a mantel. They judge me. Rate. Gossip. I've been their entertainment since I was old enough to wear heels.

People fear my father. People fear my fiancé's family. People fear the guards flanking every exit. You'd think I, the girl standing alone in the middle of it all, was a precious diamond.

And I am. The kind was put up for auction. The kind with a price tag. The kind that shines bright enough to decorate someone else's neck.

I am a diamond. A shiny, expensive, useless rock that people like to stare at. At least diamonds don't have to smile on command.

I don't think anyone looked at me and thought, She's just a girl.

I'm sure they thought, She's Luna. Daughter of Colton. Fiancée of Remi. Property of The Matrix.

But who is Luna?

She never got to find out.

Two more days. I'll leave this house—the house I grew up in. Two more days and my surname changes. Two more days and I'll be someone else's wife.

Just two more days. I've endured my father for nineteen years. What's two more days?

I started counting every second. 172,800 seconds more.

My new life awaits.

A fresh start.

With my husband. With my friend. It will be alright. I’ll be fine.

"Hey." Remi joined me after what felt like an eternity. His hand settled on the small of my back. "You look beautiful tonight." He smiled at me.

Everyone in the party turned to stare.

He's probably the only good person I've ever met. My only friend. We went to the same school. He got to go to college. I didn't.

But he promised I could attend after the wedding.

I licked my lips. His eyes tracked the movement. He seemed to notice everything I did recently. I couldn't decide if it was creepy or romantic.

"I can't wait to get married," he whispered in my ear.

I gave him a tight smile.

"This dress—" I started, then shut my mouth immediately when my father appeared beside Remi.

"Smile."

My entire back stiffened. I plastered on the best smile again—the one I saved for my father, for his guests, for his organisation, for his ownership.

"Stop scaring my fiancée." Remi's hand pressed firmer against my back. "I swear, the moment we're married, I'll come for your life."

He half-joked.

Stress on the word half.

Because I had this feeling—this deep, unshakable feeling—that he would kill my father if he could. He hated Colton more than I did. Remi was the one who dressed the wounds Colton left on me. Remi was the one who picked up the pieces Colton broke.

I don't think Remi loves me.

I think he pities me. Pity is more than I can ask for in this world.

My father didn't seem to mind Remi's threat. That's the thing about men like Colton. They rule with iron fists for so long, they forget that iron can rust.

He was a sword once. The kind that split skulls in one swing. But swords rust when they're not used.

Maybe his rust had spread too deep.

Because the next thing I heard was a blast.

Glass shattered. Screams erupted. Something hot and wet splattered across my cheek.

The next thing I saw was blood.

I always used to wonder how death would find me. Will it be slow? Will it be fast? Will it be painful?

Every scenario ended up with me fighting for my life.

But when I finally saw death in the form of a six-foot person, I froze.

I couldn’t fight. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t breathe. All I did was stare as the death dragged me away from my fiancé.

Dear Readers,

Welcome to a brand-new journey! ❤️

If you've read my previous novel, A Twenty Something, you might recognize a few familiar names and faces. This story takes place in the same fictional universe, but it is a complete standalone. You don't need to read any of my earlier books to enjoy Luna and Alessandro's story.

For this novel, I've also introduced fictional cities and locations to better suit the world and the story I wanted to tell. 

This is a dark mafia romance featuring mature themes, violence, and morally grey characters. Please remember that the events and relationships in this book are entirely fictional and are written for storytelling purposes.

Most importantly, this is Luna's story, a girl who has spent her entire life in a cage, searching for a life that truly belongs to her.

I hope you'll laugh with her, cry with her, get frustrated with her, and fall in love with her journey.

Happy reading!

— C