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Home / Mafia / Obsessed (Forbidden Desire) / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Obsessed (Forbidden Desire): Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

41 Chapters

1

Elena Russo's black dress felt like a suit of armor as she stood alone in her childhood home, surrounded by empty glasses and half-eaten appetizers, evidence of mourners who had already departed. The silence pressed against her eardrums, almost painful after hours of murmured condolences and stories about her father that painted a man she barely recognized.The crystal tumbler in her hand caught the afternoon light, sending prisms dancing across the worn hardwood floor as she swirled the amber liquid. Her father's favorite whiskey. She'd never acquired the taste, but today seemed like the perfect time to try."To you, Papa," she whispered, lifting the glass toward the mantle where his photograph stood beside the urn containing his ashes.The burn of alcohol down her throat matched the sting behind her eyes. For the hundredth time that day, Elena wondered how her strong, vibrant father had deteriorated so quickly. Cancer was a thief, stealing him piece by piece until nothing remained b

2

Three weeks. Twenty-one days of Elena's month-long deadline had vanished like smoke. Three banks had rejected her loan applications. Two potential buyers had lowered their offers on her father's house to insulting amounts after discovering the "motivated seller" situation. Her 401k, drained for her father's medical expenses not covered by insurance, held less than eight thousand dollars.She stared at the spreadsheet on her laptop, the numbers blurring before her exhausted eyes. Even if she sold everything, the house, her car, her modest collection of art books, the antique earrings her father had given her for graduation, she'd still fall short by more than two hundred thousand dollars."You've been distracted all day," Lucia said, leaning against the doorframe of the museum's restoration room. "All month. Talk to me, Elena."Elena looked up from the microfilament brush she'd been using to clean a 17th-century miniature portrait. The delicate work usually absorbed her completely, the

3

Marco raised an eyebrow. "You sound confident about a woman you haven't seen in twelve years.""Elena Russo is many things, brother, but predictable isn't one of them. Except in this, she exhausts every option before admitting defeat." A ghost of a smile touched Dante's lips. "It's what I always admired about her.""And what you're counting on now." Marco's expression grew serious. "Lucia says she's been distracted at work, losing weight. Castellano's men are following her everywhere.""Not for much longer." Dante's voice hardened. "Is everything prepared for tomorrow night?"Marco nodded. "The auction is set. Castellano's operation runs clockwise; two other 'commodities' will be presented before Elena. Our people are in a position. Bids are arranged to drive up the price.""And Castellano himself?""Will attend, as expected, when merchandise is premium." Marco hesitated. "Are you sure this is the wisest approach? We could simply eliminate the debt.""No." The single word carried the

4

Carmina's Restaurant exuded old-world charm, crystal chandeliers, white tablecloths, and waiters who moved with practiced discretion. To the regular patrons dining in the main room, it appeared to be nothing more than an upscale Italian establishment. Elena knew better now.The driver had escorted her through the kitchen, past cooks who studiously avoided eye contact, and into a private corridor. At the end, a suited man stood guard outside a heavy wooden door. He nodded at her escort and opened the door without a word."Miss Russo," a smooth voice called from inside. "Please, join us."Victor Castellano was not what Elena had expected. In her mind, mob bosses were aging men with weathered faces and cold eyes. The man who rose to greet her couldn't have been more than forty-five, with salt-and-pepper hair styled impeccably and the build of someone who still found time for the gym despite his expensive suits. His smile reached his eyes, which somehow made him more unsettling."Thank yo

5

The night passed in a blur of fear and fragmented planning. Gabriel took his supervisory role seriously, remaining in her living room while she paced her bedroom, searching for options that didn't exist. Her phone had been confiscated. The windows were being watched. Her "babysitter" made it clear that attempting to flee would only make her situation worse.By morning, exhaustion had left her numb. She showered mechanically, ate without tasting the food Gabriel ordered, and packed a small bag as instructed."Nothing fancy," he said, watching from the doorway. "They'll provide what you need to wear."The casual cruelty of his statement broke through her numbness. "Do you enjoy this?" she demanded. "Delivering women to be sold?"Gabriel's expression remained impassive. "It's not personal, Miss Russo. Just business.""It's very personal to me," she snapped.A flicker of something, perhaps regret, crossed his features. "If it helps, most arrangements like yours end within a year. The nove

6

The boy she'd loved. The friend she'd lost. Her first heartbreak break when her father spirited her away without explanation or goodbye.Now a man, harder, colder, dangerous in ways the teenage Dante had only hinted at becoming."Mr. Valenti," Castellano said, surprise evident in his voice. "We weren't expecting you this evening.""Clearly." Dante's gaze never left Elena's face. "One million dollars. Cash. Available immediately."Silence stretched as Castellano visibly calculated the implications. Everyone in the room understood what Dante Valenti's presence meant: a direct challenge to Castellano on his territory."The bid stands at one million dollars," Castellano finally announced. "Going once... going twice..."No one dared counter. Even in shadow, Elena could see the tension in the room, attendees shifting uncomfortably at this unexpected development."Sold, to Mr. Valenti." The gavel fell with a crack that echoed like a gunshot.Dante approached the platform, his movements unhur

7

The Bentley glided through wrought iron gates that opened silently at their approach. Elena pressed her face to the window, taking in the sprawling estate that unfolded before her, manicured lawns stretching into darkness, security lights illuminating stone pathways, and at the center, a mansion that loomed like a modern fortress against the night sky."Welcome to Valenti Estate," Dante said, his voice low and controlled. It was the first time he'd spoken since they'd left the auction house.The car circled an elaborate fountain before stopping at the mansion's entrance. Stone steps led to massive double doors flanked by columns. The architecture was a blend of old-world grandeur and contemporary design, a testament to power that had survived generations.A man in a tailored suit opened the car door. "Welcome home, Mr. Valenti."Dante exited first, then extended his hand to Elena. She hesitated before placing her fingers in his, allowing him to help her from the car. The night air was

8

Elena woke disoriented, sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows. For a moment, she forgot where she was, then reality crashed back. Castellano's auction. Dante's intervention. This gilded cage.She sat up in the king-sized bed of the connecting bedroom, taking stock. Someone had unpacked her meager belongings, arranging them neatly in the walk-in closet alongside new clothing still bearing price tags. On the dresser sat her few photographs and personal items, carefully placed as if to offer comfort in strange surroundings.The bed beside hers, Dante's bed through the connecting door, was empty and perfectly made. Had he slept there at all? Or had he spent the night with Victoria after concluding his "business"?The thought sent an unwelcome stab of something too close to jealousy through her chest. Elena pushed it away. She had no claim on Dante Valenti, nor did she want one. He was her captor, not her lover, regardless of what they'd once been to each other.She showered in the

9

Victoria froze, then quickly composed herself. "Clean her up," she ordered the other women. "And remember, she fell. If any of you say otherwise..." The threat remained unfinished but understood.The women released Elena, who staggered slightly. Victoria smoothed her dress, replacing her ring."This isn't over," she whispered to Elena before turning a brilliant smile toward the door as Dante's footsteps approached.He entered the room like a storm front, his presence immediately dominating the space. His eyes swept over the scene, Elena with blood on her face, the broken glass, Victoria's too-bright smile, the other women's nervous expressions."What happened?" His voice was deceptively quiet.Victoria stepped forward. "An unfortunate accident. Elena was exploring and tripped. We were just helping her.""Get out," Dante cut her off, his gaze never leaving Elena's face. "All of you."The other women scurried out immediately. Victoria hesitated."Dante, darling""I said get out," he rep

10

"This was a mistake," Dante finally said.The words hung in the air like shattered glass, cutting deep into Elena's already wounded heart. She felt herself go cold, numbness spreading through her limbs as the afterglow of their passionate encounter abruptly vanished."A mistake," she repeated, her voice hollow. She pulled the sheet around her naked body, suddenly aware of her vulnerability. "Just like that?"Dante rose from the bed, his muscled back turned to her as he reached for his discarded pants. The scars crisscrossing his skin told stories of violence she couldn't begin to imagine. He was a stranger now, this man who had once been her entire world."What did you expect?" he asked, his voice devoid of emotion as he dressed. "That one fuck would erase twelve years? That it would make me forget what your family did to mine?"Elena flinched at the crude description of what had just transpired between them. "My family? What are you talking about?"Dante turned, his eyes cold. "Playi

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