Lahat ng Kabanata ng Desired by the Mafia Kings: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

L A N A I always thought my engagement party would be the best night of my life. Maybe not the full glass-slipper thing, but at least something that feels special. Magical. You know? One of those nights where everything clicks. Champagne, laughter, a white dress that's just dramatic enough...Instead, I get Diane."Darling, did no one tell you roses are overdone?" Her voice is soft, but every word sticks with me. She stands near the fireplace, swirling her wine like she's judging it. "They scream desperation. I would've gone with lilies. But..." she shrugs, "maybe that's just me."I smile like a well-trained pageant queen and say, "I like roses." That shuts her up for a second as she takes another sip, then scans the room like she owns it. Diane is my stepmother. She's been in my life since I was eight, and after my dad died. She stuck around mostly to make sure I didn't ruin the family name, or maybe just to control the parts of me she couldn't mould. She has always loved Tyler, my

L A N AI am completely stunned, staring back at him in disbelief as a deep frown settles on my brows. My eyes search the room, analysing the reactions of the people around me. Everyone seems confused, their clamouring growing louder and louder until their gazes finally land on me, eyeing me with nothing but pure judgment. As my eyes search the crowd, that's when I finally take notice of someone... of her...Elizabeth...She is staring at me with her arms crossed, hidden in the crowd. Her face is blank for a moment... but soon transforms into something devious, something so evil it makes my blood run cold. She smiles, like she's enjoying every second of this... like she's been waiting for my downfall, and it finally seems to be happening.My eyes snap back to Tyler, finding him staring down at the floor with fake sadness. He can't even look me in the eye."You're lying, Tyler... tell them the truth..." I let out, trying my best to keep my voice from breaking as tears stream down my fac

L A N AThe four men behind him are huge, all of them wearing the same matching black suits, all of them moving with the same precision, scanning the room suspiciously as they stick to the man in front of them. Are they... bodyguards?"Don't stare for too long or you'll get yourself in trouble." I hear the voice of the bartender, and that's when I look back at him, curiously, noticing that even he is trying to keep his head low."Who is that...?" I suddenly find myself asking for God knows what ever reason. The bartender pauses what he's doing and looks back at me as if I've just asked the most absurd question on the planet.A deep frown settles on his brows, and he glances around a few times as if to check if anyone is listening. "How can you be here and not know who that is...?" He asks, his voice quiet and low, and my heart won't stop racing in my chest. What is he not telling me?"That's Ezio Benedetti." He whispers as if I'm supposed to know who that is. More confusion reigns on m

L A N AThe drive feels like it's never going to end.I watch the city pass me by, as if it's forgetting who I am, or simply doesn't care that I'm still here. Everything goes on like nothing happened, making me feel more insignificant than ever. Hours ago, I was preparing for my engagement party, and the only thing I had to worry about was decorations, my outfit, and making sure that everything was going according to plan. But that all went to shit.Who knows what Tyler is telling all our friends and family by now? Probably something that suits the narrative of me being the unfaithful one. And Elizabeth... my so-called backstabbing, lying best friend... I'm sure she's loving every moment of it. Things are working out perfectly for them, and here I am sitting at the back of a stranger's car, kidnapped, and being taken to God knows where.Just a typical evening, right?He's still sitting next to me, the man who took me... Ezio.I'm too terrified to look in his direction. His presence al

L A N A“That’s a lovely dress… Vera Wang?” Her voice is smooth, her politeness seeming genuine. “Y-yes…” I manage to stutter, my voice hoarse, my throat still raw from crying.She glances back briefly, eyes cool and assessing. “There’s a ring on your finger.”I look down automatically, staring at the diamond that still sits there, mocking me, glinting under the gold lighting like it’s proud to be part of my humiliation. I should’ve taken it off hours ago. Maybe I should’ve thrown it at Tyler’s face.“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m engaged… well… I was engaged.”“What happened?” she asks, as if she’s asking about the weather.“My fiancé was cheating on me with my best friend.” I answer her. “Ah.” She nods once, unimpressed. “That’s unfortunate.”I blink, staring at her in disbelief. “You sound like you don’t really care.”Her lips twitch slightly, not quite a smile, more like the shadow of one. “You’re right, I don’t.”Of course, even the people who work for him are cold-hearted...The hallwa