All Chapters of Mistaken Bride Of The Mafia CEO: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

RAVEN'S POVTo me, the penthouse looked like what I imagined a monster's lair would: Influenced by cinema, sinister. Cold. Sterile. Perfect.We'd snuck out of the reception early, Kade practically throwing me over his shoulder and into car while I clutched that picture with Damon's face on it. I still hadn't looked at it. I couldn't open the envelope, though it scorched against my palm like a live coal.The drive had been silent. I sat as far from Kade as the backseat permitted, gazing out the window at the city lights racing by. He’d made just one phone call, his voice low and sharp, in what sounded like Italian.Now here I was in the middle of his living room, still wearing my wedding dress, feeling like I’d wandered into a magazine spread. Everything was sheer angles and neutral tones. Glass and steel and leather. The floor to ceiling windows displayed the city below us like a shimmering carpet.It was beautiful. It was also completely lifeless."Your things will arrive tomorrow."

RAVEN'S POVThe blade of the knife was cold against my throat. No cut, not yet, but near enough that I could feel the sharpness every time I swallowed. Marco’s breath was hot against my neck, lightly fragrant with mint and something else, too.“Your father had gentle hands,” Marco offered chattily. Artists’ hands, is what my mother said. He could make dough do whatever he wanted it to. Birds, flowers, a few little animals for the children.”My voice wouldn't work. Every muscle in my body was tense, paralyzed by the primal fear of having a knife against my throat. On the ground I could see my guards, passed out but breathing."What do you want?" The words came out as a rasp."What your father stole. What he died protecting." Marco’s fingers dragged along the recipe book I still held. “He was smart — he had put it right there in the open. In recipes his daughter would later use, would commit to memory, would take with her forever.”“I’ve no idea what you mean."Don't you? Look at the bo

RAVEN'S POVA knife pressed against my throat. Not sliced, not yet, but close enough that I could feel the keenness each time I swallowed. Marco panted hotly against my neck, minted breath and something darker."Your dad's hands were soft," Marco said conversationally. “Artist’s hands, my mother would say. He could mold dough into anything. With birds, flowers, little animals for the kiddie pies.”My voice wouldn't work. My whole body was rigid, still gripped by that primal fear of flesh against steel. I could make out my guards on the ground, passed out but breathing."What do you want?" The words came out as a rasp."What your father stole. What he died protecting." Marco's fingers followed the edges of the recipe book I was still holding. “He was a sly one, them hiding under our noses. In the recipes his daughter would use, would commit to memory, would carry with her forever.”“I don’t know what you are referring to.”"Don't you? Look at the book, Raven. Really look at it. Those a

RAVEN'S POVRun until your legs want to buckle and your lungs are on fire. The city smeared past me, and I could see the streetlights racing by like falling stars. I didn’t know where I was moving. All I did was know that I had to get out of that bakery, away from the blood, away from Kade’s guilt ridden face.My phone buzzed constantly. Kade. I silenced each of those calls until eventually I turned it off altogether.Between tears, I saw Cameron’s apartment building. I rushed up the stairs, taking them two at a time and barely tapping on her door.She read and opened it right away, her face going pale. "Raven. Oh my god, what happened? You're bleeding."I felt the blood on my throat where Marco's knife was. It was a minor wound, but my blood had already dried on my skin."I'm okay." The words came out broken. "I'm not okay.""Eric!" Cameron called. "Get in here now!"My legs gave out. I sank into her sofa and the sobs came, finally. It all washed over me like a wave.Eric appeared, h

RAVEN'S POVI stared at my phone a moment longer even after Xaviero had hung up. Cameron and Eric were chattering away at me, speaking over each other even, but I couldn't concentrate.My father. A scientist. A chemist. Out here working for the D’Angelo family, trying to save lives.And someone had tortured him to death for it."Raven." Cameron grabbed my shoulders. "Please don't tell that you are actually going to meet with that man."I need answers.""Then get them from Kade. From the police. Literally from anyone but a drug lord.”"Xaviero didn't kill my father." I pulled away. “He goes, ‘I wasn’t even in the country. He said someone else did it. Someone closer to home.""And you believe him?" Eric was pacing. "This is what he likes. “You’re just playing with you, making you turn against Kade.”“Maybe Kade should be turned on.” I rose, with the recipe book in my hand. “He’s been writing me lies since we first met.”My phone buzzed. Another unknown number."Mrs. D'Angelo." Xaviero's