All Chapters of Betrayed, Then Claimed by the Mafia King (18+): Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Lyla Rose________“Why, her?” I croak out, my voice trembling, but not from fear. From the pain, the rage. “Why?” My eyes burn with the tears I refuse to shed, but I feel them gathering at the corners.He leans in, his breath hot against my ear. “Because she’s going to give me what I need. A fucking heir. Something you can’t do.” His hands drop from my face, his eyes locking on mine, unblinking. He steps back, his expression devoid of warmth, like he’s already gone somewhere I can’t reach. “So yes, I’m divorcing you. Tomorrow.”“I will end her and then we’ll see what happens. I’ll carve her open, and you won’t be able to do a damn thing,” I warn and I mean every word.He freezes, his body stiffening as he slowly turns to face me. The playful mask vanishes, leaving only sharp angles and dark intent. “Rose, I swear to God, if you lay a finger on Maria, I will lock you up in the basement and throw away the key. You will never see the light of day again.” He jabs a finger in my direction,

Lyla Rose________The sight of the needle makes my stomach twist in terror. I stumble backwards, my heart pounding in my chest. He's truly going through with this. He's going to drug me, force me to sign the papers, and lock me away. The realization hits me like a punch to the gut.Dr Ryder steps forward cautiously, his movements slow and deliberate. He reaches for my arm and I struggle to pull away, my body trembling in fear. “Let go!” I scream, my voice raw, desperate, as I try to fight him off.But his grip is firm, unyielding. He pulls my arm up gently, but with force, the cool touch of the alcohol swab against my skin sends a shiver down my spine. “This won’t hurt, miss,” he says, his voice soft, almost too calm for what he’s about to do.“Let me go!” I scream again, my voice frantic as I struggle against Dr Ryder’s hold, but he doesn’t release me.The needle presses into my arm, the sharp sting making my body tense. And then, the warmth spreads, slowly at first, and then all at

Lyla Rose________I sob louder, my body trembling as I hear footsteps approaching. Suddenly, the door slams open and Carter Ricci strides in, Vincent’s uncle, the mafia king. He strides toward me with purpose, his eyes burning with an intensity that makes everything else fade. In one swift movement, he scoops me up into his strong, muscular arms.“Step back,” he warns the guards coldly, his voice commanding. The air shifts, thick with his presence. He turns his gaze toward Vincent, growling, “You're no longer my nephew. You're no longer part of the Ricci empire.”Vincent’s face turns red with rage as he yells, “What the fuck do you think you're doing, Carter?”Carter’s voice is low, deadly, as he responds, “I’m taking what’s rightfully mine, away from this goddamn palace, and away from you.”I can barely breathe, my body on the verge of collapse from the emotional stress and the drugs still coursing through my veins. I limp in Carter’s arms, unable to hold myself up. He holds me, his

Lyla Rose________I blink, my throat tight. “How... do you know what I like?” I repeat, my voice quiet, almost questioning. “You're my ex-husband's uncle. You shouldn't know about me... And what should I call you now?” I shrug my tiny shoulders.His expression hardens, and his hand drops from my face. His jaw clenches as he takes a moment to process my words. “Call me Carter,” he says firmly, his voice laced with a quiet intensity. “And don't fucking remind me that you were married to that piece of shit.” His eyes narrow, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I want to kill him every time I think about it.”I fall silent at his words, unsure what to say. The quiet that falls between us feels heavy, but his words... they almost make me feel like someone sees me, like someone feels the same fury I do. Still, the weight of everything, the betrayal, my loneliness sits in my chest like a stone.“Vincent never deserved you,” he says bluntly, his voice low and dangerous. He presses

Carter Ricci_____I stride into the meeting room with the calm precision of someone who owns the world. The Russian capo stands the moment I walk in, nodding sharply in respect, his crew following suit. I take the head of the table without a word, the authority I exude making it clear that I don’t need to say anything to command their obedience. They all sit after me, not a sound in the room except for the soft rustle of suits. I wave for them to begin speaking.The talk turns quickly to business, shipments, weapons, drugs, and the control of territory in Sicily. They want more. They want to control everything, spread their influence into my city. Greedy fucks.“No,” I say, my voice like ice, cutting through the room with ease. “Sicily is mine. No territory will be sold or shared with the Russians. Not now, not ever. You think you can move in here and take what’s mine, like some street-level punks?” I lean forward, the cold fury in my eyes making their leader falter. “I run this city.