SERENAstare at the crumpled-up paper in my hand, reading it for the hundredth time, and still, I’m not sure if it’s real or not. And if it is real, what am I going to make of it?ELENA,I will come for you, sweetheart. Be strong, DadTHE NOTE IS HANDWRITTEN, the lettering tells me that it is indeed my father who wrote this note. The question is, why? Is he really coming for me? Do I even want him to come after he sold me like an object? I’ve had days to think about how cruel he was in letting me go, giving me away like I was nothing.My life here is worse than the one spent at my father’s place, but honestly, not by much. I had a few more things to do at home, but not many. According to Dante, I will have more freedom at some point, so being here seems like the better option.Dante expects things from me, things I’m not sure I can give him, but what are my other choices? If I somehow manage to get back home, I will either be alone for the rest of my life, or my father will marry me

DANTE“吼ow are things?” Aleksei asks as he walks into my office, his face a complete mask. If he cansee how tense I am, then surely my other men can.In the mafia, any type of weakness is like a loose thread. Anyone could tug on that weakness until you unravel, spilling all your contents. That’s why I’ve never allowed myself the pleasure of having a weakness, not until the little raven-haired beauty entered my life.“Things are going well. I need you to find a replacement for Martha. Turns out, she was a traitor.” I stretch out in my chair and think back to how oblivious Serena acted last night, and still, I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with her.Yes, she took the note from her father, read it, and hid it, but she didn’t disobey me directly, not when I hadn’t asked her a single question about it. Plus, after I read the note, it was clear that Serena didn’t know anything, she’s not trying to escape, and that’s really what I would be angry about.I am, however, curious to know if

DANTEWhen we arrive at the run-down building, I decide there is no better time than now to check in on the staff.“Check with the bartender and see how everything is going. Let them know we will bring someone in soon,” I tell Aleksei as I check my phone, my finger hovering over the camera app. Watching her isn’t going to sedate my need or help matters. I need to fuck someone, someone who canhandle a hard pounding. God knows if I fucked Serena the way I want to, she would break in half beneath me.Aleksei nods, acknowledging what I’ve asked him to do, and we walk in together, the two guards who usually man the doors aren’t in place, which angers me. Walking inside, I survey the bar; there are a few patrons in it, and the stage has a couple men sat eye-balling the dancing chick. Music beats through the place, and a stripper works the pole, grinding her ass against it like it’s a cock. Stale smoke filters into my lungs when I take a breath, combined with sweat and perfume.

SERENAhe hours drag on into eternity, and I actually find myself waiting like a dog for my owner to return. It’s a horrible analogy, but it’s the truth. I watch the sunset through the window, feeling more isolated from the real world than I ever have in my entire life.Worse, I feel myself melting into Dante’s touch.Kindness is what he showed me last night when he handed me that little notebook. It was the kindest thing he’s done since I arrived here, and it made me want to see if there is more goodness inside him. It’s such a naive thing to assume that a man who kills, steals, and buys a person has any good in him.Darkness starts to blanket the room, and I move to turn on one of the lights at the same time the door opens. I hold back a little shriek, and I’m almost disappointed when I see it’s just a maid entering the room and not Dante. The one that gave me the note hasn’t returned since that day. It’s been someone new every time, and I wonder why she’s never come back. I’m sure

SERENA”me.Dante’s eyes twinkle, and he trails a finger down the side of my face. His touch is nothing more than a caress, but I feel it deep in my soul. “There are no dates. No dinners. No sweet and gentle sex. There is nothing but hard fucking, deep and fast with the occasional moan.”My eyes go so wide, I’m scared they might pop out. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? Is that what he wants from me?Suddenly him buying me makes more sense. He doesn’t want dates, love, and companionship. He just wants someone for sex … nothing more, and I’m marrying him. I’m being forced into a marriage that is doomed from the start.“And they … want that?”He shrugs. “They’re whores, and that’s their job, so I suppose so, yeah.” His tone is mocking and annoying me further. He sought out some whore to sleep with, only to return to sleep in bed with me. I feel sickened, and even though I know I’m not ready to sleep with him, I cannot stop the emotions I have from bubbling to the surface.“

All Chapters of Claimed By The Syndicate: The Mafia Heir's Obsession : Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

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