All Chapters of Taming the Mafia Lord : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

Five hundred dollars. That was the total sum of my four years at state college, tucked into crisp white envelopes from aunts and uncles I barely saw. I sat on the faded linoleum of my living room floor, stacking the twenties into neat piles.Bam!The sound wasn't a knock. It was an explosion. The deadbolt gave way with a sickening screech of tearing wood, and the front door flew completely off its hinges, crashing flat onto the coffee table. Glass shattered everywhere.I scrambled backward, my boots skidding on the linoleum, my heart hammering against my ribs.Three guys filled the doorway. They weren't street thugs; they wore tailored dark suits that didn't stretch despite the massive shoulders underneath. The first two stepped inside, clearing the room with cold, practiced eyes, before dragging a third man between them."Dad!" I screamed.Enzo Rossi looked unrecognizable. His left eye was swollen shut, leaking a dark stream of crimson down his cheek. His white button-down shirt was

The digital clock on the desk clicked over. 11:57 PM."Three minutes, Valentina," Damiano said. He didn't even look at the television screen behind him. His black eyes stayed locked entirely on my face, watching the panic rip through me. "Decide."On the screen, one of the masked men lifted the steel pipe, resting it lightly against the back of my dad’s neck. My dad flinched, his entire body shaking as a fresh sob racked his chest."You're a monster," I choked out, the words burning my throat."I'm a man collecting what is owed to him," Damiano replied. He reached down and picked up a heavy, silver fountain pen from a marble tray. The metal glinted under the sharp desk lamp. He held it out to me, balanced perfectly between his long fingers. "Ink or blood. It’s entirely up to you."My hand shook so hard I could barely guide my fingers around the cold metal casing of the pen. The weight of it felt like a weapon. I pulled the document closer, the words Marriage Contract blurring together

"Walk," Damiano said, his palm slamming flat against the small of my bare back.The fabric of the black silk dress was so thin it felt like ice against my skin. It clung to every single curve, the back cut entirely open down to my waist, leaving me feeling exposed under the harsh, blinding lights of the grand ballroom."Don't push me," I snapped under my breath, my heels clicking sharply against the polished marble floor."Then keep your feet moving," he murmured back, his grip tightening. His hand felt like a burning iron weight on my skin, his fingers digging in just enough to remind me exactly who was in control. "Smile, Valentina. The press is watching.""Let them watch," I hissed, keeping my eyes locked straight ahead.The room was absolutely packed. Hundreds of people in expensive tuxedos and glittering gowns stood in clusters, their conversations a loud, overlapping roar that made my ears ring. Heavy-set security guards with earpieces stood at every single exit, their arms cros

"I am not sleeping in that bed," I said, my voice cutting through the quiet room.Damiano didn't even look back at me as he walked toward the bathroom door. "Suit yourself, Valentina. But the floor gets incredibly cold by two in the morning.""I'd rather freeze on the floor than touch anything that belongs to you," I shot back, crossing my arms tightly over my chest.He didn't reply. The heavy bathroom door clicked shut behind him, followed by the sudden, steady hiss of running water.I whirled around and scanned the room, looking for any possible exit. The bedroom was massive, dominated by a king-sized bed with dark silk sheets that looked like a trap. The walls were lined with dark wood paneling, and a massive set of floor-to-ceiling glass windows looked out over the pitch-black grounds of the estate. I hurried over to the windows, my fingers desperately searching the frame for a latch, a lock, anything.Nothing. They were completely sealed, solid panes of heavy glass that wouldn't

"I don't want you to kiss me," I whispered, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to sound strong. I tried to pull my wrists from his grip, but his fingers remained locked like iron bands. "I want you to get away from me."Damiano didn't let go. His black eyes stayed completely fixed on my mouth, his own breathing heavy and hot against my skin. "Your lips say one thing, Valentina, but your pulse is telling me something completely different.""My pulse is racing because you're a criminal who just dragged me into a concrete hole while people shot at us!" I snapped, leaning back as far as his grip would allow. "Let go of my hands. Now."For a second, I thought he was going to ignore me. The physical heat between us in the small bunker felt thick enough to choke on. But then, a sharp, static buzz cut through the silence.The intercom on the concrete wall beeped loudly. Viktor's voice came barking through the small speaker."Boss? Can you hear me? The perimeter is clear. The shooters cl