Scared Smurf

My physics teacher held up my test paper with an 18-point score in front of all the students and parents and said, “Students like this are hopeless. I don’t even know how someone like this passed the high school entrance exam. “I didn’t think there was a way to cheat on the high school entrance exam, but it turns out there is. It gives people like this a chance to cheat.” He did not just insult my intelligence but also questioned my character and family. “Well, it’s not surprising. Only a junk-collecting family could raise a kid like this.” I curled up in my seat, too scared to say anything. But my stepmom could not stand it anymore. She smacked the chalk box off his desk, pointed at him, and yelled, “Who do you think you’re talking about?! “I send my kid to school and pay all the tuition and book fees! How did it turn into us being a junk-collecting family?! “You can’t even teach properly, and I haven’t called you out for it! Have you no shame?! You don’t deserve to be called a teacher! You’re just a piece of trash!” For some reason, she suddenly seemed imposing and heroic to me.

In the steamy streets of Miami, 23-year-old Maya Torres works hard washing dishes to buy medicine for her sick mother, her only light in a world of pain.  With a cruel brother who steals, a sister who mocks her worn old clothes, and a lonely heart, Maya’s life is a struggle—until a stormy night changes everything.  Cleaning a shadowy bar owned by the Mafia, she hears a gunshot and finds a bleeding stranger.  Brave but scared, she saves his life, not knowing he’s Diego Salazar, a ruthless Mafia boss with a crippled leg and a heart hardened by betrayal.  When Maya’s family drags her into Diego’s dangerous world, she’s forced to work for him, sneaking into rival clubs to steal secrets.  Diego’s harsh words cut deep, but Maya stays strong, her mother’s life on the line.  As they share quiet moments, something sparks—could this cold man learn to love? But secrets unravel, and a shocking betrayal from someone close threatens to destroy Maya’s hope.  With danger closing in, a hidden truth about her past could change her life forever.  Will Maya outsmart the Mafia’s deadly games and find love, or lose everything? Dive into this thrilling tale of courage, love, and secrets—you won’t stop turning the pages!

I flinched as his breath fanned my face, my body trembled in his arms. This was the chance, but was I scared? His eyes affected me in so many ways, as they held grief, pain and regret. Our stare was our way of communicating. It was intended, emotional and agonizing. I was hiding the knife behind me, picturing the perfect place to stab him. His searing heat sent a gush of lust inside me. I shouldn't fall for that. This was a revenge plan, not a romantic show-off. "I'm engaged, and I have a child with him" I remembered, barely recognizing my cold voice which had become soft and weak. He let out a dirty smirk, lowering his eyes to my lips as we exchanged breath. "I know, but I can't stop myself from falling" he whispered, and before I could blink an eye, he captured my lips, twirling them to his taste. It was a long liquid kiss that made me wet so that I couldn't fight back. The knife slipped off my hand as my body yanked on his. We both dried up where we stood when her voice resounded in our ears. "Mom?"

"You think you will sit on our chest and enjoy all of our money all your life. We don't want you, Zara. Don't ever try to get back here. Remember you are sold and the sold things never get to return back to their original place," Zara rolls down the thick drops of tears as she clutches her clothes with all her might. The line cuts off and there is silence all over the dark room where she is supposed to meet him today. She is scared and she is foreign to the place. She doesn't know who the is the one she is entangled and sold with by her uncle and aunt. Her eyes plays around the room only to find the dark and tall figure standing right behind the door and his blue orbs was only what she could see right now. "Get the out of here or I will make you life just the ," he shouts and her whole body shivers with his hoarse voice. ** He is practically a monster who has always distanced away from people and lived his life completely in an arrogance. He doesn't but he also doesn't love anyone. Will she be able to melt his heart and turn him back to normal young man? Will her lifelong trap be beautiful instead of being a ? Or will it be even worse?**

Book One in De Niro Series but can be read as standalone. After being thrown into a hell by her family where vultures in men's skin were waiting for her to reach at a ripe age, Destiny Carter somehow escaped the hell she had been living for over a decade only to be chased and recaptured by those monsters but her destiny was with her in the night when she was saved by Him. Her knight in shining armour: Stefano De Niro,whom the whole country feared. He is ruthless, cruel and human form of Satan as his prey describes him.He is known to leave people in fear by only giving a look upon them and when his eyes landed on the most innocent and pure soul lying unconscious in his arms,he knew that he was never going to let her go. What happens when she find herself in his empire? All about him screams danger to her, then how she is ever going to let him come near her and show her the side of him that no one has ever see? Stefano,the mafia heir to the De Niro clan, wants a scared and hopeless yet full of light Destiny Carter all for himself as after years she awakened his hibernated heart that started beating...for her!

"Whose child is this?" His voice was cold and icy, blood shot eyes drilling holes in her watery ones. Scared, she cowered back only for her back to met the wall. A sob of pure horror left her parched throat, her hands lifting up to shield her already bruised face. "I asked," He stepped dangerously closer to her, his hot breath fanning the back of her hands. His sandalwood scent which used to calm her nerves in past, today did nothing other than heightening her fear. "Whose." His rough hands yanked her soft ones from her face, before clasping her jaw tightly, his fingers digging in her bruised skin making her wince. "Child" He whispered deadly, leaning down till his stern lips were brushing over her quivering ones. Tears after tears dripped down her cheeks. "Is in your stomach?" His already tight hold had tightened in bruising manner, making her flinch hard. Her head began to spin in fright, darkness invading her vision. Her heart pleading for some miracle. That wasn't the first question, her husband was supposed to ask her on her wedding night.

Ralph grabbed one of her thighs and hooked it over his arm as he leaned over her and re-entered her again. "Oh-J-Jesu-" she cried out before Ralph slapped his hand over her mouth. "Tsk-tsk," he hissed. "The gods aren't fucking you. The devil is.” There was no time for her to reply, as Alexei forcefully seized the back of her head and yanked it backwards. "Look how helpless you are... you fucking love it, don't you, wife?" he growled. "Come on, любовь. Beg." **** I loved them more than I hated them. And that scared me more than anything. They came to me in the night, cruel, darkly handsome men from the most dangerous corners of the world in name of helping me in my worst time. I should’ve known better that peace in this world come with a price. Price of my freedom. They tormented me, destroyed me, ripping apart my world with their quest for revenge. Two years ago, I met them. In our first meeting, I was betrothed to them. Now they’ve come to claim me, destroying anyone standing in their way. Even me. I fear them, I hate them and worse of all I couldn’t escape them.

My younger sister was crazy about novels and always envied the way ordinary heroines pick up penniless heroes and climb the social ladder. So, she started picking up men wherever she could. Until one day, a man with a face covered in sores collapsed at our doorstep. I instantly recognized the signs of syphilis and warned my sister repeatedly, and only then did she give up the idea. However, fate had other plans: my sister's best friend "picked him up" instead and married into a wealthy family. My sister held a grudge. On my birthday, she locked me in my room and set it on fire. No matter how desperately I begged, she refused to open the door. Outside, she sneered: "I know you're just scared I'll live better than you, so you want to drag me down into misery with you. People like you don't even deserve to be a sister!" I burned alive, my body reduced to nothing but ashes. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day my sister insisted on "picking up that man." This time, I quietly stepped back, letting her have her way—of course, I chose to let her succeed.

“What’s your name?” His deep voice resonates in her ears and he eyes her with interest. “H-Halsey S-Scott!” She manages to say. “Is that girl looking at us?” He tilts his head to indicate his ex-girlfriend who’s glaring at them. “Yeah…” “Good.” Without another word, he kisses her on the lips. A kiss which sealed their fates. One kiss from the school’s bad boy and it was over for her. Ever since her parents died, Halsey Scott prefers to live a quiet life. Shy and quiet, Halsey is only free around her best friend, Lincoln Wright, the school's rising basketball player. But what happens when she catches the eye of the notorious bad boy? Nathan Jacobs doesn't believe in love. He only cares about his popularity and is a bully. Harboring an intense hatred towards Lincoln, Nathan will do anything to hurt his rival. And the only way to hurt Lincoln, is to crush Halsey's heart. Initially scared of Nathan, Halsey soon finds herself torn between her loyalty to her best friend and her dangerous attraction for the bad boy. What will happen when Nathan's plans are revealed? Will he succeed in breaking Halsey's heart? Or will the bad boy finally fall in love?

I was scheduled to die in less than 24hrs from now. And the person who conspires to put me out of my miserable life is the one who put me through hell. His hell. My husband. I didn't mind dying. I was rather happy to finally get this thing over with. You know, get over life. But just when I was ready to rest in peace, I met her. Her beautiful blue eyes glittered with tears bringing light to this moonless night. The cold breeze brought a shiver to her fragile tiny body. She looked nothing less than a porcelain doll, delicate and clean. But she scared me when she looked at me with hope. Hope to save her. I laughed at this naive little girl. How was I to save her when I couldn't save myself? Nevertheless, I extended my hand for her to take, and with some hesitation, she wrapped her whole hand around my one finger. First time in my meaningless life I felt a spark. Spark of life enlightened in me with her one innocent touch. She made me want to live a little while longer with a small innocent promise, holding me tight to live with her, for her. Cover by @Aphroditelivid