The Belladonna Game

The Belladonna Game

Keena

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A lie was supposed to be her weapon. But lies can cut both ways. Aliyah Santiago enters the Marino world with one mission uncover the truth behind her fiancé's death and make his killers bleed. Disguised as a Mafia princess, she plays the part flawlessly: poised, untouchable, dangerous. Every step she takes draws her closer to Brown Marino, the family's heir...and deeper into a labyrinth of obsession, betrayal, and power. But one man threatens to unravel it all. Ottavio, the Marinos' ruthless enforcer, watches her too closely. His suspicions slice through her disguise, his loyalty to Brown makes him untouchable, and yet when his hands brush hers, when his voice drops to a murmur against her ear Aliyah feels a fire she cannot control. "You think you can lie to me, princess?" "I've lied to everyone." "Not to me." Every stolen glance, every secret touch, every dangerous word exchanged pushes her closer to the edge. To fall for him would be reckless. To trust him could be fatal. But in a world where silence can kill and love is just another weapon, Aliyah must decide: is Ottavio the enemy who will expose her or the only man who can save her from herself? Deception. Desire. Danger. The game has begun, and in this game of Mafia thrones, hearts burn as fiercely as empires fall.

The Belladonna Game Chapter 1 Spy

Aliyah's p.o.v

I pulled my shawl tighter around my shoulders as the winter breeze slithered through the tiny gap between the restaurant's glass doors, prickling my skin. The expensive place looked warm enough from the outside, but inside, the draft still found ways to crawl under clothes and into bones.

I should have been at home,curled up in bed, maybe with something hot to eat but peace of mind wasn't going to come to me there. Not tonight. Not when I needed to be here.

"Miss, are you ready to order?" The blonde waitress appeared again, her tone polite but her smile paper-thin. It was the fifth time she'd asked, and I could almost hear the unspoken warning in her voice: Order something or leave.

I forced a small smile and nodded. "Yes. A glass of dry gin."

Something to dull the ache in my chest, to quiet the restless pounding in my veins.

She returned quickly, setting the drink in front of me along with the bill,already printed. Her brittle smile didn't reach her eyes as she lingered a second too long beside my table. I picked up the glass, the clear liquid trembling just slightly in my grip.

I knew exactly what this was. She'd already decided someone dressed like me couldn't possibly afford to sit here, let alone pay the inflated price for a drink.

If it weren't for the need to keep my composure and the satisfaction of not letting her believe she'd rattled me.I might have spat the gin back into the glass and told her exactly what I thought.

Instead, I let a small, sarcastic chuckle slip. "No biggie," I muttered under my breath, even as my savings winced in protest. She nodded, satisfied, and drifted back to the bar.

"Bitch," I whispered to myself.

The glass door slid open again, letting in a fresh burst of icy air along with the sound of expensive heels and the faint clink of jewelry. From the corner of my eye, I saw the waitress transformed practically sprinting toward the newcomers, her smile suddenly radiant.

Designer coats. Polished shoes. A bag that probably cost more than my rent.

The Marinos.

Othello Marino, with his sharp, calculating eyes. His wife Sabri, dripping in understated wealth. Allegra, their perfectly groomed daughter with a viper's smile. And Brown Marino, Othello's brother...just as polished, just as dangerous.

They were ushered to a table directly beside mine, the waitress nearly bowing in reverence as she took their orders.

I swallowed a mouthful of gin, feeling it scorch a path down my throat, the heat clashing with the cold in my veins. My pulse was racing, but I forced myself to settle. To listen.

I couldn't afford to let anger cloud me, not when I'd waited two months for this chance.

Two months of watching. Waiting. Following the trail of whispers and shadows that surrounded them.

The Marinos were murderers. I knew it as surely as I knew my own name. Michaelo wasn't their first victim, and I doubted he would be their last.

Tonight, I just needed proof. Any incriminating words could do just that for me.

The long tortuous minutes of waiting for them to settle in, finish their meal and start talking business seemed not worth as their talk only revolved around;

"Brown, have you got a bride yet?" the voice I assume to be Othello's questioned. I heard someone snicker as Brown took his time to answer.

I tilted my glass to their direction, enjoying the clear reflection it gave. As I could see them now.

Brown picked a glass of drink and sipped, wiping his lips with a handkerchief, he replied "A Mafia princess Yes?"

Othello and Sabri nodded hastily. " Then you are going to hold on for just a little while, If I would be cajoled into that sick institution called marriage, then I have to do that with a perfect ass and tits," he ended with his vulgar words and then let out a chuckle.

"Do it your way, but you better make it fast, my retirement time is ticking," Othello muttered.

...They went on to scold Allegra for spending too much money,something about a new diamond set she'd "simply had to have"but it was all surface noise. Nothing useful. Then chairs scraped against the polished floor, coats were pulled on, and the Marinos began to leave.

Now was the time for me.

I rose smoothly, forcing my heartbeat to slow, and locked eyes with the waitress. I pulled a wad of cash from my bag, raised it briefly in her line of sight, and let it fall onto the table. Her gaze flicked to the money, then back to me, her expression neutral but her eyes calculating.

My phone was already in my hand, my thumb swiping to the contact I needed. I lifted it to my ear and began to walk, angling my steps to intercept the Marinos at the door.

This had to look accidental. A clumsy collision. An apology. Just enough contact to slip a little something into a coat pocket or catch a snippet of conversation up close.

But I didn't make it that far.

A hand clamped over my mouth, smothering my startled gasp. My phone nearly slipped from my grip.

I was yanked backwards into the shadow between two tall wine racks, my spine colliding with a hard chest. The air around me reeked faintly of leather and smoke.

Then cold metal. A gun, pressing just under my ribs.

"Easy, là viperà" a rough voice rasped in my ear, low enough that no one else could hear.

The pressure of the weapon was steady, not trembling. Whoever this was, he wasn't bluffing.

"I got no problem pulling the trigger," he added, the faintest edge of a smirk in his tone, "and trust me,no one in here will hear a thing."

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The Belladonna Game The Belladonna Game Keena Adventure
“A lie was supposed to be her weapon. But lies can cut both ways. Aliyah Santiago enters the Marino world with one mission uncover the truth behind her fiancé's death and make his killers bleed. Disguised as a Mafia princess, she plays the part flawlessly: poised, untouchable, dangerous. Every step she takes draws her closer to Brown Marino, the family's heir...and deeper into a labyrinth of obsession, betrayal, and power. But one man threatens to unravel it all. Ottavio, the Marinos' ruthless enforcer, watches her too closely. His suspicions slice through her disguise, his loyalty to Brown makes him untouchable, and yet when his hands brush hers, when his voice drops to a murmur against her ear Aliyah feels a fire she cannot control. "You think you can lie to me, princess?" "I've lied to everyone." "Not to me." Every stolen glance, every secret touch, every dangerous word exchanged pushes her closer to the edge. To fall for him would be reckless. To trust him could be fatal. But in a world where silence can kill and love is just another weapon, Aliyah must decide: is Ottavio the enemy who will expose her or the only man who can save her from herself? Deception. Desire. Danger. The game has begun, and in this game of Mafia thrones, hearts burn as fiercely as empires fall.”
1

Chapter 1 Spy

24/10/2025

2

Chapter 2 Plan B

24/10/2025

3

Chapter 3 Flirt

24/10/2025

4

Chapter 4 A slip

24/10/2025

5

Chapter 5 Trust

24/10/2025

6

Chapter 6 The Polite threat

24/10/2025

7

Chapter 7 Crawling under my Skin

24/10/2025

8

Chapter 8 I must get employed

24/10/2025

9

Chapter 9 A primal feast

24/10/2025

10

Chapter 10 The masked man

24/10/2025

11

Chapter 11 Relentless pull

24/10/2025

12

Chapter 12 A display of power

24/10/2025

13

Chapter 13 Disgust

24/10/2025

14

Chapter 14 A present

24/10/2025

15

Chapter 15 Emotions

24/10/2025

16

Chapter 16 Assigned

24/10/2025

17

Chapter 17 Like his possession

24/10/2025

18

Chapter 18 Shut the club

24/10/2025

19

Chapter 19 Red room

25/10/2025

20

Chapter 20 An offer

25/10/2025

21

Chapter 21 The plane

25/10/2025

22

Chapter 22 In Zagreb

25/10/2025

23

Chapter 23 Unexplainable anger

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24

Chapter 24 His anger

25/10/2025

25

Chapter 25 A fight

25/10/2025

26

Chapter 26 Meetings

25/10/2025

27

Chapter 27 Sex club

25/10/2025

28

Chapter 28 Her throat's mine

25/10/2025

29

Chapter 29 Fuck or fall

25/10/2025

30

Chapter 30 Outbreak

25/10/2025

31

Chapter 31 A decision

25/10/2025

32

Chapter 32 Her fishy friend

25/10/2025

33

Chapter 33 Two days

27/10/2025

34

Chapter 34 Shared a kiss

27/10/2025

35

Chapter 35 An anonymous call

27/10/2025

36

Chapter 36 Dismissal

27/10/2025

37

Chapter 37 A cry of help

27/10/2025

38

Chapter 38 Alternate Idea

27/10/2025

39

Chapter 39 Every fiber of blood

27/10/2025

40

Chapter 40 His pleasure first

27/10/2025