Tied to the tribe

Author's note: This book is dedicated to all the girls who love mafia men.

"I wouldn't have gotten married to you if I knew you were nothing but a cheat!" Aiden screamed. He grabbed my arm, yanking me backward with a force that sent me crashing into the cold wall.

"Aiden, please," I sobbed, my voice trembling as I slid down the wall onto my knees. "I don't know what happened! I swear, I-"  

"Don't you dare lie to me!" Aiden cut me off, his finger pointed at me like a dagger. "I caught you, in bed with another man. What could you possibly say to defend that? Huh?"

"Aiden, I... I don't remember..."  

"Stop!" he roared, stepping back as if my presence disgusted him. "I don't want to hear it!"  

I crawled toward him, grabbing at his pant leg desperately. "Please, Aiden. Don't do this. Let me explain-"  

Aiden shook me off, turning to flash me a  cold look. "Save your breath. You've destroyed everything. No form of explanation would make things better."  

With that, he stormed out of the hotel room, slamming the door behind him. My sobs filled the empty space as I turned toward the bed.

The man lying there stirred slightly, muttering something I couldn't understand. My mind traveled back to the memory of the night before.  

The club.  

Tracy.  

Mabel.  

Mabel handing me that drink.  

I clenched my fists, a surge of anger taking over my body.

Mabel, my evil step sister was behind this.

'She had to be.' I muttered to myself as I walked out of the hotel room.

                                 ***

I walked into the house, still in the crumpled dress from the night before.

"Mabel!" I shouted as I approached the steps.

She appeared at the top of the staircase wearing a smug look on her face.

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be gone already?"  

"I know you did this!" I snarled, my voice cracking. "You spiked my drink, didn't you? You set this whole thing up!"  

Mabel's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Me? Behind your cheating? Oh, don't be ridiculous." She descended the stairs, her blonde hair flowing endlessly as she walked.

 "You were the one complaining about how bored you were with your marriage. How tired you were of Aiden. If anyone's to blame, it's you."  Mabel continued speaking.

"You're lying!" I screamed, charging up the stairs toward her.  

But before I could reach her, Aiden appeared, shoving me aside with a force that made me stumble.  

"Enough!" he barked as he pointed a finger in my face. "Stop trying to drag Mabel into your mess. She's the only one who's been honest with me!"  

I stared at him, my breath hitching. "Aiden, no... She's manipulating you! She's the reason this happened!"  

"Don't you dare speak about Mabel like that," he snapped, stepping protectively in front of her. "If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have known the truth about you."  

My heart sank as he turned to Mabel. "You're a virtuous woman, Mabel. I need someone like you by my side."  

"What?" I whispered, my legs threatening to give out beneath me.  

Aiden's next words were like a death sentence. "I'm going to marry Mabel. Everything-the inheritance, the estate-it'll all go to her. That's your punishment for what you've done."  

"You can't do this," I said, shaking my head. "Our inheritance is tied to our marriage-it's my family's alliance and my father had handed it to me! She has no right to it!"  

"Watch me," he sneered. "Now, pack your things and get out. Go back to the man you were with since you're so desperate for company."