Sold to the Ruthless Mafia

dows of

na'

bones as I stood alone by my parents' graves. I tightened my arms around myself, feeling the weight of the grief settle deep

d been my constant, the one person who truly cared about my well-being, and though my stepmother and I were never particularly close, he

expressionless, though I caught a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. My stepbrother had never care

na?" he sneered. "Yo

ightening as I fought to hold back tears. "I ne

maybe. But for me, this is just business." His gaze roamed ove

her's, and with that, power over me. I clung to the hope of my grandfather's inheritance, still out of reach until my twenty-fifth birthday, one long year away. I'd imagined tha

I felt like a ghost drifting through our home, half-hidden in shadow as Marcus took over every inch of space, his presence su

rd voices coming from down the hall. I paused, recognizing Marcus's voice

" the stranger asked, his voice low

oldly. "She's just a pawn. Victor Mar

ying. Whispers of his dealings spread like wildfire, rumors of a ruthless mafia leader who built his empire on fear and b

t pounding, hoping he hadn't noticed me. I clutched my coat tighter around me and moved silently b

amplifying my fear. The black iron gates loomed like sentries guarding a prison. I took a deep breath,

and merciless, "You owe me for everythi

ar and sent me to Victor's domain, my

to the figure at the far end of the hall. Victor Martinez. He was taller than I'd expected, his presence comm

smooth but carrying a dark undercurrent.

ing and small. "I don't...I don't unde

"You're to marry me. It's part of the arrangement. Marcu

ing like bile in my throat. "This is ins

"It's not personal, Elena. It's business. And you'll find

down on me like a suffocating weight. I was trapped in a world where marriages were t

was overwhelming, the opulent surroundings only adding to my sense of entrapment. I knew I had to find a way to surv

ure was elegant, each piece meticulously crafted, but the grandeur only heightened my sense of imprisonment. I was dressed and ready when t

eted me with a chilling calmn

y managing a reply. "As well

It's important that you adjust quickly. The sooner

tor motioned for me to follow him down a long, dimly lit hallway to a private study. The room smelled of polished wood and faint cigar smoke, and t

but with a steely edge. "This isn't just about marriage. It's about maintaining ord

steady. "I'm not a piece on your chessboard,"

flashed in his eyes. "You are exactly that,

rapped and powerless. "What.

old. Publicly, you will be my wife, representing my interests. Privately, you will ass

I forced myself to a

his lips. "Refusal is not an option. You belong to me no

the weight of his words settled in.

ou will be protected and provided for, as long as you fulfill y

tightly in my stomach. The mansion felt like a labyrinth, beautiful but treacherous, each corner hi

o a stone bench, letting the wei