THE DE LUCA BARGAIN
My father sold me to the devil.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he had to.
At least, that's the lie I told myself when I was delivered to the most feared mafia family in New York.
The De Luca's.
As payment for a war my father lost, I became Lorenzo De Luca's prize. His possession. His plaything.
Before abandoning me, my father made me a promise.
Spy on the De Luca's for two years, and he'll come back for me.
So I waited.
And somewhere between stolen glances, whispered conversations, and the dangerous protection of the man I was supposed to betray, I made the biggest mistake of my life.
I fell in love with Lorenzo De Luca.
The ruthless capo who could order a man's death without blinking.
The monster everyone feared.
The only man who ever made me feel safe.
Then I overheard him call me nothing more than his dumb plaything.
When the two years were finally over, my father never came.
No rescue.
Nothing.
Determined to take back control of my life, I orchestrated my own escape.
But escaping Lorenzo De Luca is impossible.
Especially when my own family wants me dead.
And especially when the only man capable of protecting me is the same man who broke my heart.
Now I'm trapped between two worlds.
One that sold me.
And one that refuses to let me go.
The deeper I fall into Lorenzo's darkness, the more dangerous our connection becomes.
Because Lorenzo De Luca doesn't know how to love.
He only knows how to possess.
And when the truth about my father's betrayal finally comes to light, New York will burn.
The only question is whether Lorenzo saves me from the flames...
Or drags me into them with him.
Read
Chapter: Chapter 32LORENZO'S POVThe drive away from my grandfather's estate was painfully quiet.The convoy moved ahead of us while another SUV followed behind.Inside the car, it was silent.Isabella sat beside me, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she stared out the passenger window.She hadn't spoken since we left, nor had I.I kept my eyes on the road, but my mind refused to leave the events at Grandfather's house.The image of Bianca standing over Isabella.The look on Isabella's face.The fact that she had walked straight into a room where she had no idea who might be waiting for her.The tighter I gripped the steering wheel, the harder it became to ignore the anger building inside me.Finally....... It snapped."What the hell were you thinking?"She turned sharply to look at me."What?""What were you thinking?" Her brows knitted together."This is because I left the estate?""No," The word came out louder than I intended.She frowned."Then what is this about?"I let out a short, humorless
Last Updated: 2026-07-14
Chapter: Chapter 31LORENZO'S POVThe meeting should have ended twenty minutes ago.Instead, three captains were still arguing over shipping routes while Damiano stood beside me, quietly checking his phone every few minutes.Checking the security reports, and routine, everything was fine until his expression changed.He looked up."The detail assigned to Mrs. De Luca just checked in."I didn't look away from the documents in front of me."And?""Mrs. De Luca left the estate." my pen paused."With Vittoria." that explained enough."Destination?""Manhattan." I nodded once. "Security?""They're with them." I returned to the file."Good."The meeting continued, at least it tried to but ten minutes later, Damiano's phone vibrated again.He frowned this time."What is it?""The convoy changed route."I looked up immediately. "Why?""They've stopped at Chairman Alessandro's residence." I went silent and closed the file instantly. Every man around the table noticed.Damiano already knew what I was thinking."I
Last Updated: 2026-07-14
Chapter: Chapter 30I followed Vittoria through the grand entrance hall, my footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor.Every portrait that lined the walls seemed to watch us pass.Generations of De Lucas, powerful men, people who had belonged here, and no matter how I looked at it I wasn't one of them.The drawing room doors stood open, as soon as we stepped inside, the conversation stopped.Three pairs of eyes turned toward us.Alessandro De Luca sat in an armchair near the fireplace, a newspaper folded neatly on the table beside him.Alfonso occupied the sofa opposite him, a cup of espresso resting in his hand.Bianca lounged comfortably beside her father.The first thing I noticed wasn't the silence.It was the way Bianca's smile disappeared the moment she saw me.Vittoria, completely unfazed, smiled brightly."I know exactly what you're all thinking."Alessandro raised an eyebrow."Do you?""I forgot my second phone." Alfonso chuckled."I wondered how long it would take before you noticed."
Last Updated: 2026-07-13
Chapter: Chapter 29The lockdown was beginning to wear on me.Days had blurred into one another until I could no longer tell whether I was restless because I was trapped, or because I had grown used to looking over my shoulder for someone who was never there.Lorenzo had left before sunrise, again.The mansion felt too quiet without him.I had settled into the library with a novel, determined to lose myself in someone else's world, when a knock interrupted me.Before I could answer, the door swung open."Vittoria."She leaned against the doorframe wearing oversized sunglasses, a cream blouse tucked into loose trousers, and the kind of smile that usually meant trouble."There you are," she said.With surprise written all over me, I lowered my book,"I've been looking everywhere for you." I didn't hear her car drive in, so how?"I'm impressed," I replied. "The mansion isn't exactly small."She ignored the comment."Get dressed."I frowned."For what?""We're going shopping."I blinked, surprised."...Shopp
Last Updated: 2026-07-13
Chapter: Chapter 28The mansion was unusually quiet when I came downstairs.Sunlight poured through the tall windows, bathing the dining room in a warm glow that should have felt comforting.I had spent nearly an hour convincing myself to leave my room after everything that had happened yesterday.I slowed at the doorway, when I noticed Lorenzo's chair was empty.I should have been relieved but for some crazy reason, I frowned.For as long as I'd known him, Lorenzo was always the first person awake.Whether he had slept for three hours or eight, breakfast found him already dressed, already working, a newspaper in one hand and a file in the other.Today, there was nothing, no newspaper, no coffee, and definitely no Lorenzo.Had he already left? I asked myself and a strange disappointment settled somewhere deep inside me before I could stop it.I frowned harder.What was wrong with me?Wasn't this what I wanted?A morning without awkward conversations.Without those piercing gray eyes noticing everything I
Last Updated: 2026-07-08
Chapter: Chapter 27The convoy came to a stop beneath my window.I should have stepped away. Instead, I remained where I was, my fingers curled around the edge of the curtain as I watched him walk towards the mansion. Damiano trailed behind him with a phone pressed to his ear, already speaking in clipped, efficient sentences.Even after everything that had happened, work hadn't stopped, nor had the De Luca empire.Relief settled in my chest before I could stop it.I hated that.He looked exhausted.But stopped and gave three short orders, nodded once, and headed toward the house.I finally let the curtain fall.What was I doing?I turned away from the window, determined to go back to my bed and forget the strange knot that had settled in my chest.I found myself heading to my bedroom door.Then I stopped.Before I could talk myself out of it, my feet were already carrying me into the hallway.I told myself I only wanted to make sure he'd made it inside, nothing more.When I reached the landing, I looke
Last Updated: 2026-07-08
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-NineI heaved a sigh of relief when I saw him walk through that door, looking so lethal. Sheila tried escaping, but I quickly shot her in the leg, while Hayden and his men devoured every last one of them except Zack."You keep destroying my stuff, Hayden. I'm going to make you pay," he barked, looking at the damage done to the property."I'm counting on it, Zack; you should have stayed gone when you ran, but you dare show your stupid face here," he barked at him."That throne is mine," Zack yelled at him."Says the illegitimate son; go blame your mother if you need someone to blame," Hayden yelled back at him."How dare you!" Zack barked. I heard from a reliable source that Zack was the first son of the former Lycan king, but it was just meant to be a fling. Zack's mom seduced the then-Lycan king, who wasn't married at the time, and he slept with her.The Fling lasted for a while, but the Lycan king found his mate and kicked Zack's mom out of the palace, but she was pregnant at the momen
Last Updated: 2024-08-29
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-EightIt had been a week after the whole drama, and things were finally getting back to normal. Tessa had a hard time adjusting, but she is fine now. My real parents moved in with us, and we have been bonding well. I'm in my last trimester and it could happen any time now, honestly, I'm kind of scared. Hayden went after Sheila and Zack, but that sneaky bastard got wind of it and escaped the country. As satisfying as it would have been to watch him die, all the same, he is out of our lives now till he shows his ugly head again. The only problem is that Hayden increased our security again; each time there is an attack on any of us, he ends up getting more security. It's frustrating watching the whole property filled with more security than actual occupants. I was allowed to go out before now, but these days I'm just stuck in here like I'm in prison. Hayden wasn't at home, and I was getting tired of staying home already. I picked up my phone, wore the necklace he got me, and stashed some
Last Updated: 2024-08-29
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-SevenI held Tessa in my arms as she continued crying, holding onto me so tightly. "Hush now, honey, it's fine now," I said to her, gently patting her hair. Hayden's men shot the bastard a couple of times just to make sure he was dead. I took Tess back into the house and to her room. She laid down on her bed, and I turned to leave, but she grabbed my hands. "Tess, honey, you should take a rest," I said to her. "I don't want to be alone," she whispered while holding onto my hand. I sat back on her bed, brushing the hair off her face. "I will kill every single one of them before they lay a finger on you," I said, holding her gaze. "Kay," she whispered as tears formed in her eyes, gently trickling down on the bed. "I will be right outside if you need me," I whispered into her eyes, and she nodded, smiling at me. I smiled back and made my way out of the room. I went into the room, dropping my bag in the room. I took off the 2-inch heel I was putting on. I was about to pull out the gun;
Last Updated: 2024-08-28
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-SixAGNARS POVI have been troubled ever since I saw Kay. I don't know what troubles me more—the fact that my jealousy made me want to kill her or the fact that she is pregnant.I was a fool for kicking her out. I guess karma is indeed a bitch. There has never been a dull moment in this bloody pack. "What am I doing? I don't have time for regrets," I scolded myself.I shouldn't have seen her; seeing her has triggered something deep within me, and I can't seem to quench it. My head keeps going on a rollercoaster, and it's becoming exhausting."I need to keep myself busy," I quickly said, getting off my chair. I picked up my phone and made my way out of my office, heading towards my quarters. I wanted to get my keys from my room and probably go for a ride.It's the best way to get your mind off things. I got into my room and picked up the key from the counter, then headed out of the room.I made my way out of the room and was heading towards the parking lot when my phone began ringing.I f
Last Updated: 2024-08-26
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-FiveWhen I woke up the next morning, I was feeling a little feverish and had severe pain in my tummy. I was scared at first that maybe the dream I had yesterday wasn't just any dream but a premonition, but I have never been the superstitious type, so I waved it off."It's just stress," I told myself several times. "Hey, sweetie, you are awake. How is my baby?" Hayden said the moment he stepped out of the bathroom. "I don't know," I snapped at him and made to get off the bed. "Come on, baby," he said, grabbing me from behind. "I know I have been terrible to you these past few days; I promise, I will make it up to you," he said, kissing my neck. "Promise?" I said I don't know but I couldn't stay mad at him for long. "Sure baby" "Well, you can start by dropping me off at the hospital," I said, disappearing into the bathroom before he could respond. I grabbed my toothbrush and paste, then set to work. When I was done, I quickly freshened up. I came out of the bathroom to see him dres
Last Updated: 2024-08-25
Chapter: Chapter Seventy-FourI was bored at home, but didn't know what else to do, I have strolled the house a couple of times, more than I could count; nothing was appealing to watch on television, and Hayden wasn't home yet. I tried calling a couple of times, and it went straight to voicemail. It was like the forces of the universe were working against me today. I tried calling Ben to find out what happened, and that was when he said something about some stupid meetings he had. I asked when the meeting would be over but he said it might run till midnight. I immediately hung up as it wasn't what I wanted to hear. I have no idea if it was my pregnancy hormones that were working, but I'm kind of tired of sitting around. I don't care where but I should go do something fun, and it's not in this damn house.I stormed into the house to go upstairs only to find Mom lying down on the couch, looking downcast."Mom, are you okay?" I asked her, wondering why her face looked like that. The last I checked I knew she didn't
Last Updated: 2024-08-23
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