Afreka_Lawson

Serena Castillo lived a quiet life—until the night her father’s sins caught up to her. Forced into the grasp of Lorenzo De Luca, a ruthless mafia boss with ice in his veins, she becomes a pawn in a dangerous game of power and revenge. Lorenzo is used to control, but Serena’s quiet defiance and hidden strength begin to unravel the darkness within him.

As secrets unfold and enemies close in, Serena must navigate a world of violence, betrayal, and forbidden desire. Can she escape the man who owns her, or will she become the queen in his dangerous empire?

The Mafia's Wifey

The moment I stepped back into my room, the lock clicked behind me.

I paced, my thoughts tangled in knots.

Tonight, I had challenged Lorenzo. I had walked away.

That should have made me feel powerful. In control.

Because I had seen something in his eyes before I left the dining hall.

Lorenzo wasn't angry. He wasn't frustrated.

And that terrified me more than anything.

I sat on the edge of the bed, gripping my arms.

I didn't have to wait long to find out.

Before I could respond, it opened.

I shot to my feet. "You don't get to just—"

He shut the door behind him, slow and deliberate.

And that was far, far more dangerous than anger.

I clenched my fists. "I think you're a monster."

His lips curved. "And yet, you're still breathing."

He moved toward me, forcing me back. Step by step. Until my spine hit the wall.

Instead, he placed his palm flat against the wall beside my head, caging me in.

"You're going to test me," he said softly. "I know that. And I'll allow it."

His other hand lifted, his fingers trailing along the edge of my jaw.

I jerked away, but there was nowhere to go.

"But there will come a time, dolcezza," he continued, "when your defiance costs you."

His voice sent a shiver through me.

"What happened to the others?" I whispered.

For a moment, he just stared at me. Then he smiled.

"I told you," he said. "Some left. Some stayed."

I held his gaze. "And the ones who broke?"

He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.

"I wonder," he murmured, "which one you'll be."

Then he stepped back, turned, and walked out—locking the door behind him.

Leaving me alone with a racing heart and the terrifying realization that I might not be able to win this.

Dante was waiting outside my office when I arrived. "She's still fighting."

Dante exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "You know how this ends."

He leaned forward. "Lorenzo. You can't keep her locked up forever."

I met his eyes. "I don't need to."

Dante hesitated. "You think she'll come around?"

I swirled the whiskey in my glass. "I think everyone breaks eventually."

Dante sighed. "And when she does?"

I took a slow sip, savoring the burn.

Lorenzo's words echoed in my head.

Some left. Some stayed. Some broke.

But as the hours passed and the walls of my prison closed in, doubt crept in.

The Cost Defiance