THE MAFIA'S RELUCTANT LOVE

THE MAFIA'S RELUCTANT LOVE

Esther King · Ongoing · 37.4k Words

426
Hot
426
Views
128
Added
Add to Shelf
Start Reading
Share:facebooktwitterpinterestwhatsappreddit

Introduction

They say that the eyes are the mirror to the soul, but his eyes were cold and dark. Atlas Drakov is a known killer, the ruthless and calculated leader of the Italian Mafia. Aleara Davis is an introverted American girl who would rather have her nose down in a book then interact with people at the best of times. When, by force their worlds collide, they are made to endure each other's company, turning each others worlds upside down.

Chapter 1

"We’ll go out to the club together- just the two of us, no parents or anything,” words I had never thought would escape the mouth of my best friend as we were discussing what to do for my birthday.

“What?” Had I heard correctly? Or was my hearing starting to bail on me. Hannah knew that I wasn’t one to go out partying and well- certainly not to the club. I much preferred staying indoors, reading and annotating books, watching TV shows, those sorts of introverted things.

“Come on Leara, you’re turning eighteen! You have to live at least once, just try it!” Hannah begged- no she demanded me.

“No way! You know how much I hate those sorts of things! The noise, the lights, and the people are one thing- I cant even stand them in a school environment. But mix that with alcohol, drugs, and horny guys- it’s a cocktail for disaster. No fricking way I’m spending my birthday at a night club.” I stated my case; Hannah frowned disapprovingly.

“Nope,” she persisted bluntly, “there is no way in hell that you are getting out of this one sister. You and I are spending your eighteenth birthday at the club, having a good time, and living life,” she had made up her mind, there was no changing it.

I stared blankly at her for a solid minute. Her wispy charcoal hair blew in the breeze, and she wore that toothy ‘I know I’m better than you’ smile plastered across her olive face. I turned my back away from her, pissed off would be an understatement to say the least.

“Fuck you,” I glanced back around and scrunched up my nose, letting out a toothless smile.

“See you at eight bitch, be ready outside or I’ll drag you out that door,” she threw her keys up in the air and proceeded to waltz to her car, victorious. I groaned and moped back inside the house, dragging my feet up the stairs as I went, my eighteenth birthday in hell.

I needed to invest in some new friends.

I also needed to invest in an outfit that didn’t say ‘spike my drink and take me home with you’. Seriously though, all Hannah wanted to do was find some random ass guy who was mildly good looking to take her home and sleep with her. What a whore. My birthday was just an excuse to go to the club, otherwise her parents would shoot her on the spot if they knew half of the stuff she was doing.

Browsing my cupboard, I couldn’t find much. We had always gone shopping; the mall was one of the few places I went other than school or my bedroom. Hannah and I would buy skanky dresses as jokes, knowing full well that I would never go anywhere fun enough to wear one.

But here I was looking through my wardrobe trying to decide what skanky dress was the least skanky. Pulling one from the coat hanger I examined a tight and hot pink dress that wrapped around my slim figure like a blanket. Sure, it was the modest looking thing I had in that cupboard, but it still only reached just above my mid-thigh.

I tightened the spaghetti straps and tried to cover myself the best I could with a cropped denim jacket. I slipped on some sparkly golden heals and grabbed a clutch on my way out.

Eight rolled around quicker then what I would have liked it to as I found myself walking out the door to Hannah beeping her car horn at a million times a minute.

“Get in the car bitch!” she shouted and waved me down with her bangle covered arm. I flung open the passenger door and hopped in next to her, taking a moment to assess what the hell she had chosen to wear- and let me tell you, that dress was a poor excuse for a piece of clothing.

“What the fuck is that?” I scoffed, allowing the lump in my throat to surface.

“A dress dumbass,” she hit me, offended. That thing was skanky af. I mean, it was a baby blue colour, sleeveless, she was practically flashing both top and bottom to everyone. It looked like she had just gotten a toddler’s bath towel and thrown it around her with some pins to keep it in place. DIY dresses right here much.

“You’re going to attract the wrong kind of attention,” I muttered, loathing her for making me come with her tonight. I shot her a displeased look from the corner of my eye, but she remained unbothered. She turned the keys in their socket and revved the engine, backing out of my driveway and beginning our road to hell.

“It’s part of living Leara, you have to meet boys at some stage. I know how to have fun and trust me, I know what I’m doing, remind me, how many times have you gone out partying?” damn she had me there. Normally I would be the one fighting until I came out on top and right, but she had uno reversed me right there.

“None,” I gritted my teeth together and clenched my jaw, muttering the word in shame.

“You gotta trust me sister, there are gonna be some steamy guys in there and at least one of them is gonna want to invest in that,” she nodded to me. I scowled.

“I’m not an object and I’m not for sale Hannah, you shouldn’t let people walk all over you like that either, you’re worth more than that,” I tried to reason with her.

“I told you already,” she groaned and leant her head back, “it’s called living life and having fun. You’ll be old and wrinkly before you know it. You have to take some chances whilst you still have them,” she tried to explain.

I shook my head and turned to gaze out of the window, knowing full well that I was loosing this argument.

“Truth or dare?” she asked as I furrowed my eyebrows and faced her, “if you pick truth I’ll make you come with me tomorrow night as well,” she chuckled. Fuck.

“Dare,” I rolled my eyes. She could be so childish.

“I dare you to kiss a guy by the end of the night, no- I double dare you to go home with him,” she let out a snort followed by more laughter. Wow, so funny.

“No way, that’s just stupid,” I shook my head and scowled at her.

“Fine then, at least go to the bathroom stalls or something, one make out session isn’t going to kill you,” she bargained. I wasn’t getting out of this and kissing someone in the bathroom was something I could fake, I just needed to find someone who was just as keen to be there as I was, and we could mope together.

“Whatever, fine,” I shrugged as she pulled the car up on the outskirts of the city. Both of us had lived in California for all our lives; we met in elementary school back when we were just kids. Somehow we had stayed friends even with all of this bullshit.

“Get out of the car,” Hannah yanked at my arm and dragged me to my feet. My eyes were paining from just hearing the music out here.

“Do we have to go in?” I groaned and threw my arms at my side like a spoilt child being refused lollies in the supermarket. Hannah sighed and pulled at my arm, continuing to lead me inside like a puppy.

“Yes! Now come on!” she handed the security guard our tickets and we entered inside. My nose scrunched at the sudden whiff of alcohol that was shoved in my face. The place was packed out, people dancing shoulder to shoulder with their drinks spilling and splashing all over the floor so that it looked like a less appealing version of slip and slide.

“I’m going to get a drink, come on,” Hannah yelled over the music, and even so it was hard to understand her. I nodded briefly and made my way over to the bar.

“What can I get you ladies?” I looked up to meet the eyes of a Russian man with a thick and heavy accent, he had tattoos running down the side of his neck and into a sleeve. His hand was covered in rings of all shapes and sizes, and one of his ears were pieced all the way up. He wore a button up black shirt from which I could see his ab outlines. I noticed his hair, it was tied up in a man bun and was a chestnut brown, containing small streaks of lighter brown.

“Just a shot of vodka thank you,” I smiled uncomfortably at him, which he must have noticed because his face shifted.

“Let me get you ladies something more exotic, help you loosen up a little, on the house,” he smiled and turned his back to us before I could refuse. I took a nervous glance towards Hannah who shrugged and went back to being mesmerised by the man’s bar tending skills as he mixed up a cocktail.

He handed us two bright blue cocktails, I looked from the mysterious drink to the man, trying to remain polite.

“Thank you,” I offered a gentle smile and turned to leave before the man spoke again.

“Wait-” I turned back around abruptly, he shifted on his feet a little, “if you want, I finish at eleven, come chat,” he yelled over the music, I blinked three times, stunned, before snapping back into reality.

“Um yeah, maybe, I’ll think about it,” I nodded. I couldn’t be mean; this dude had just made me a free drink.

Hannah and I made our way to the dance floor, her trying to catch the attention of every guy she saw, and me- well, I was trying to avoid being looked at by every guy in this entire building. I drowned the unknown substance I had been given at the bar and spluttered as it burned the back of my throat.

“Hey gorgeous,” I turned to see some guy behind me, looking me up and down.

“Fuck off,” I stuck up my middle finger and gave him my glass before going to find Hannah.

“You having fun yet?” she yelled over the annoyingly loud music as she threw her arms in the air and swayed her hips against some guy she had found to dance with her.

“I’m going outside, I need some air,” I went to turn away, but she grabbed my wrist.

“just be back soon- we had a promise, remember?” she looked me dead in the eyes. Shit.

“fine, whatever,” I rolled my eyes and proceeded to find the front door and ignore any looks I got on the way there.

I breathed in the fresh air and my lungs caved in; it was holy. I took off my heels, they made my feet scream, and sat down on the sidewalk. I breathed and rubbed my blistered heels, that was when a car pulled up.

A car that was way too fancy ass for the area. I looked up to examine it, an Audi R8 had just rocked up beside me and the doors opened. I stood up to avoid being trampled over and that’s when I saw the occupants of this overpriced vehicle.

Five men, all dressed in pricy suits stood in front of me, an ear piece in some of their ears, my eyes were drawn to their sides, holsters. That meant guns. My hands shook violently, and I forgot how to speak or move. All that came out of my mouth was a tiny whimper, like a wounded dog.

“Get her,” one of the men said in a cold and emotionless tone, leaning back on the car and cupping his hand to light a cigarette, offering me a sick smile.

“Get her,” I repeated his voice in my head like a broken record, still unable to make my feet move.

Last Chapters

You Might Like 😍

Bella and Her Beast

Bella and Her Beast

21.6k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
For all the little girls who grew up wondering what happens after the prince kisses the girl—this is the story they never told you.
.
Locked in her frozen tower, Bella dreamed of warmth, of touch, of freedom and of love. Cursed with the power of ice and snow, she’s spent her life alone. A secret they tried to protect the world from. Her only escape comes in the form of the books she reads. Stories of heat, desire, and the kind of love that could melt even her frostbitten heart.
Damien is the Beast. A dragon King with a temper forged in flame and a soul hollowed by duty. The world fears him. The people call him a monster. But beneath the scales and the rage lies a man who has never been touched by love.
When frost meets fire, the world shatters. She was never meant to leave her tower. He was never meant to find her. But destiny doesn’t bow to kings or care for cages and now the question burns through them both: Can Bella have her Beast? Or will the girl of snow melt in the heat of his desire?

.
"I’m keeping her."
"What?"
Before I can react, he scoops her up. Her small body fits easily in the cradle of his talons. For a split second, she looks startled, but not afraid. Her hand rests against one scaled finger, and she stares up at him with that same curious wonder, as though she’s already forgotten she was ever meant to fear me.
"Put her down," I try to command, panic threading through my thoughts. "You’ll hurt her."
"She’s ours," the beast insists, possessive and fierce. "Our snowflake."
The Billionaire's Mask (A Dark Steamy Romance)

The Billionaire's Mask (A Dark Steamy Romance)

4k Views · Ongoing · Margarette Grey
​"I am a monster, Miss Hart. You wouldn't want nor wish to see me..." He is mysterious and brilliant, wealthy and prominent, but no single soul has seen him in person. Well, no one should see him—that's one of his many rules. No one can touch him either; that's another rule. Except for me because I have broken every rule. Now I'm extremely drawn to him. His peculiarity is out of this world, and his beauty is beyond physical. But the Master has demons of his own and is being chased by his brutal past. Suddenly, we've become the reflection of each other's nightmares. I realize that the Master and I are not so different. Is this newly found bond just another uncertain fate that could deepen our wounds, or is it finally going to be our redemption?
Chosen By The Lycan King

Chosen By The Lycan King

6.7k Views · Ongoing · IdeaInk Six Cats
“I want you, Tessa,” He whispered against my neck. Subconsciously, I arched my back into him. He groaned, his hands grabbing my ass. “No, scratch that, I need you,” He mumbled. “I’m not sure…” I trailed off. “I’m broken. I'm not the right person for you, Zane,” A soft moan escaped my lips as he bit down on my neck. “I-I’m not the best for you,” I whispered. “I don't care. You are mine,”***Tessa Griffin has always lived her life as the broken Omega. Even her own father hated her and when she realized her mate was the Alpha of her pack, Tessa was devastated because he despised her. When the Dark Lord attacked their pack and Tessa was given as a substitute and sacrifice to him, she never thought her life would take a amazing turn. Zane Pierce was rumoured to be the ruthless and cruel Dark Lord. He was known to use women for his pleasure and he knew nothing than be the cruel person he was until he met her. Darkness looked over Zane but she was his light and now that he found this woman…Zane wasn’t ready to let her go.
BROKEN TRUST

BROKEN TRUST

10.7k Views · Completed · O.J Thewriter
She broke their marriage. He walked away.

Neither of them knew she was carrying his child.

Emily’s affair didn’t just end her marriage—it erased the life she thought was guaranteed. Ryan left without looking back, carrying his anger like armor and leaving Emily alone with regret she would never outrun. Three years later, fate drags them back into each other’s world, along with a little girl who has Ryan’s eyes and a truth that shatters everything he thought he knew.

Old wounds reopen, grief masquerades as rage, and love refuses to stay buried. As parenthood binds them together and the past demands accountability, Emily and Ryan must face the question neither of them is ready to answer: is broken trust the end of their story… or the beginning of a love forged through loss, forgiveness, and brutal honesty?
Invincible Upon Release: The Strongest Mage

Invincible Upon Release: The Strongest Mage

1.6k Views · Ongoing · Autumn Bamboo Shoots
"His bride was labeled a madwoman, humiliated at the wedding and mocked by everyone—“She’s only fit for a murderer.”

Her family looked down on him, and even she herself said coldly: “You’re not worthy of being my husband.”

Everyone thought this newly released good-for-nothing was just a poor fool who’d taken the fall for his brother.

Thorne said nothing.

He merely raised his hand, gently pressing his bride’s forehead.

In an instant, the chaos in her eyes faded. Holy light surged from beneath the church, shooting into the sky.

The world’s only candidate for the Saintess, blessed with holy power, slowly opened her clear eyes before him.
Dangerous Love with the Mafia

Dangerous Love with the Mafia

6k Views · Ongoing ·
On the worst day of her life, Sarah Davis loses everything—her surgical residency, her home, and her dignity.
Driven out by her adoptive mother and sexually harassed by her boss, she stumbles into a seedy bar, desperate to drown her sorrows. There she meets Alex: sharp, devastatingly handsome, and impossibly charming.
What starts as a wild one-night stand blossoms into a tender, almost surreal romance—art galleries, riverside walks, and whispered promises that feel too perfect to be real. But when Alex vanishes without a word after a morning of gentle intimacy, Sarah is left with a hollow ache and a creeping doubt.
Their encounter was no accident. Behind Alex's blue eyes and skilled touch lies a darkness far deeper than she ever imagined—and the love that burned so bright may come with a price that could destroy her.
The Spy Who Left

The Spy Who Left

1.9k Views · Completed · Orion Vale
"She's naive. A pretty little socialite who got lucky marrying above her station."
"I still can't believe she actually did it. Aria Hart, filing for divorce. Who saw that coming?"
"How long do we think it'll take before she comes crawling back?" Another voice joins the conversation.
"Three days," Victoria declares. "Five at most. She has no money, no skills, no family. Where's she going to go?"
When Aria Chen divorced billionaire Leon Hart, New York's elite sneered, betting she'd crawl back within days. She never did.
Three years later, the world is rocked when Dr. Aria Vale, CEO of a revolutionary cybersecurity empire, steps into the spotlight. The mysterious genius who built a billion-dollar company from nothing is none other than Leon's discarded wife, the woman everyone thought was just a pretty ornament.
Now, every powerful man wants the queen Leon threw away a renowned scientist seeking partnership, a financial titan proposing an empire, and an actor offering devotion. Each sees the brilliance Leon ignored.
Then Leon discovers the truth: Aria's sacrifices, her secret double life, and the daughter she's been raising without him. For the first time, the man who once took her for granted must fight for her love. But can he compete with men who valued her from the beginning?
A story of love, betrayal, and power where the king must kneel before the queen who never needed saving.
The Lycan Kings and the White Wolf.

The Lycan Kings and the White Wolf.

133k Views · Completed · theresachipps
Trixie was twelve years old when her parents, the Luna and alpha of the pack, were killed in a rogue attack, or what she thought was a rogue attack. Since she was the only child, the only heir, she should have been next in line for the alpha position. Since she was only 12 her uncle took over as alpha. For 5 years her uncle and his family has mistreated her. Stripped her of her title. He has constantly tried to steal her inheritance her parents left her. With time not on his side, her uncle Melvin, signs her up for the yearly tournament being held at palace. Where he plans to finally end Trixie and finally get his hands on her money. Trixie’s luck changes when she’s finds her mates. The twin Lycan Kings.
The Family Books 1-3 (A Mafia romance)

The Family Books 1-3 (A Mafia romance)

2.7k Views · Completed · Emma Mountford
Saints and Sinners- She was the light to my dark.
The saint to my sinner. with her innocent eyes and devilish curves.
A Madonna that was meant to be admired but never touched.
Until someone took that innocence from her.
She left.
The darkness in my heart was finally complete.
I avenged her, I killed for her, but she never came back.
Until I saw her again. An angel dancing around a pole for money.
She didn’t know I owned that club. She didn’t know I was watching.
This time I won’t let her escape.
I will make her back into the girl I knew.
Whether she likes it or not.
2/ Judge and Jury- I can’t stop watching her.

I’m not even sure I want to.

Taylor Lawson, blonde, beautiful, and totally oblivious to how much dangers she’s in.

She’s also the one juror in my upcoming murder trial that hasn’t been bought.

The one who can put me behind bars for a very long time.

I know I should execute her.
After all that’s what I do.

I am the Judge.
I eliminate threats to The Family.
And Taylor is a threat.
But I don’t want to kill her.
Possessing her, making her love me seems like a much better plan for this particular Juror.

3/ Rags and Ritches-
The Rejected White Luna

The Rejected White Luna

9.3k Views · Completed · Elle Writes
"I, Kael Trevor Dominus, Alpha of Nightfang Pack, reject you, Aria Magnus, as my mate."
"No... You can't do that."
Those words shattered Aria's world in front of the entire pack.
As the daughter of the Alpha of Silver Moon Pack, Aria was born with a powerful legacy. But with a weak wolf that could never shift, she became a disappointment in the eyes of her own people. She was mocked, ignored, and treated as a weakness instead of the future Luna she was meant to be.
She believed finding her fated mate would finally change everything.
Until Kael rejected her publicly and chose another.
"Because a mate who cannot shift is no mate at all. She's a weakness. And weakness spreads."
Broken but refusing to surrender, Aria leaves the only home she has ever known. But fate has a different plan waiting for her.
When she crosses paths with another powerful pack, Aria discovers a shocking truth: she has been given a second chance mate. The only problem? She never expected him to be someone who could change her entire destiny.
With a new bond awakening hidden powers within her, Aria is no longer the weak wolf everyone looked down on.
Now she has the chance to make those who hurt her pay.
But when Kael realizes the woman he rejected has become the one person he cannot lose, he wants her back.
Will Aria choose revenge, or will she find a love greater than the betrayal that destroyed her?
“Burn those who burned me!”

“Burn those who burned me!”

193.9k Views · Completed · Toddria Holiday
Follow several different stories of betrayal and revenge as the main characters finally seek justice and payback of those who betrayed them!

Burn those who burned me is an anthology book circulated on truth; justice; and REVENGE!

Story #1 The Ballad of Rabena Price.
Story #2 The rebirth of Clara Granger
Story #3 The violin of Graceland Teague
Story #4 The list for Josie Taylor

Story #5 COMING SOON!
Where The Ice Gives Way

Where The Ice Gives Way

142.9k Views · Completed · Sheridan Hartin
Charlotte Pierce is used to surviving in motion. New towns, new schools, the same old house on the edge of nowhere, and the same rule that keeps her standing. Keep her twin brother, Charlie safe. Keep his hockey dream alive. Keep her own needs quiet. She works too much, sleeps too little, and saves the one thing that still feels like hers for the middle of the night, when she can lace up her worn skates and carve freedom into dangerous frozen ice. Charlotte and Charlie shifted once, years ago, and never understood what it meant. They had no pack, no guidance and no protection. Just two twins clinging to each other and pretending the voice in their heads was stress, imagination, or loneliness. Then they move to Wellington.
Blake Atlas scents his mate the moment Charlotte arrives. The bond hits hard and unmistakable, but Charlotte doesn’t recognise it. She doesn’t know why her chest keeps pulling toward the one boy she absolutely cannot afford to want. Blake is Charlie’s new hockey captain. Charlie’s chance at making something good. Charlie makes it clear; his sister is off-limits and Blake tries to do the right thing, but secrets don’t stay buried forever. Rogues prowl the edges of town. The ice cracks. The bond tightens. Then Charlotte’s rare white wolf awakens, the very thing that makes her powerful, also makes her a target.
Shanti needs Shakti. (Peace needs strength.)

Where the Ice Gives Way is a slow-burn YA paranormal romance filled with fated mates, protective alpha energy, fierce sibling loyalty, found family pack bonds, hurt/comfort, and quiet, aching tension. It’s a story about first belonging, learning to be cared for, and what happens when the girl who has always held everyone else up finally falls, and someone catches her.