Family they say is everything, but when Alexandra "Lex" Dellarosa's family is compelled to sell her off to a mysterious buyer who turns out to be a ruthless Mafia Boss, Alfredo "The Butcher" Fabri, she's torn between her duty to her family and her quest for freedom. As the paths of these duo cross once again, long buried secrets are unearthed, Hearts are broken and Lives are taken as they navigate their way through the ruthless world of organized crime, family, loyalty and cultural tradition.
Alfredo Fabri POV
As you might already know, I am Alfredo Fabri.
Within the Family, I simply go by Fabri, but outside the Family, they call me "The Butcher".
Why, you ask?. Well, if you stick around long enough, then you might just find out.
All my life, I've always been second.
Second this, second that, and currently I am Sottocapo, ranking as the second to the Boss of the Colombo Family. I know, it sucks, but that's reality.
A street riff raff once called me "second to none" once. Unfortunately for him, he neither knew my history nor how much I've grown to detest the word. I didn't ask him what he actually meant by that, and I can't do that now either, because he no longer resides on planet earth.
È finita (it is finished). Yes, he is dead. I know right, How did that happen?
What have I done about changing the condition of things, you say? Well, I've fought tooth and nail and I've gone lengths to conquer beasts and the likes of them with my very bare hand.
You don't believe me now, do you?Well your answer doesn't matter, you can see for yourself.
__
"Lil Joe,you feel so big now don't you?"
The Don, Paolo Romano's voice rang across the rooms of the Colombo's family's Palatial. It didn't require a soothsayer to tell the members that Paolo, "The Jackal" as he was notoriously known as, was furiously mad.
It had for weeks now become a trait that seemed unavoidable to the residents of the Family, and in all honesty, it was becoming hella annoying in here.
Paolo spoke to no one besides the Consigliere, Marco and I, the Underboss about the mess we had going on with Lil Joe.
"When do I get my money?, you're messing with the wrong Dog, Joe, I'm certain you're aware" He continued, honing out flames from the bellows of his mouth.
It was popular opinion that "The Jackal" wasn't one to be messed with, and anyone who had an outstanding business with him, made no mistakes to leave it pending. But Lil Joe, an associate of the Colombo's had overnight seemed to grow some wings, and had gone rogue with The Don's money. Rumor had it that he had sworn an oath of loyalty to the Gambino's.
You see, in this line of business, Loyalty for your family is a valued commodity. It is an unspoken notion but it is loud enough for anyone with two ears to hear.
"Don't hang up on me Lil Joe, Dont-" The look on the Don's face expressed his shock. He needn't say another word Lil Joe had hung up on Paolo. In that moment, I guessed that we all had for a flash moment pondered over the guts Lil Joe had seemed to acquire.
"That lil piece of crap!!!" The Don went on cursing as he rummaged the room with his unsure pacing.
"I told you not to associate directly with Lil Joe, it just speaks so lowly of what you've become." I said as I took a long sip from the cup of coffee I had in hand while everything played out.
"With all due respect" I added as Paolo flashed a death glare towards my direction as if to question the temerity of my statement.
"All I'm saying is this, What would the Family say when they find out that the Don got duped by an associate?" I continued, letting out a sarcastic chuckle.
"Watch it Fabri" Marco flashed
"With all due respect" I added again, gesturing with both arms in the air to signify that I meant no harm.
"Look Marco, I am simply trying to be plain here, void of sentiment. The Don has nothing to talk about with a mere associate but again Sentiment was brought Lil Joe into the picture and here's the result"
"I had voiced my opinions against assigning Lil Joe with a task that huge, but then again, I'm not Consigliere, so my opinions hold on weight when they're in direct contrast to yours Marco" I added in a breath, flashing a glance towards Marco's direction.
"But you have to admit, at times I give way better advice than you do. Because now, had it been my words were taken for it, we'd have kept Lil Joe put, in his place, and we'd still have our frickin $30,00 in the bag" I finished, my voice over the top this time.
"Don't you put that on me-"
" Stop it!" Paolo lashed out, cutting Marco off, banging his hands against the sleek boards of the table. I could have sworn that they didn't get off scarred.
"What's been done has been done"
"And you're right Fabri, Lil Joe could have been kept in his place and he still can!" Paolo added, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"What do you mean Still Can? Lil Joe's apparently under the umbrella of them disgusting Gambino's. How he got in, I don't know, but I do know he's got some coverage" I said, letting down my cup of coffee.
"I think we should break the news to the Family. Marco, I suggest you take the blame for this. You are Consigliere for a reason and you can come up with something. It seems like the only resolution at this point, and it'd give us some leverage because now we can work together to get the money back" I let out , directing my glance towards Marco.
"What do you mean take the blame for it?" Marco added, unable to hide his disapproval to all I had just said.
"You heard me right Marco, You're Consigliere, this is where you step in, make sure everything falls in place, protect the best interest of the Don" I spewed, but the expression on Marco's face signified that he wasn't having any of it and he'd give anything to leave the room that instant.
"Why don't you take the fall for it?" He said, fondling with both of his hands as he spoke.
In all Honesty, it was a funny sight. The thing about Consigliere, tough as they seem, loyal as they might be, rationale and smart as they portray themselves to be, in there somewhere, there's just a self will that does nothing but think about themselves. A little heat, and you'd see them crack under the intensity.
Despite undergoing the ceremonial oath of loyalty with the saints, there's still a remnant of self will that fights the bulk of loyalty attained. It's the basic concept of being a Human.
"Stay in your lane, Marco," I warned.
"I'll be back, I need to go take care of something" Paolo said, cutting in abruptly, reaching for the pistol beneath the table's drawer and tucking it into the length of his pocket.
We'd suggested tagging along, but he stopped us from doing so. He was most definitely annoyed by the back and forth between me and Marco, but we never did get an opportunity to apologize, because that was the last we saw of him.
Dead or alive we are yet to find out.
Trigger warning!!! Intended for mature readers who enjoy morally complex, slow-burn, poseesive, forbidden, dark romance that pushes boundaries. ***EXCERPT*** Blood everywhere. Trembling hands. "No!" My eyes blurred. His lifeless eyes stared back at me, his blood pooling at my feet. The man I loved-dead. Killed by the one person I could never escape - my stepbrother. *** Kasmine's life was never hers to begin with. Kester, her stepbrother, controlled and monitored her every move. At first, it was all sweet and brotherly until it began to turn into an obsession. Kester was the Alpha, and his word was law. No close friends. No boyfriends. No freedom. The only consolation Kasmine had was her twenty-first birthday, which was supposed to change everything. She dreamt of finding her mate, escaping the sickening control of Kester, and finally claiming her own life. But fate had other plans for her. On the night of her birthday, not only was she disappointed that she wasn't mated to the love of her life, but she found out that her mate was none other than him - Her tormentor. Her stepbrother. She'd rather die than be mated to a man whom she had known as her big brother all her life. A man who would do just anything to make sure she was his. But when love turns to obsession, and obsession turns to blood, how far can one girl run before she realizes there is nowhere else to run to?
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
For as long as Emily can remember, she has wanted to overcome her shyness and explore her sexuality. Still, everything changes when she receives an invitation to visit one of the town's most prestigious BDSM clubs, DESIRE'S DEN. On the day she chose to peruse the club, she noticed three men, all dressed in suits, standing on the upper level, near the railing. Despite her limited vision, she persisted in fixating on them. Their towering statues belied the toned bodies concealed by their sharply tailored suits-or so she could tell. The hair of two of them was short and dark, and the third had light brown-possibly blond-hair that reached the shoulders. The dark, crimson background incised their figures, exuding an air of mystery and strength. They stood in stark contrast to the unfiltered, primal energy that pulsed through the club. Shocked by the desires these men aroused in her, she was disappointed to learn that they were masters seeking a slave to divide and conquer. She couldn't afford the fee, and she also realized that they were outside her league. Emily hurriedly left the club, feeling disappointed and depressed, unaware that she had also caught the group's attention. A world of wicked pleasure, three handsome men. Over the years, they have lived a life of decadence, their lavish lair serving as a stage for their most sinister desires. But despite the unending parade of willing subjects, one woman sticks out. A mysterious stranger with white porcelain skin and a killer body, a slave, a name with no address, the first lady to attract their eye and they will go to any length to obtain her no matter the consequences.
Once upon a time, there were two kingdoms once at peace. The kingdom of Salem and the kingdom of Mombana... Until the day, the king of Mombana passed away and a new monarch took over, Prince Cone. Prince Cone, has always been hungry for more power and more and more. After his coronation, he attacked Salem. The attack was so unexpected, Salem never prepared for it. They were caught off guard. The king and Queen was killed, the prince was taken into slavery. The people of Salem that survived the war was enslaved, their land taken from them. Their women were made sex slaves. They lost everything, including their land. Evil befall the land of Salem in form of Prince Cone, and the prince of Salem in his slavery was filled with so much rage. The prince of Salem, Prince Lucien swore revenge. 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳 Ten years later, thirty-years old Lucien and his people raided a coup and escaped slavery. They went into hiding and recuperated. They trained day and night under the leadership of the fearless and cold Lucien who was driven with everything in him to get back their land, and take Mombana land too. It took them five years before they ambushed and attacked Mombana. They killed Prince Cone and reclaimed everything. As they screamed out their victory, Lucien's eyes found and pinned the proud princess of Mombana. Princess Danika. The daughter of Prince Cone. As Lucien stared at her with the coldest eyes anyone can ever possess, he felt victory for the first time. He walked to the princess with the slave collar he'd won for ten years rattling in his hand as he walked. He reached close to her and with a swift movement, he collared her neck. Then, he tilted her chin up, staring into the bluest eyes and the most beautiful face ever created, he gave her a cold smile. "You are my acquisition. My slave. My sex slave. My property. I will pay you in spades, everything you and your father ever did to me and my people." He stated curtly. Pure hatred, coldness and victory was the only emotion on his face. .
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
After two years of marriage, Kristian dropped a bombshell. "She's back. Let's get divorced. Name your price." Freya didn't argue. She just smiled and made her demands. "I want your most expensive supercar." "Okay." "The villa on the outskirts." "Sure." "And half of the billions we made together." Kristian froze. "Come again?" He thought she was ordinary—but Freya was the genius behind their fortune. And now that she'd gone, he'd do anything to win her back.