Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91243 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
And put a bullet in my groom.
I got pregnant. Now I'm ruined. At least that's what my family says.
My only option is to marry a stranger and salvage what's left of my reputation.
I'm willing to do it… until Mass Cardone decides to take back what's his.
Mass is a monster ripped from my darkest nightmares. He’s a beautiful beast in designer suits with a body like an athlete and a stare that makes me break. His commands topple governments. His hands are drenched in blood. Every word from those beautiful lips cuts straight to my core.
We spent one night together and he gave me the best gift my daughter.
But I don't want him anywhere near my baby.
There's nothing I can do when he drags me to his private island and forces me to be his wife.
Mass is keeping secrets while pulling me deeper into his lair. I'm trapped in his bed, but I can hear screams beneath the floorboards.
If I can't escape soon, my daughter will grow up in a prison, and I'll be that psychopath's plaything for the rest of our days.
Cruel Surprise is a full length dark mafia romance with no cliffhanger and a happily-ever-after guaranteed. Check those content warnings and enjoy
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
ALLIE
Allie Russo, 23
The priest is missing. He was supposed to be at my wedding a half hour ago, but he still hasn’t shown up.
My father’s getting impatient.
“Can’t anyone just say the words? We can deal with the paperwork later.”
But some rituals and traditions can’t be changed, especially not in the deeply Catholic Cosa Nostra. Mother shakes her head and scowls at him. “Bad enough she made certain… mistakes.” She bounces my one-year-old daughter, Rosie, on her knee. “But to marry her without a priest? You might as well damn her straight to hell.”
“As if we’re not all bound there anyway,” Papa mutters, which only earns him another hard look. “Fine, we’ll wait, but if Father Michael’s not here in ten minutes, I’m getting up on that altar and performing the ceremony myself.” He storms out of my suite, probably heading off to make sure my future husband doesn’t back out at the last minute.
He had enough trouble finding me this match. He doesn’t need another year of searching for a man to make his ruined daughter at least somewhat whole again.
I can’t really pretend I’m upset by the delay. I busy myself in the mirror, fussing with my hair and makeup, even though they’re both finished. Mother’s frown only deepens. She’s surrounded by peeling wallpaper. A water stain lurks above her head. I keep telling myself I’m going to fix these rooms up, but I never do. I was only given this suite because I needed more space when Rosie was born. They never felt like mine.
“Don’t look so excited. A late priest isn’t going to get you out of doing the right thing.”
“I know that, Mama. I promise, I’m not happy.”
Mother scoffs, shaking her head. She doesn’t appreciate my humor at all. “You know how hard this has been on our family. As if life isn’t difficult enough. Your brothers are out every day earning and keeping this family afloat alongside your father, and all you had to do was keep your legs closed.” Her bouncing gets a little too aggressive, and Rosie starts to fuss. I quickly get up and take my daughter away. Mother composes herself and has the good sense to look somewhat ashamed as I place Rosie in her playpen.
“I’ve apologized a thousand times over.” I sit back down in front of the mirror, feeling small, thin, and emotionally squeezed. “I made a mistake, and now I’m going to make it right. I’m not trying to get out of this.”
“Good.” Mother stands abruptly. “I’m going to make sure everything is ready. And maybe I’ll find Father Michael too.” She pauses to kiss Rosie before she storms off, leaving me alone with my little girl.
Quiet settles in the room. I stare at myself, feeling like I’m going to shatter into a million little pieces at any moment.
And maybe that would be better for everyone. Mama can raise Rosie the way she sees fit, and I won’t be such a stain on everyone anymore. Except maybe my groom won’t be so happy, but I don’t really care what he thinks.
“You’re my priority now,” I murmur, lifting Rosie into my arms. She calls me mommy in her squeaking little voice and makes a bunch of cute noises. In another month or two, I bet she’ll be walking.
That’s my girl, a bundle of joy, energy, and pure mayhem.
I don’t know how I found myself here. For the millionth time since I realized I was pregnant, I wonder how I screwed up my life so badly.
But the strangest part is I wouldn’t go back and change anything.
There’s this game people play sometimes. They like to imagine what their life would be like if they could restart from the beginning with all their current memories intact. They talk about investing in Apple, buying Bitcoin, stuff like that.
I’d never take that deal.
For me, there’s a bright dividing line.
Before Rosie and after.
I wouldn’t go back because I can’t guarantee Rosie would be born. Even if I managed to make all the same mistakes in the exact right order, who knows which sperm hits that egg?
It’s funny to think of myself back then, before she came wailing into this world. I was so bored and empty. I spent all my time waiting for my father to find a match for me and sneaking out to go dancing in the city with friends. It was stupid, but I was twenty-one and had nothing else going on. So why not break a few rules? It wasn’t really hurting anyone.
That’s what I told myself anyway.
Now here I am, holding my baby daughter, waiting to marry a total stranger.
There’s a knock at the door. It opens and my brother Gabriel comes in. He’s the oldest, right at thirty, then there’s Dominic at twenty-eight, and little old baby me, the oopsie-baby. A mistake back then, a mistake now.