Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
At the lowest point in my life, I walk into the busiest club, hoping to get a job. Somehow, I end up on stage, being told to strip, and before I can even decide if I’m desperate enough, a terrifying man orders me to leave.
I do my best to ignore my fear as I follow him to his office, not knowing it’s about to cost me everything.
Turns out I’m more desperate than I thought, and I swallow my pride and beg.
But Adriano Rizzo doesn’t offer me employment.
Nope, he makes me a deal that’s hard to refuse.
I tell myself I can handle whatever he demands of me.
Boy, am I wrong.
Hidden in the fine print, I didn’t bother to read, is a clause I never saw coming.
Marry him. Or I walk away with nothing and end up back on the streets.
While I’m still trying to decide, he changes the rules, and before I know it, I’m saying my vows to a man I barely know. To make matters worse, just as we leave the church, he pulls out a gun and empties it into some poor soul. Right in front of me!
That’s when I learn the truth…
Adriano Rizzo isn’t just some heartless, filthy-rich club owner.
He’s a boss in the Cosa Nostra, and I’ve just married into a world that’s violent, ruthless, and deadly.
STANDALONE: A Standalone Mafia Romance
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Family Tree
ADRIANO RIZZO
↓
Family Business: Cosa Nostra
Father: Angelo Rizzo (Tempted By The Devil)
Mother: Vittoria – Tori – Rizzo (Tempted By The Devil)
Brother: Remo Rizzo
Best Friends: Augusto Vitale (Craving Revenge) & Georgi Torrisi (Possessive Enemy)
Godfather: Damiano Falco (God Of Vengeance)
LAURIE BARNES
↓
She’s a regular person who knows nothing about the Cosa Nostra.
Father: Danie Barnes
Stepmother: Tracey Barnes
Half sister: Emily Barnes
Half brother: Tyler Barnes
Mother: Janet Reynolds
Stepfather: Mark Reynolds
Stepsister: Ashley Reynolds
Best Friend: Elise De Smet (Online)
Chapter 1
Laurie
Adriano Rizzo, 36. Laurie Barnes, 25.
After locking up, a tired sigh escapes me as I glance up and down the street.
I can hear a faint beat of music coming from the club, Fallen Angels, that’s situated on the corner. My eyes glide over the long line of people waiting to get in. Even though it’s chilly tonight, most of the women are wearing short dresses.
Wrapping my cardigan tighter around myself, I begin to walk toward the intersection.
I’ve been working late the past two weeks, crunching numbers and putting together next year’s budget for all the current and upcoming jobs.
I feel it’s a waste of time, though. The construction company I work for never sticks to the budget. I swear, Heather only makes me do them because she knows how much I dislike them. Ever since I started dating Austin, her younger brother, she’s been bitchy toward me.
I’ve tried bringing it up to Austin, but he always takes her side and tells me I’m too sensitive. He works on-site with Jason, the owner and Heather’s husband, so he’s never around to see how she treats me.
To make matters worse, I don’t even get overtime. When I think of my crappy salary, that hasn’t changed over the past three years, bitterness crops up in my chest.
The itch to look for a new job creeps under my skin.
Things haven’t been great between Austin and me. I feel like nothing more than his glorified maid. Even when I work late, he doesn’t bother helping around the house.
When we started dating, he wasn’t my type, but I gave him a chance because he seemed like a good guy. The first year was great, then things got a little stale the second year, and over the past few months, it feels like I’ve faded into the background. It’s as if I’m just another piece of furniture instead of the woman he’s supposed to love.
Am I the problem?
It’s the same with my family. After my parents got divorced and married other people, their new families were all that mattered, and I became the mistake from their past they were forced to keep around.
Stopping at a traffic light, a black G-Wagon draws my attention as it stops right in front of the club’s entrance.
Some of the women standing in the line become visibly excited, and when the back door of the expensive SUV opens, they start to shout, like the person getting out is some big-name celebrity.
Curious myself, I look at the man as he climbs out, and when he adjusts his leather jacket, my eyebrows lift with appreciation because he’s very attractive. The next instant, he glances in my direction and our eyes lock.
It’s only for a couple of seconds, but something about the dark expression on his face makes all my alarm bells go off, and while the other women lose their minds for him, I tear my gaze away and quickly cross the street when the light turns green.
I keep my head lowered and my arms wrapped around myself, but my curiosity wins out, and as soon as I reach the curb, I sneak another glance.
The man ignores all the women as he walks to the entrance, and I wonder who he is. He pats the bouncer’s shoulder, and just as I’m about to lose sight of him, his head turns, and once again, our eyes meet.
Shit.
My face turns beet red as I pick up my pace, darting down the street and away from the club.
During the forty-minute commute, my thoughts turn from the attractive guy at the club to Austin and the chores waiting for me at home.
Checking the time on my phone, I see it’s almost ten pm.
I have to do a bundle of laundry before we run out of clothes.
When I’m near the house, I dig my keys out of my handbag before stopping by the mailbox to check if there’s anything.
Seeing two envelopes and a bunch of flyers, I grab them, and when I go into the house, I’m met with the sound of a man’s voice droning on about ancient pyramids on the TV.
I place the mail and my keys on the side table near the front door. “Austin?” I call out while digging my phone out of my bag before setting it down as well.
“What?” he mumbles from the living room.
“I’m home.”
“Mm.”
I notice there’s a text from Elise, my only friend. I met her in a reader’s group, and we got along really well. One thing led to another, and after four years, she’s the only person who really cares about me. Even though she lives in Belgium and we’ve never met in person, I love her.