Tricked Bride

By Olivia Ashers

When armed men barge into my home, threatening to kill my whole family if I don't marry their boss, Matteo Di Lorenzo, the only thing I can do is agree.

Matteo is in prison anyway, and all I have to do is visit him and relay coded messages between him and his crew.

Once I find myself in the middle of chaos, I realize I've just given him instructions on how to escape.

My dangerous and scary husband whisks me away with him, with no intention of ever letting me go, so I offer him my body to use any way he wants while I plot to run away.

The last thing I expect is the dark need inside me that consumes me every time he touches me. I'm determined to resist because falling for someone like him would be crazy.

But what if my heart has other plans?

.

A standalone dark mafia romance. Mature language and content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olivia Ashers
• Release date: May 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201570484

Book preview

Chapter 1

emma

I HUMMED AS I PLUCKED a few dry leaves off the flowers in the yard. A smile spread across my lips as I poured some water over the flowers. They were progressing so nicely.

I closed my eyes and lifted my head toward the sun.

So calm, and so peacef—

The noise of engines and the screech of tires pierced the air. I gasped, my eyes flying open, just as cars barreled into the yard, mowing down my flowers.

I hopped to my feet, stumbling back, my heart thudding loudly in my chest. Men I’d never seen before jumped out of the cars, guns in their hands.

My eyes widened as they started toward me. My throat constricted, my stomach plummeting.

I stepped back toward the front door just as my mom opened it.

Em— she started, a gasp escaping her throat, her brown eyes going wide.

Get inside! Now! a dark-haired, dark-eyed man shouted as he waved his gun at us while the others were getting closer.

What do you want? I choked out as I kept backing away.

My mom grabbed my arm, pulling me inside with her, but the man was only inches away from us and pointing his gun at my face.

Even if we wanted, we couldn’t slam the door in his face, and it probably wouldn’t help either.

There were too many of them, and they looked angry.

Very angry.

Please, my mom said, trying to step in front of me. Please don’t hurt us! Take whatever you want.

Were they here to rob us?

But the sun hadn’t even set yet. Weren’t they worried our neighbors would see them and call the cops? Their faces weren’t covered, and it wouldn’t be all that hard for any witnesses to recognize them.

Unless they were sure no one would dare to do anything against them or talk to the cops about them.

The man smiled, showing his teeth. Where’s Trevor?

A shudder ran down my spine.

Trevor was my brother’s name. What if the men weren’t here to rob us?

What if this wasn’t random?

I don’t know what— my mom said, and the man pressed the gun to her forehead.

She trembled next to me, and my breath got caught in my chest. Getting away or finding something so we could fight back was impossible.

We had nowhere to go, and the men were everywhere.

We’re going to die.

My dad and Trevor were supposed to come back from their car repair shop soon.

A part of me wanted them to be late so they wouldn’t run into these men, but another part of me also didn’t want them to find us dead.

Listen, lady, the man said. We only came for what’s ours, and Trevor has it. You give us what we want, and we’ll leave. You lie and pretend, you die.

My... My son’s at work, my mom said, tears filling the corners of her eyes.

Yeah, yeah. We know. He’s on his way here. The man grinned. Do you have my money then?

Money? How much? my mom asked.

Ten grand.

My mom’s jaw went slack, and my eyes widened.

Ten grand?

We didn’t have that kind of money. Maybe it was nothing to these guys, but it was a lot to us.

After paying the mortgage for our small one-story house, the lease for the car shop, which was two blocks away, and the rest of the expenses, we had very little left to set aside for the rainy days.

Trevor had had an accident at work a few months ago too, which had put another huge dent in our budget.

I worked as a waitress at a bar and my mom cleaned offices and houses as often as she could, and that used to be enough while the repair shop business was going well.

Unfortunately, a competitor had shown up a few months ago and opened a huge car repair shop not too far away from my dad’s.

Trevor had been looking for another job ever since, but no one seemed to need someone with his skill set around here.

I’d wanted to take a part-time job at a grocery store too, but Dad and Trevor had told me it wasn’t necessary.

Maybe I shouldn’t have listened to them.

Please, my mom said. We—

He’s here! someone shouted from outside.

My heartbeat quickened even more.

No, Trevor, please run!

Sit over there! the man with the gun snapped at my mom and me, nodding toward the old red sofa in our living room.

We had no choice but to obey, huddling together on the sofa. My mom squeezed my hand.

Trevor’s brown eyes were wide, his dark brown hair ruffled, as two men dragged him inside with them.

My mom cried out as one of the men hit Trevor with the back of his gun. Trevor fell down to his knees in the middle of the floor.

Quiet!

I held my mom’s hand even tighter as she sobbed.

Where’s the money? The man who’d been threatening us with a gun now moved closer to Trevor.

Franco, please. I— Trevor said, confirming that the men definitely hadn’t shown up at the wrong house for no good reason.

But how did they know my brother? What if they were the mafia and wanted protection money for the repair shop?

"Please? Franco laughed, curling his fingers in Trevor’s hair and forcing him to look up. You’re hilarious. I want my money. Now."

I don’t... I don’t have it.

You don’t have it? Franco’s face turned deadly serious. And how exactly did that happen, huh? You snorted our coke all by yourself or what?

Coke? As in, cocaine?

What?!

My brother was a lot of things, but he wasn’t a drug addict.

I would know if he was using. Or would I?

It was the cops, man. They were going to catch me, so I threw it away and ran.

My brother was selling drugs?

Oh, fuck.

I don’t give a shit. Franco none-too-gently patted him on the face. Give me my money right now, or I’ll kill you and your whole family.

No! Please! Trevor’s eyes bulged. I’ll get you the money! I just need a little time. Okay?

No. It’s not okay. We had a deal.

What’s going on here? my dad asked as two men marched him over to us.

Shut the fuck up and sit down, Franco said, pointing his gun at my dad’s pale face.

My dad’s bewildered dark brown eyes met mine as he sat in the armchair across from my mom and me, and then he raked a shaky hand through his graying brown hair.

Come on, Trevor. I don’t have time for this, Franco said.

I’ll pay you back. I swear! Give me a week!

Franco burst into laughter. A week! Do you hear this, boys? He looked at his men. He thinks this is a game! He thinks we’re not serious here! How about we show him? He turned toward my mom, my dad, and me. Which one of them dies first? Choose.

No! Trevor cried as Franco started toward my mom and me.

Please! my mom whispered through tears.

This one? Franco aimed his gun at me.

One of the men was watching me with narrowed eyes, and then he stepped forward, placing his hand on Franco’s arm.

What? Franco snapped.

The guy whispered something into Franco’s ear.

They both looked at me then, and Franco cocked his head, his eyebrows shooting up.

Oh hell.

They were going to do something to me, weren’t they?

You know what? Franco’s lips spread into a smile. Trevor, it looks like it’s your lucky day. I have an offer for you. Well, for your sister. His gaze met mine, and I shuddered.

No! Leave my sister out of this! Trevor tried to get to his feet, but one of the men pushed him back down.

What’s your name? Franco asked as he reached out for me.

I flinched away as he caught my chin. Emma.

Would you like to help your brother, Emma? He ran his finger over my cheek.

I only gave him a little nod.

Whatever it was, if we were all still alive and these men would leave us alone, I was willing to do it.

Come with me then, Franco said.

No! Please! My mom held my hand. Take me instead! Leave my daughter alone!

Only your daughter can save you now, but if you’d all rather die—

It’s okay, Mom. My voice trembled a little, and I cleared my throat. It’s okay.

Franco smiled as I got to my feet. I let go of my mom’s hand, and he grabbed me by the arm, leading me out of the room.

What was he going to do to me?

He pulled me into the kitchen and closed the door. I backed away from him, glancing at the knives in the holder.

Don’t even think about it, he said, lifting his gun. Stand over there.

I moved closer to the window, away from the things I could use as a weapon. But he had a gun.

What could I even do against him? And