Payment

By Olivia Ashers

When crime lord Adriano Castelli barges into my home with the intention of killing my whole family because of my father's debt, my sheltered life is ripped apart.

Instead of putting a bullet in my head, Adriano offers me a choice: marry him or die.

Soon I find out that being his wife means something completely different from what I expect.

He enjoys tormenting me and watching me squirm while I struggle to obey every command his deviant mind comes up with.

I hate him so much.

But I also crave his touch.

I crave the fire he ignites inside me.

Will it keep me warm or will it burn me to ashes?

.

A standalone dark mafia romance. Mature language and content, potentially triggering situations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olivia Ashers
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201406226

Book preview

Chapter 1

callie

HEY, CALLIE! MY SISTER snapped her fingers only a few inches away from my face.

What? I forced my gaze away from the book that I was reading and looked up at her.

Her curly long blonde hair framed her oval face, and her hazel eyes were surrounded by kohl.

Her tight black cocktail dress was short, and the top of it was covered with silver sequins that matched the glittery purse in her hand.

Me and my girls are going out, she said. Come with us. You don’t need to be stuck inside all the damn time.

No, you go. I’ll stay. I have to study for an exam.

She caught my arm, trying to drag me off the windowsill where I was nestled, with my back against the wall. You need to get out of your little bubble once in a while. These are our best years! You’re going to waste them!

No, I’m not. I like it here. But I hope you have fun! I flashed her a smile.

You used to like partying with me. Her brow furrowed. Now we barely even go anywhere fun together.

Well, that was before. Maybe we can go for a picnic this weekend.

She rolled her eyes. A picnic? Really? She groaned. Why do you like all the things that I don’t?

I shrugged. I’m helping Dad tomorrow morning too, so I can’t stay up late.

I’m pretty sure Dad would clean up the restaurant himself if you told him you wanted to go out and have some fun for once. You’ll burn out like this. I know you want to ace all your exams, like you always do. But we’re in college! Partying is part of the experience. We’re already missing out on a ton of fun because we still live at home and not on campus with everyone else.

Yeah, I know, and I don’t care. I prefer to study and help Dad rather than waste the whole night doing something I don’t even want to do.

Okay, fine. If you change your mind, just text me. Her high heels clicked against the floor as she strode away.

Sure, I said, but I already knew I wasn’t going to change my mind.

My room was safe.

It was my little sanctuary.

I was glad that my college was only a few blocks away from my family apartment. Living at home was way less stressful than living on campus.

If my sister and I hadn’t gotten scholarships, we probably wouldn’t have been able to afford to attend our community college.

My dad’s restaurant, Camellia, was doing okay, but there were a lot of costs related to running it, so I doubted we’d ever get rich. Still, I loved that cozy little restaurant, and I hoped that after my dad retired, I’d be the one to own it.

Whenever my schedule wasn’t too busy, I helped my dad, mostly with cleaning up, and sometimes with serving food too when he was short on staff.

Harper! I heard my mom’s voice loud and clear from the hallway. Where are you going?

Out! my sister yelled, probably from the door.

But your father is bringing over a guest for dinner.

So?

When are you going to be back? Before midnight, I hope?

Mom, I’m almost twenty. I’ll come back when I come back, okay? If you didn’t insist so much on me and Callie staying here, I would be living on my own already.

With what money?

I don’t know. I would’ve figured something out, Harper said.

All right. Go. My mom’s voice was filled with resignation. Just be careful out there. Dangerous people lurk in every corner.

Yes, Mom. I will. I swear you worry too much.

How can I not worry? The things that happen in our city—

Bye, Mom!

I heard the front door slam shut. My sister and my mom had had this conversation like a billion times before, and it always ended the same, with my sister leaving.

My attention returned to my book.

When the door screeched open a few minutes later, I furrowed my brow.

What is that noise? my dad asked.

Harper slammed the door. You’ll have to adjust it again, my mom said. Oh, hello, Mr. Laney.

Please call me Owen, a familiar male voice said.

Owen must’ve been at my dad’s restaurant, so that was why I recognized his voice.

I focused on my book again, but someone knocked on my open door, so I looked up.

Callie, my mom said. I need your help in the kitchen.

The lines around her brown eyes were more prominent, but her dark brown hair was lifted up into a perfect bun.

Okay. I lowered my book and hopped off the windowsill.

As I followed my mom to the kitchen, I caught a glimpse of Owen in the dining room.

Graying brown hair, dark eyes.

Yes, I’d definitely seen him at the restaurant, maybe even more than once.

Who’s Dad’s friend? I asked as I picked up a plate.

My mom had made a huge meal, and I had no idea how we were going to eat all that, but it smelled amazing, and I was instantly hungry.

Owen Laney. He owns that bar... What is it called? Black Panther? The one that’s just a block away from our restaurant, she said as she pulled out a roast from the oven.

Yeah, I know that place.

Can you please take these to the dining room?

Yes, of course. I grabbed another plate and headed to the dining room.

Ah, there she is, my dad said. Owen, this is my daughter, Callie.

Hi, I said with a smile as I placed the plates on the table.

I’ve seen you somewhere, Owen said.

At the restaurant, probably.

Yes, yes. That’s it. Nice to meet you, Callie.

You too.

My mom entered the room with more plates. Callie, you can sit down.

Are you sure? I can—

Yeah. I can do it on my own. My mom loved to take care of everyone and the house, especially when she wasn’t busy with her part-time job as a seamstress.

I took a seat, keeping a smile on my face.

You have a nice apartment, Owen said.

Thanks, but it’s always been my dream to buy a house. It’s a shame our neighborhood is so expensive, and with everything that needs to be done for the restaurant— my dad said.

That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Owen glanced at me. Maybe later. But I have a plan. I’ve already mentioned it to you. We’ll no longer be paying for the things that we don’t need.

My dad nodded.

I eyed them both, but I wasn’t sure what they were talking about. My dad wanted me to finish college before he started sharing his business secrets with me.

Once all the food was on the table, we dug in.

I wasn’t paying too much attention to the conversation because it was mostly about the things I had no interest in, especially when my mom and dad got all nostalgic about some music concerts they’d gone to as teens.

I was glad that no one was asking me anything.

When the doorbell rang, the room went silent.

Maybe it’s Harper, my mom said, her brow furrowing as she got to her feet. She often forgets her keys.

I didn’t think it was my sister.

If she’d forgotten her keys, she would’ve just called me to open the door at whatever point of the night—or day—she decided to return.

From the spot where I was sitting, I could see the door as my mom went to open it.

My eyebrows lifted up when I saw a handsome, tall, and lean stranger at the door.

His black hair was short and messy. His black leather jacket strained against his muscles, and I bit down on my lip. The stubble on his face made him look all the more delicious.

He must’ve gotten the wrong door. Why couldn’t I ever run into someone as hot as him at college? He was probably already done with college, though. I could only see guys like him in movies.

But there was an air around him that spelled trouble, and even though I couldn’t hear what he’d said to my mom, I knew something was wrong because she stumbled away from the door.

The stranger took a step inside.

Owen gasped.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my dad’s face going pale.

What was going on? Who was the guy?

Owen and my dad clearly knew him, but I’d never seen him before.

But the stranger wasn’t alone.

A whole group of men was with him.

Owen shot to his feet, his chair toppling over.

My gaze fell on the gun in the stranger’s hands, and my heart leaped into my throat.

All the other men, about seven of them, were armed, and one of them tightly gripped my mom’s arm before he shoved her to the floor in the dining room. Tears streamed down my mom’s face.

I didn’t know how, but I was on my feet.

My dad too.

I was frozen on the spot, unable to move, my eyes wide.

I hope you holed up in here so you can pay me what you owe me, the stranger said with a chilling smile, his icy blue eyes scanning the room.

Adriano, we can talk like— Owen started.

Shut the fuck up! Adriano snapped, his smile fading. Get down on your knees over there. He waved his gun in the direction of my mom. All of you! Now!

It’s going to be okay, my dad whispered to me as we obeyed, but I could barely hear him over the loud thudding of my heart.

Where’s my money? Adriano asked.

Please, my dad said. We need some more time. Things have been difficult over the past few—

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Adriano pointed his gun at my dad’s head. I don’t have time for your bullshit. Do you have my money or not?

My whole body was shaking all over.

We were all going to die.

We’re going to get it. I swear, Owen said.

You. Why should I believe a word you say? Adriano jabbed the barrel of his gun into Owen’s forehead. Do you know what I heard? I heard that you’re going around and telling people some bullshit about how you should all get together and call the cops.

That’s not true, Owen stammered. Please. Have mercy.

Adriano scoffed. You lie again. What should I do with you? He snapped his fingers. Hold him.

Two men with broad shoulders stepped forward and grabbed Owen by the arms. He tried to resist and get up, but they were too strong.

Adriano holstered his gun and looked around. A smile spread across his lips when his gaze landed on the big sharp knife my mom had left on the table.

No! Please! I beg you! Owen’s eyes were