Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss (Mob Boss’s Unexpected Twins Duet #1)

10. Chiara

CHAPTER 10

Chiara

I take a look around the restaurant and turn off the lights. It’s late, but everything is in its place. After locking the door, I race to the house. It took me longer to lock up than it should have, so I have to take a shower and get ready for bed as quickly as possible.

If I’m lucky, I’ll get maybe four hours of sleep before I have to get up again and open the restaurant. My dad said I could give the key to one of the waiters instead, but I was convinced I’d have enough time to do it myself before going to my morning classes.

I was clearly wrong because I haven’t realized how many things have to be done before closing since my dad usually does most of it. Cleaning up took longer than usual too because someone spilled wine all over the floor, and yeah, I stupidly refused help.

It’s all good practice, though. One day, the restaurant will be mine, and I’ll have to know how to run it on my own. My dad has spent many late hours there, and so will I.

I reach for the door handle and freeze. Why is the front door of the house cracked open? I glance at the key in my hand. Have I opened it without realizing it? It’s too dark to see. I always open the door almost automatically and most of the time I don’t even remember doing it.

Why does this time feel different? Like I haven’t unlocked it and pushed it open myself? I frown. No one else could’ve opened the door but me. I’m just tired and sleepy. My brain simply can’t keep up with it all anymore.

This is a safe neighborhood. We haven’t had a robbery in this area in, like, forever. My dad accidentally left the restaurant unlocked one night and absolutely nothing happened. Our neighbor doesn’t even lock his front door because there’s no need.

Still, I listen carefully for any noise coming from inside the house. Nothing. Only silence. I push the door wide open and step inside. It must’ve been me who unlocked the door. There’s no one else in—

Someone grabs me from behind and clamps a hand over my mouth before I can scream. I thrash and kick, but I can’t get free. Something crashes against the floor, probably a vase. I catch a glimpse of a shadow standing in the living room.

There are more of them! More of my attackers! I want to scream for help, but I can’t. My heart pounds so loudly in my chest I can barely focus. My brain is in overdrive, and my head is spinning. No!

The lights come on, blinding me. The hand vanishes from my mouth. Someone traps my wrists behind my back in a tight grip. I’m about to try to break into a run when I realize I’m surrounded.

The living room is full of armed, masked men. I gasp for breath, my whole body shaking in terror. There’s one guy who’s not dressed like the others and he’s not holding a weapon pointed at me. Instead, he’s looking away from all of us, probably taking a peek through the window.

He turns around.

“You,” he says, his widening for a moment before a smile spreads across his lips.

My breath catches. It’s Blue. It’s him. Oh hell. It’s him! What does he want from me? Why is he here? Who is he?

“You’re Chiara Paradossi?” he asks, strolling toward me.

Is that a trick question? Isn’t he here for me? I made another huge mistake. I thought I was finally safe, but yet again, I chose wrong. What is it with me and falling for the wrong guys every single damn time?

Tears well up in my eyes. Blue is worse than Filippo. At least Filippo didn’t have an army with him. I should’ve never gone to that club. I should’ve never gone anywhere with Blue. How could I have been so stupid yet again?

Men can’t be trusted.

Ever.

“Where’s your father?” He reaches out toward my face, and I turn my head away from him.

“Why?”

“I have some unfinished business with him.”

I don’t understand what he’s saying. “My parents aren’t here. Leave them out of this. Whatever it is that you want...”

I’d never let anything happen to my mom and dad because of me. And there’s no way my dad would be in business with a guy like Blue, or anyone who goes around with armed men.

“Then why don’t you call them and tell them to get here?”

“No.” I glare at him.

“No?” His eyebrows shoot up. “Can’t you see that this is about something serious? This isn’t the time for bravery. Nothing will happen to you or your parents if you cooperate.”

“What do you want?”

“Your father signed a contract when he took a loan from me. It’s time to pay me back... one way or another.”

“What loan?” I gape at him.

“Didn’t he tell you? He was about to lose the restaurant, and maybe even this beautiful home.” Blue looks around.

“You’re lying.”

My dad would never go to a criminal for money. He would’ve found another solution. And there’s no way my mom and I wouldn’t even know about it.

“Why don’t you call your dear old dad and ask him?”

I shake my head. What if it’s true? It’s a good thing my parents are safe at my uncle’s.

“Fine. I’ll track him down myself, and in the meantime... you and I are getting married.” He grins.

“What?” My voice is high-pitched as my throat constricts.

“When your father signed that deal, he also gave you to me as my wife. It has all been arranged. I was waiting for the right moment to activate that clause.”

“My dad would’ve never agreed to that!” I can’t imagine my dad ever signing a contract like that, unless he was forced to do it.

But then he would’ve gotten us all away from here a long time ago. My dad adores his restaurant, but he would never give up his family for it. I’m sure of it.

“Do you want to see his signature on the contract where it says so? It’s all on the same page too.”

“You tricked him! Such a contract can’t be legally binding!” It’s pure nonsense. It has to be.

“Legal. Illegal. Those are just words. I’m Adriano Gaviani and I don’t care about such things. You either comply or you die.”

“Adriano...”

It’s him. He’s the guy who wants to destroy my neighborhood. I slept with the monster who... Nausea rises at the back of my throat.

“You can’t do this! You’ll gain nothing if we’re married! Just leave and I won’t tell anyone about anything, okay?” I give him a pleading look. “We’ll pretend this never happened.”

“We’ll see about that. I need you, so you’re coming with me, and your father will have to make a hard choice. But first...” Adriano smiles as he looks at one of his men. “Rocco, the paperwork.”

Rocco steps forward with a piece of paper and a pen, and the guy holding my wrists lets go. But even though I’m free, there’s nowhere to go. Nowhere to run. They’ll just grab me again, or worse, shoot me.

“Sign this,” Rocco says.

I stare down at the paper. Marriage papers? Hell, I don’t want to sign anything. This isn’t how things are supposed to go.

But as I look up into Adriano’s cold eyes, he moves his hand toward his gun that’s in the holster at his hip. If I don’t sign, he’ll make me. Does it even matter if I sign a piece of paper confirming I want to marry him? No, it doesn’t. It’s not even on the list of my problems.

I take the pen and place the paper on the glass table, and then I sign whatever he wants me to.

Adriano turns to his men. “Take her.”

“No!” I scream, but the men surround me and I feel a pinch of a needle. Things start to go blurry around me, my movements slow and uncoordinated as I try to fight. My eyelids droop.

“No. I’ll do it,” Adriano says, but I have no idea what he’s talking about.

Someone picks me up in their arms. Blue? No, there’s no Blue. Blue was a happy dream. A person who doesn’t exist.

Now there’s only Adriano, and he’s pure evil. I’m a magnet for bad guys. If I ever survive this, I’m never, ever going near a man again.

Darkness falls down on me, and I can only hope that Adriano won’t be the end of my family.