Raven's Kiss

I'M NOT MARRYING HIM AND THAT'S ON PERIOD!!! echoes of my voice filled the room, and almost immediately dead silence. It's been barely two minutes since my parent exposed their long hidden secret.....marrying me off to someone I know nothing, absolutely nothing about. "Diana, please" comes my mom's voice, she sounds broken but I don't care, "..........but you're doing it to save us all" "What could be worse than this.....than marrying me off to a bastard" "Hello Diana" comes a firm masculine voice from behind, different from the one I'm used to and at least unique enough to steal my attention

Chapters

Chapter 1

---

Diana's POV

"I can't believe I'm just finding this out now!"

I'm pacing in the living room-confused, pissed off, surprised, and, honestly, a little hurt. What is this, the 90's? Who still does arranged marriages? I can't believe my parents right now. And what's worse than finding out you're getting married to a total stranger without your consent?

Finding out three days before the wedding.

"Diana, we didn't want to tell you earlier because we wanted you to live normally, without counting down to when you'd have to marry someone you may not wa-"

"Really, Dad? You're going with that?"

My eyes are dead. I stare at him, disappointed, then turn to Mom. "Mom?"

"I'm sorry, honey."

Now I'm furious. "At least try to convince me or something! And stop avoiding eye contact like cowards."

I storm off to my room and slam the door hard enough to shake the frame, then throw myself onto the bed.

I'm not even angry about the arranged marriage itself. It's not like I'm in love or anything, and I barely look twice at any guy. I'm angry they didn't think it was important to tell me earlier-and that they're too embarrassed to even explain it to my face.

---

Three hours later, there's a knock on my door.

"Diana."

"What, Celine?" I don't bother hiding my irritation. I'm in no mood to talk to anyone.

"Uh..." She slowly pushes the door open. I don't turn; I'm lying with my back to the door, scrolling through TikTok.

"Huh... um..." She keeps clearing her throat. Great, my parents probably sent her to convince me to accept this whole mess.

"Celine, I'm really not in the mood, so if you could just-"

"Hello, Diana."

My entire body freezes.

There's only one man-besides my father-my parents would allow into my room right now.

I slowly sit up and turn around.

...Oh.

Oh, shit.

This man is handsome.

___

Roland's POV

10:34 a.m. On a Saturday.

Why am I even at the office?

I'm bored, hungry, and tired of being bored and hungry. My left fingers tap a rhythm on my desk as I sway in my chair, while my right hand signs yet another stack of paperwork.

I remember I'm getting married in three days.

Damn.

I don't even know what she looks like, or what she's like. What if she's ugly or ill-mannered?

Well, my parents wouldn't put me in that situation, so I guess I'm safe.

Still... twenty-seven years of freedom, and now I'm getting cuffed forever-to a stranger.

My phone rings. I pull it out of the drawer.

"Hey, Mom."

"Hey, baby. Where are you? I'm at your place."

"I'm at work. Why? Is anything wrong?"

I hear hesitation in her breath.

"Well... I was hoping we could go see Diana. Her parents said they're having a hard time with her about Tuesday."

So that's her name. Diana.

I'm already curious. "It's fine. I'll go. Send me the address."

"All right. Oh, and Roland-be nice."

"I'll try my best. Bye."

"Bye."

---

Over an hour later, we're driving into an older-looking estate-not small, but quiet. Dave is behind the wheel while I sit in the back. The car stops in front of a house where a man and a woman-middle-aged-walk out to greet me.

I step out.

"Good afternoon." I offer a small bow.

"Roland, how are you?" the woman speaks first. "I'm Rachel, Diana's mother." She opens her arms for a hug.

I do not care for hugs. Or people. I never have.

"Sorry," I say flatly. "I'm not a hugger."

Her arms fall back to her sides, smile stiff.

The man steps in. "Dylan, Diana's father." He offers his hand. I accept it.

"Pleasure to finally meet you, Roland."

"Yes, of course. My mom asked me to talk with Diana."

"Of course. Celine!" Rachel calls. A moment later, a teenage girl appears.

"Can you get your sister? Let her know she has a visitor."

"She won't come down, Mom, you know that."

Her words are for her mother, but her eyes are on me. Not warm. Not friendly. Cold. Apprehensive.

"Then just show me to her," I say.

The parents exchange looks-silent conversation-before Rachel nods.

"This way."

Celine leads me upstairs, quick and quiet. After a right turn, she stops at a door. She hesitates, then knocks softly.

"Diana."

"What, Celine? I'm not in the mood to talk to anybody."

The voice is firm.

Strong.

Celine opens the door slowly. "Uh..."

The people in this house are scared of her. Interesting.

But the hesitation is getting boring. And this Diana girl? With her attitude? She's already irritating me.

I step into the room without waiting to be invited

*********

Continue to next part

The Duke was standing in the middle of the room, his hands in his pockets, his head tilted to one side. It was a relaxed, casual pose, and yet the way he looked at her was anything but casual. The deep midnight of his eyes burned and he radiated a subtle, sensual energy that made the air around him crackle. He looked like a man who'd never heard the word 'no' in all his life. Unluckily for him, 'no' was the only word she had. "There's no reason why I should stay," Anna clasped her shaking hands together in an effort to still them. "I'm not marrying you." His gaze flickered, his mouth curving slightly, and she had the disturbing thought that far from putting him off, her insistence was only inciting him further. "But you haven't heard my proposal yet," he said mildly. "Isn't that why you're here?" "I don't need to hear it. I already know that my answer will be no." "Of course. But you can hardly tell your father that you heard me out when you haven't, in fact, heard me out.... Anna."

Action Mafia Modern

7.1

Bound by the Mafia Lord's Gilded Chains

7.1

One look was all it took for the Golden Wolf to mark his prey. To the glittering elite of Milan, Dante Moretti is a god among men, a billionaire mogul whose Midas touch turns every gold future into an empire. But beneath the bespoke Italian suits and the cold, amber eyes lies a monster. Sworn in as the new Capo of the Moretti Syndicate over his father's open casket, Dante is a man who rules with an iron grip and a heart of stone. He doesn't ask for what he wants. He takes it. Then he saw Bianca. Bianca Rossi is a creature of light, an innocent art student who finds beauty in the shadows of Milan's back alleys. She lives for her canvas and her dreams, unaware that a chance encounter in a midnight storm has placed her in the sights of the city's most dangerous predator. Dante doesn't just want her. He is obsessed. Using his billions like a silken web, Dante orchestrates a "gilded cage" for Bianca. From anonymous scholarships to lavish "chance" encounters, he draws her into a world of blood-stained gold and lethal power plays. But Bianca is no porcelain doll. Behind her soft beauty lies a fierce, indomitable spirit that refuses to be bought-or broken. As a brutal war with the Ricci family threatens to burn Milan to the ground, Bianca must choose: flee the man who stalks her dreams, or stand beside the Wolf and become his Queen. In a world where loyalty is paid in blood and love is a lethal weakness, will Dante's possessiveness be their salvation... or their ultimate destruction?

Mafia Modern Romance

7.8

Poisoned Crown, Awakened Wolf

7.8

Once the Obsidian Syndicate's pride, Alpha heiress Elara Vance finds herself crippled after a betrayal by her fated mate, Julian. While he believes his poison silenced her wolf, Elara secretly witnesses him replacing her with his mistress and hidden son. Forced to play the victim, she escapes to the territory of Kaelen Cross, a cold rival lord. By forging a risky alliance with Kaelen, Elara seeks to restore her magic and prove that a wounded wolf is the most lethal predator of all.

Fantasy Mafia Romance Werewolf

8.9

Taming The Mafia Boss - Book 1

8.9

Marco Falcone is the new boss of the Camorra mafia, raised his entire life to take this position, with his training beginning early. He endured the worst atrocities and committed many monstrosities, earning the reputation as the Demon of the Camorra. When a union agreement with the Cosa Nostra is rejected, and they decide to give the Don's daughter in marriage to a rival mafia, Marco makes a decision. Angela Mancini never had the life she dreamed of; she was shaped and taught how to behave, how to be the perfect mafia wife. She knew it was only a matter of time before her father pushed her into an arranged marriage. But she never imagined she would be kidnapped on her big day by the Camorra boss himself, the most feared and ruthless man in the mafia. He didn't expect the innocent and virginal princess to drive him wild with attraction. Meanwhile, she is willing to do anything to avoid being destroyed by his monstrous nature. But how could they escape their own hearts?

Mafia Modern Romance

7.4

The Don's Dangerous Addiction

7.4

"Take them off yourself, or I will do it for you." Ten sessions. Two hundred thousand dollars. Her brother's life for her body. Dr. Avery St. Clair signed a contract in blood. To save her family, she has to fix the mind of Obsidian City's most feared monster, Dominic Kessler. He's a Mafia Don rotting from the inside out. A bullet gave him C-PTSD and a touch so sensitive he can't stand being touched. Avery is the only antidote who can calm him down. So he locked her in his villa. But Dominic is playing a game he's already lost. He doesn't know Avery is the woman from seven years ago. The stranger who saved him on that dark gambling ship and disappeared before sunrise. He doesn't know the scar on his wrist is burned into her memory. And most of all, he doesn't know the autistic little girl hiding in her clinic is his own daughter. While Avery hides the truth behind her professional mask, their little girl feels his every nightmare. Every flashback. Every crack in his monster mask. When the secrets finally come out, his empire will fall. He'll lose his sight. His throne. The only woman who ever made him feel human. To win her back, he'll have to destroy the monster he became. And help her burn down the man who murdered her parents. She won't make it easy. This is not a love story. It's a monster learning to beg. Why read this? Obsessive Mafia Hero Secret Baby with an Autistic and Gifted Daughter Identity Reveal "Touch Her And You Die" Energy Massive Groveling and Revenge A Heroine Who Fights Back No Cheating. Happy Ending Guaranteed.

Horror Mafia Romance

9.6

The Mafia King's Unwanted Pregnant Wife

9.6

While I was pregnant, my husband held a party downstairs for another woman's son. Through a hidden mental link, I overheard my husband, Don Dante Rossi, tell his consigliere he was going to publicly reject me tomorrow. He planned to make his mistress, Serena, his new mate. An act forbidden by ancient law while I carried his heir. Later, Serena cornered me, her smile venomous. When Dante appeared, she shrieked, clawing her own arm and blaming me for the attack. Dante didn’t even look at me. He snarled a command that froze my body and stole my voice, ordering me from his sight as he cradled her. He moved her and her son into our master suite. I was demoted to the guest room at the end of the hall. Passing her open door, I saw him rocking her baby, humming the lullaby my own mother used to sing to me. I heard him promise her, “Soon, my love. I’ll sever the bond and give you the life you deserve.” The love I felt for him, the power I’d hidden for four years to protect his fragile ego, all turned to ice. He thought I was a weak, powerless wife he could discard. He was about to find out that the woman he betrayed was Alessia De Luca, princess of the most powerful family on the continent. And I was finally going home.

Mafia Modern Romance

Raven's Kiss

Chapter 1

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