CLAIMED BY THE MOB BOSS

THE CONTRACT

RAVEN:

I cannot tell if it is the pain in my ankle, but I am f*****g losing my cool. Everything in this house is getting under my skin, including Dante.

“You can file for divorce if you have a lawyer,” he says, and I roll my eyes, crossing my arms. “But for now, you will sign this,” he says, grabbing the document.

“I will not sign what I do not know about. How do I know you are not planning to kill me or…”

“I will read it then,” he cuts me off.

“This is a two-year marriage contract between Dante Salvatore and Raven Russo.”

“Two years, why? Will you have my head at the end of it?”

He appears irritated by my question. “Can you let me finish before you bombard me with your questions?” he asks.

Forgive me for being curious, but I want to know what I am walking into.

“If at the end of the two years Raven Russo wishes to leave the marriage, then Dante Salvatore will let her go, but during this time, the following rules apply…”

He opens the document, staring into my eyes as he begins to read the horrendous things he has compiled.

Raven Russo acknowledges she belongs solely to Dante Salvatore and shall not indulge in any s****l relationship with any individual other than him.

Raven Russo shall reside within the East Wing of the house. Entry to the West Wing is strictly forbidden.

Raven Russo must show total obedience to Dante Salvatore and can demand whatever she wants if she complies.

On account of disobedience, Raven Russo will be meted s****l punishment in the black room of the mansion.

“Now, are you ready to sign?” Dante asks when he is done reading the rules.

“No!” I state.

“And why is that?” he asks, and I scoff.

“I suppose you did not have a human being in mind when you came up with these rules. I mean, how would you? When all you do is view women as objects who are solely there to please you.”

His brows wrinkle.

“What the f**k are you talking about?” he asks. “The contract clearly states I will give you pleasure at any time you want. Did that fly over your head?”

“Yes, but I cannot see any other person. I am f*****g bound to you, and what about you? You can go about f*****g other women?” I ask, and he lets out a chuckle.

“Already possessive about me? I like that,” he drawls with a smirk on his face.

“I am not trying to play your f*****g sick game. I am not some puppet you can move around the…” I stop when I notice my words only seem to rile him up positively. “You know what, Dr. Trevor seems hot, and maybe I will let him do more than massage my ankle the next…”

Before I can finish, his huge hands clamp around my throat. He presses my back to the headboard, caging me in between.

“You really liked him touching you, huh?” he grits his teeth, and I swallow hard.

My mouth parts with a gasp, staring at his angry face. He is f*****g hot. Oh, no. No, I should not be thinking of this. He is a self-centered monster who wants to take away my free will.

“Tell me!” He tightens his grip around my neck, sending stupid butterflies into my belly.

I have no clue when I developed a hard kink for choking, but I want more. Dante leans down and kisses my neck and bites down gently on my skin. Oh God. He knows exactly what I like.

Dante nibbles on my ear, and I let out a moan; he chuckles.

“You are a f*****g liar, Raven.” He pulls away. “If you want me, then you sign the f*****g papers; if not, nothing can happen between the both of us.”

He gets off the bed. “And if you really want Trevor, then get ready to prepare for his f*****g funeral.”

With this, he leaves the room. I grab a pillow, pressing it onto my face. I let out a loud scream, wanting to bury myself for f*****g humiliating myself. Why can I not stop wanting this f*****g man?

DANTE:

“Say your last prayers!” the man yells, pulling the trigger.

The bullet penetrates my shoulder, and I fall backwards into the river. Slowly I drift out of consciousness, praying my rosary mentally.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.” My eyes shut completely.

Shortly, I hear her soft voice rushing in my direction.

“Come back, Rocky, do not wander off!” she yells, and I hear frantic footsteps pounding into the soil as I slowly lose my life. “Daddy will be angry, Rocky!” she yells, and the dog barks, rushing towards the river until it comes to a halt.

“Ro…” she barely finishes her sentence as she sees my body afloat. “Oh my God, Rocky. We need to help him!”

The dog barks as it swims towards me. Her arms wrap around me, trying to pull me out, but I am too heavy for her tiny frame. She beckons to her dog, who helps her, and they put in so much effort pulling me onto the riverbank.

She dials the emergency unit while pressing down on my chest to get the water out of my system. Her hands move gently around my body, and my eyes flutter open for the last time, capturing her ocean-blue eyes before they are completely shut.

Suddenly I am being lifted up on a stretcher, and I open my eyes to a group of masked people holding up surgical equipment, trying to stab me.

“Where is she?” I ask, and they look at me strangely. “The girl who saved me,” I continue, and the head doctor takes on the face of Trevor, pointing towards the door. It opens up to Raven holding a gun.

“Good night, Dante,” she says, then she pulls the trigger, and I yelp in pain, falling into a spiralling black loophole.

“No!” I yell, jerking up from sleep to see I am in my room, and it was all a dream.

My heart palpitates, and sweat crawls down my forehead. The timer reads 5 p.m. Suddenly, my phone beeps, startling me.

“f**k!” I curse, grabbing the phone with a shaky finger. Then I see a message from the godmother.

“I heard you got married. I am coming over for dinner.”

I am f****d.