The Brutal Don's Captive

ISABELLA

I walked into the cozy little building in front of me-Ramona Cafe-hoping, with all my heart, that I wasn't too late and that she hadn't run out of the scrumptious chocolate croissant I loved so much. Even if there was only one left at this point, I'd still be glad.

It was Monday, and I had clocked off work early because, for reasons best known to them, the company I worked for had decided to shut down operations. And I didn't work for just any company. I worked for-

"Isa! You made it!" My best friend, Sophie, called out excitedly, waving eagerly at me as she beckoned me over to the table she'd reserved for us.

When I'd texted Sophie that we were closed for the day, she quickly suggested we go out for brunch. And believe me, when I say I welcomed that idea as fast as I could.

"Of course I made it. I would die for one of Ramona's croissants right now. Please tell me you've already placed an order," I said, plopping down on my seat and pushing my handbag next to me.

Sophie pouted. "Of course..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at something behind me, then broke into a huge smile. "And you're just in time for it!" Sophie stood up, and I turned around to see a woman with the cheekiest smile making her way toward us.

In her hand, she held heaven. Literally.

"Ramona!" I smiled and tried to get up to help, but the older woman shooed both of us away.

"Sit down, will you? And eat up while it's still hot," she mused, then turned to me. "You look like you've had the roughest day, and it's only eleven in the morning."

Her comment wasn't far from the truth, but I chose to shrug it off. "Thank you, Ramona." Then she was off before we could say anything else.

I turned to see Sophie watching me closely. "What?" I asked, knowing exactly what she wanted to say.

Sophie narrowed her eyes at me. "Start talking."

I let out a deep sigh before leaning forward slightly. "It's just... fuck," I sighed again. "Things have just been different since Iglesias died, Sophie. I know the De Santis would want to make changes, but this is just too much. At this point, I don't even know if I'll have a job by tomorrow."

"I mean, it could be possible you're overthinking it, but you and I know you don't need this job in the first place, Isa. Your father-"

I didn't let her finish. "Oh, spare me, Sophie. Alberto Moretti has not been my father for over ten years. The man doesn't give a shit what I do with my life. Besides, you know after what happened, I just want to look out for myself." My father's interest in me now was only because I worked for the biggest family in the country, and maybe, to him, I could prove useful someday. Other than that, the man didn't give a shit. Hadn't given a shit about me since my mother died.

Memories flooded my mind. I used to be the apple of his eyes once, but Alberto had remarried. And with that marriage had come a half sister whom he had quickly cast me aside for.

Four years ago, I had been engaged. But when Clarissa had gotten her sticky hands on my fiance, my father had forced me to step aside and let her marry him. Hurt burned inside of me, even if a lot of time had already passed.

"Are they saying anything about who would be the next in line?" Sophie asked, sounding worried.

I bit the inside of my lips. "Logically, it should be Matteo. He's the first, after all. But the man's been underground for the past couple of years, and no one's heard from him. And well, if he isn't the one, then my guess is they'll choose from the other four who are waiting in line."

My stomach knotted just from mentioning the first of the De Santis sons. Matteo De Santis.

The last time I'd seen him had been exactly four years ago. I mean, I had been young and naive then, but I couldn't deny the pull the man had on me. We had made eye contact across the room, and for some reason, the whole world around me had seemed to disappear, and I could see only him.

For the next few days, when I ran into him occasionally in the office, my whole head had been messed up. But Matteo had never noticed me. And right now, four years later, I was glad he hadn't.

The man had the worst reputation, coupled with his mysterious nature. And I really didn't want to be a part of that.

What were the odds that he would become my new boss? I was the accountant and sometimes a personal assistant to Iglesias, who had taken a liking to me. Everyone feared the De Santis family. And rightly so. But Iglesias was a sweetheart. Not when you got on his bad side, though...

As for his sons? I wasn't so sure. And don't get me started on the rumors...

"Which brings me to another topic of the day," Sophie's voice brought me out of my thoughts. "You will be attending the De Santis ball tonight, right?"

"If I had my way, I wouldn't."

Sophie eyed me like I had said something abominable. "Why the hell not? That is like the biggest ball in the entire country, and you get two free passes-one from your family and one from being an employee-and you don't want to go?"

I couldn't help rolling my eyes. "The only reason I went last year was because of Iglesias. My family wouldn't give a shit if I tagged along or not." They had their whole attention focused solely on my sister. Gosh, I didn't even want to go there. "Besides, what's so special about it?"

Even I knew I wasn't being entirely truthful. I had seen Matteo for the first time at the ball all those years ago.

"Are you kidding me? I would give anything to be in the same room with the De Santis men. Oh, or even to dance with one..." She oozed excitement.

If I didn't know her, I would have been having different thoughts.

"Sophie... you are engaged. Like, your wedding is literally next month." I slammed down on her exaggerated display of fangirling.

"So? I'm sure David would also die to dance with them." And then, as if he knew he was being talked about, her phone rang. Once she saw the name on the screen, she turned red all over and was on another train of fangirling. But this time, it was way more emotional and genuine.

"Baby!" Oh... my friend was a goner.

But as she made that call, my mind drifted and treacherously settled on the last person I should have been thinking about.

Matteo De Santis.

MATTEO

The letter in my hand felt like flames, burning through my skin as I looked at it in anger.

When Alex had brought the letter to my office, I should have know it was that damn Greek bastard, Antonio Drakos. We had come to an agreement last year to share a piece of land that was mine, equally, thanks to my brother, the peace maker. But just two days ago, some of my men had encroached on their side of the property, and now the bastard was sending series of threats. And knowing Antonio, he acted irrationally.

He had sent, along with the letter, two bodies of my men.

I hated being put in positions such as this, and surely he knew it. He should know it. No one-nobody-crossed Matteo De Santis and got away with it. And he should know that.

"Fucking bastard!" I growled, clenching my free hand into a fist and sending it through the glass door of the shelf in front of me.

The sound of the glass shattering did very little to calm the storm inside of me. My knuckles throbbed. A feeling I welcomed.

"Fucking bastard. Just you wait and see." I was taking back my land, and no one was going to do anything about it!

I inhaled sharply as I folded the piece of paper and slipped it back into my pocket, then settled down into my seat, just as a knock came on the door.

"Open." I growled nicely. Well...

The door opened to reveal Samuel Arnold, the lawyer my father had left in charge of his estates. The man was probably older than Iglesias, but my father trusted him with his life.

"Why are you here?" I asked as Samuel strolled in with a folder under his arm and a tight expression on his surprisingly scarcely wrinkled face.

I watched as he placed the folder he had brought on the table, then opened it.

"Apparently, Iglesias's will is to be read three times. And today is the first." He said nonchalantly and began to flip the pages.

My heart slammed in my chest at that statement. "I don't understand. You said it was to be read in seven weeks. And what the fuck do you mean by his will being read three times?"

Samuel didn't even look up, even with my tone. "If you would just listen. This won't take more than a few minutes." He looked up then, placing his hand on a page in the file. "And before you say anything else, this reading is for you, alone."

I frowned at him. "What do you mean by that?"

While I would have wanted the will to be read and over with, it seemed kind of odd to me to do so without my brothers present.

Samuel sighed. "Matteo, your father has asked that you get married before the next reading of the will. Either that, or you and your siblings will lose everything. He has ordered that in the event of you refusing to marry, then his assets would be shared amongst a list of candidates he has given me."

The silence that stretched after in the room was tense as hell.

My ears were ringing.

I waited for Samuel to tell me that it was a joke, but the man looked serious as hell.

"You are joking, right? You have to be fucking kidding me!" Before I could help myself, I rose to my feet in anger, then took the file in front of him and brought it to my face.

The words on the paper, and the signature mocked me. According to what I read, he was giving me two weeks to find a bride, and if I did not, he had two choices for me. And if I did not get married to either, then we were losing every fucking thing!

"I swear to God..." I hissed, tossing the file back to Samuel and slipping my fingers into my hair in frustration.

Samuel rose to his feet. "I'm sorry, Matteo. But Iglesias must have had his reasons..."

What stupid reasons did he have to play a sick joke such as this? I didn't let him finish.

"No. My father loved to play with my life. Even in his death, he's still trying to control me!" I turned away from Samuel. "Please leave."

My tone was low. Too low. But Samuel didn't hesitate.

The moment I heard the door slam shut, I walked into the connecting room in my office, and let it all out.

My father had always put me at the forefront of all his shenanigans. Forced me to see, even when I shouldn't have. He had molded me into the man I was today.

But I had to say, among all the games Iglesias had played, this was by far the most unexpected and interesting.

And I was hating it already.

The sound of my fist hitting the bag in front of me was all I could concentrate on as I unleashed every single tension in me.