Scarred Hearts: A Mafia Billionaire Romance

room once filled with his presence, his laughter, his unwavering confidence, once alive, now felt like a tomb: cold, hollow, and

hing was sta

g was a

e threatened to drown her. She remembered the call, how her mom's face had slu

ces. The moment before, her father was alive, vibra

ident: sud

he looked at the picture and how proud she was of herself. All this now served to remind her of everything they lost. The company that once had been the hallmark of his pr

first, then the calls, then the t

thering of the spirit from the weight of it all. How she tried to hold

when he

muel Bl

from him, and Leya was sure the air gradually shifted that very instant his voice filtered through. His voice w

ad said, icily calm. "But there i

uld be without him finishing the sentence. Th

will marry my

g for an escape, for something, anything that could free her from this nightmare. But the tears were

ch

he did, however, she pleaded with her mother to change her mind, the fact was quite inexo

o, she

fe. They didn't deserve to suffer because of the collapse of their family's world. She'd do anything to protect th

s were clenched, his knuckles white, his eyes darting ever towards the door. Behind the great oaken desk, his

ice. "You can't just simply expect me to marry some gi

is son. "This has nothing to do with what you want, Harrison. This is about the future of ou

bout alliances, nor am I going to marry some desper

a dangerous warning, "it would appear t

ew better than to press his luck any further. His father wasn't a

with defiance. He leaned forward in his seat, bracing his hands on the edge of the desk,

rough the same detached expression he would if discussing li

e. This pertains to control Power. Ensuring our family remains untouchable. You will marry Leya Anderson and in turn

ides. "She's a gold digger. You said it yo

ate, yes. But she is not the threat you seem to think she is. And besid

being manipulated, being pushed into a corner. The thought of marrying some woman he hardly knew, a wom

wedding?" he

all business, as if setting a date for a board of directors meet

st two weeks before he would be chained to her, to this woman he did not want, did not trust. H

mansion became a beehive of activity as

to appear and pretend that this was a joyous event instead of the trans

er wedding dress. It was a silk and lace, delicate and intricate beautiful gown,

lying nervously as she flitted over the dres

n a shaking voice smelling of false hope. Th

p appearances, to keep the illusion going that all was going to be well. But Leya knew bette

t, and there in the hall stood Mr. Samuel Blackwood, a tall, imposing structure that

to see how the preparations were going. You look...

e, her head barely nodding.

of the room. "Call me Samuel," he said with a smile that

r her like a heavy blanket: fam

state with a scowl on. He did not want this. Every bit of him rebelled against this very idea of marrying Leya And

anor let herself in. She strode across the room w

with this," she growled. "Leya Anderson? Of all people? A family w

e was angry for herself, too. Eleanor had always taken huge pride in the power and prestige that

what is best," Harrison fi

t. "And you're the pawn. But doesn't it concern yourself, brother," she said, twisting he

t to be a pawn. He didn't want any of this. Yet the wheels w

F THE

ed out to be an explosion of opulence. Their guests flowed in flowing gowns

eflection as the makeup artist finished. Her gown fit her to perfection,

e felt

o joy. Only cold

ou look lovely, dear," she whispered, smoothing a stray cu

ion of her father. What would he think of

came from the door. A bridesmaid pee

r chair, her trembling legs beneath her as he

ther important people belonging to high society were filled in the church. But to Harrison, all that meant nothing. Hi

ippled through the crowd; she was beautiful, there was no denying that, but a

ard him, eyes downcast. This would

ws, the rings, word after word, gesture after gesture, were links in the chain to bind Leya and Harrison. Leya's heart was thundering aga

for something, a little modicum of humanity, some acknowledgment of their being in this

m words emotionless as they lan

them husband and wife. She was out of her body, looking in, i

est, his small, irrelevant smile making fo

s against hers, pressing with precision. There was no warmth, no tenderness in the kiss. It was w

d the air with a forced gaiety. Leya forced a smile onto her face, but inside her h