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Born and bred in Naples, Italy, the full-blooded twenty five year old American Maya Creighton lost both her parents who had traveled to Italy for a job that cost them their lives. Running away from the orphanage she hated, she adapted to the streets, having minimal access to education and a wider one to violence. Known for her strength and brutality, Maya is regarded across streets of Italy as 'Guerriera' translated to mean 'warrior or fighter' due to her ruthlessness and fighting skills. But she makes a mistake one night during a mission and kills the only son of the infamous, dangerous drug baron in Italy who has always hated her guts. Now her boss is angry and scared, he sends her back to her land of origin where she meets and saves the life of Alan James McCoy, though anonymously. Her life takes many dramatic turns and difficult downhills when she finds herself kidnapping the children of the same man she saved.
I watched with a heavy, antsy heart and a look of apprehension clouded my face as the bullet hit the wrong target. Shit! I had killed the wrong person.
And it was no just ordinary person. It was the son of the infamous drug baron in the whole of Italy.
"What the hell, Guerriera?!" One of my men cursed. The fear in his voice was unmistakable.
"Let's go. Let's go!" I had to leave here before anyone saw. "Fuck it! Let's move!"
I forced my legs to move speedily to where our operation vehicle was parked and jumped into the passenger seat. My hands were trembling but I could not let my men see. I was the leader and I was meant to keep it calm and composed.
"How could you make such a mistake, Guerriera?!" The driver amongst us quickly pulled out of the driveway of the area where the operation had happened and zoomed off. Leaving dead bodies behind.
"You think I did this on purpose?!" I whirled on him angrily.
"You know what the boss would do to us if he finds out." Enzo from the back put in.
"This is fucked up! So fucked up!" Aldo punched the back of the driver seat where our driver - Matteo who we popularly call 'Speedy' due to his perfect efficiency in handling vehicles of any kind - occupied.
Viper - whose real name was unknown - sat quiet in the back seat. I looked at the rear mirror to meet his gaze. He stared back at me. Blank. He was usually the guy I was closest to amongst the rest.
We sort of had the same background story and we understood each other's life experiences. I wish he would say something. Anything. But he did not.
It could only mean he knew I had fucked up bad. I rested my head against the seat. How could I had made such mistake? When did I become such an amateur shooter?
I was the best shooter of the crew. My aim was always perfect, it did not matter where or how I was positioned, I always hit the target. The right one. With whatever weapon.
That was the reason my boss had chosen me to be the leader of the gang and I was the only woman. It was an all-male crew before I joined and there were doubts until they saw my capacity.
Even our boss was forced to notice me and subsequently make me the leader. He would be disappointed. So disappointed.
This was the son of his greatest enemy. And while they hated each other, they still tried not to get on anyone's terrain.
"We're here." Speedy announced.
There was supposed to be jubilation of some sort. It would have been a wonderful operation since we got what we had come for but that last shot had done me in.
"Let's go inside." I said rather deflated. I was trying not to let my fear surface.
"The boss will kill us, that's for sure." Enzo muttered loud enough for me to hear.
I passed Viper a quick glance but he still was not saying anything. He did not even come near me. He was disappointed in me.
I blew a breath, took one last breath and approached the house of Luigi Accardo popularly known as De'Bull, our boss. That man was the personification of brutality.
"Boss." I greeted, bowing my head as soon as I spotted him in the living room.
The others greeted him in likewise manner. He smiled but there was still the expression that read 'ruthlessness' in it.
"My American child. My Guerriera. You have once again made me proud." His chuckle twisted my guts more.
I was a full blooded American but had grown up in Italy. I was born and bred in Naples, the city my parents had come on a business trip.
My real name was Maya but the streets had given me Guerriera because of my fighting and shooting skills. Guerriera meant 'warrior'. People said I fought like one.
They even classified me as a demon too.
I gulped. But tonight I was not feeling like a demon. I was not feeling very evil or powerful at all.
"Here's the chip that you needed, boss." I handed him the a small bag that held the small, electronic object we had risked our heads for in one of the most dangerous organization for.
His eyes lit up. "Very wonderful, Guerriera"
Enzo nudged me. I gave him a look, he gestured with his eyes to the boss who was busy admiring the tiny chip. He wanted me to tell him.
Sooner or later, he would find out. And that was going to be worse. I knew it was the right thing to do. My heart beat faster. They said I did not have a heart, so what was pounding violently against my chest?
"Boss?"I called, my voice sounded uncertain.
"Yes?" The elderly man raised his head to look at me.
"Uhmm...there was an accident tonight." I began.
"What accident? You guys ran into another vehicle? Or into a tree? The vehicle is destroyed?" He waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry, I'm in a happy mood. Go, I'll order a new one tomorrow. A better one."
"T-that's not it, master." I said.
A curious frown appeared on his forehead. "What is it?" His gaze moved around our faces.
"I..." I swallowed as nerves twisted tight. "I ki..."
"I killed Don Giovanni's son."
My surprised gaze shifted to who had spoken. Viper. Why was he taking the fall for me? Even the rest of the gang were shocked as well.
"What?!" The boss's hand came down on his face in a hard slap. "Are you mad?! What were you thinking?!" He kicked Viper, uttering profanities in Italian.
The latter fell to the floor on his knees. Guilt crept in, why would he do this? Our boss continued to rain down hits upon Viper who took it all quietly.
My conscience was unable to take it anymore, I ran forward to block the boss's next hit. But the blow landed on my nose, it hurt like hell.
"Get out of my way, Guerriera!" He commanded.
"No boss. He's innocent. I don't know why he took the fall for me but I am responsible. I did it. I killed Don Giovanni's son, not Viper." My voice trembled badly by the time I was done.
P-please, I beg you. Come let's go tell Christian I had no hand in whatever happened, p-please." I clutched the lapel of his jacket desperately. "Let's go. You need to tell my husband you were paid." "Young lady, you're harassing me." His tone was cold and his stare granite. But I could care less. "You harassed me first! You had sex with me without my consent, my husband knows and now I'm pregnant with this child he doesn't want. You ruined my marriage! I-I hate you!" ************************************ Caught by her husband with another man on their matrimonial bed the morning after her birthday, Hailey Codza could not defend herself. As though it's not enough, she gets pregnant. Her enraged husband decides to pay her back for her infidelity by having an affair with his ex-girlfriend - Denise Kellers, the family Hailey never knew she had. Losing her family's wealth and company to her husband and his ex (now girlfriend), she is devastated, homeless and penniless as all her credit cards are blocked by her husband. She sees the man who is responsible for her pregnancy. The man she has no idea how he'd found his way to her matrimonial bed - Jared Johnson. Jared is annoyed when this strange woman disrupts his meeting and accuses him of ruining her life, marriage and impregnating her. It affects his business deals and having no choice, he marries her to calm the public whilst engaged to someone else. But he loathes her and allows his family treats her badly. Hailey who has fallen in love with Jared is broken when she can no longer take the humiliation. She signs the divorce papers and leaves, only to arrive six years later to the country as a self-made, secret billionaire and a mother of twins. Now her two ex-husbands are begging to have her back...
When high school dropout Riana Tanning is made homeless by the people she had always known to be her family, she is thrown into a world of chaos and drama. Finding herself in the abusive hands of a rich Puerto Rican drug dealer who gives her everything she wants, except love and happiness, Riana remains in his home, too scared to go back hungry and homeless. As more travails unfold with her boyfriend thrown in jail, losing everything to his name, she is back on the streets. Eventually managing to get a job as a salesperson in a thrift store, she is yet again thrown in despair when a Trillionaire buys the place. But what is more shocking is when this wealthy, handsome famous playboy offers marriage to Riana with an agreement to give her a roof over her head and help her achieve her dreams while she plays the role of a good wife. Will this twenty two year old agree to this contract marriage with this famously known yet personally unknown Trillionaire? And if she does, will she be able to withstand the troubles her step sister-in-law and her criminal, obsessed ex-boyfriend bring her way? Will she be able to forge on valiantly with her pregnancy, play smart despite her lack of education and find a more shocking truth of who she truly is? Or will she chicken out, betray the man she has come to love and abandon him for her sex-crazed ex-boyfriend?
“I hate you.” I froze. The way she’s uttered those three words were dispassionate and venomous. But what had I done? How could she hate me for no just cause? My father had taught me that hate is such a strong word and shouldn’t be used anyhow. “What have I done to you, Luna?” She kicked me in my stomach. I fell again. Adding to the blinding pain on my back, I had scraped my elbow and it was bleeding a little. “Stop asking me questions!” She yelled at me. I nodded, eager to please her and stop this torment. “Get up, you filth!” My body cried in protest and the trickle I felt on my back, I knew I was bleeding in many places. But I couldn’t not respond to her command. I forced myself up, using the wall for support because I was close to it. “Have you greeted me?!” What that why she was tormenting me? But I acknowledged her presence already. Every little thing I did or did not do seemed to make her mad at me. She really did hate me. “Good day, Luna.” I bowed, even though my head was aching. Either that or I receive another hard hit. “On you knees.” But she just told me to get up. Without a word, tears of self-pity welling, I did as she commanded. She circled me slowly, my heart beat increased, not knowing what she would do next. The scream that left my lips in the following moments was loud enough to pull down the cell I was in. I cried in pure agony. The Luna had used her artificial sharp pointed, black painted talons to scratch my back. I fell to the ground, unable to make a sound. She emitted another evil laugh, then stopped to whisper to me. “I will make life miserable for you, Amyra. I will make you wish you were never born. And with the Alpha by my side, it is going to be the easiest task I have ever indulged in.” ********* Amyra was a witch who worked in the Alpha’s pack manor as a maid, she had powers that were dormant in her for some reason, though she didn’t even know she was a witch until another war started between the witches and werewolves. Though constantly maltreated by the Luna who knew who she was and hated what she was, she doesn’t complain and tries to focus on her work. Unexpectedly finding herself in the middle of everything, she discovered who she was and also tried to navigate the powers brewing in her to bring peace and balance. But she needed Alpha Caden of Moon River pack to be able to complete this quest. An Alpha who hated her and hated the witches too. But will it work? Will she be able to save the day and end the killing of both communities she had strong links to? Will the her Alpha succumb to the passion and allow himself be used to bring this peace and balance? Or will everything fall apart and both communities will be left to keep fighting until they both finish off one other?
On her wedding day, Khloe’s sister connived with her groom, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. She was sentenced to three years in prison, where she endured much suffering. When Khloe was finally released, her evil sister used their mother to coerce Khloe into an indecent liaison with an elderly man. As fate would have it, Khloe crossed paths with Henrik, the dashing yet ruthless mobster who sought to alter the course of her life. Despite Henrik’s cold exterior, he cherished Khloe like no other. He helped her take retribution from her tormentors and kept her from being bullied again.
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
In order to fulfill her grandfather's last wish, Stella entered into a hasty marriage with an ordinary man she had never met before. However, even after becoming husband and wife on paper, they each led separate lives, barely crossing paths. A year later, Stella returned to Seamarsh City, hoping to finally meet her mysterious husband. To her astonishment, he sent her a text message, unexpectedly pleading for a divorce without ever having met her in person. Gritting her teeth, Stella replied, "So be it. Let’s get a divorce!" Following that, Stella made a bold move and joined the Prosperity Group, where she became a public relations officer that worked directly for the company’s CEO, Matthew. The handsome and enigmatic CEO was already bound in matrimony, and was known to be unwaveringly devoted to his wife in private. Unbeknownst to Stella, her mysterious husband was actually her boss, in his alternate identity! Determined to focus on her career, Stella deliberately kept her distance from the CEO, although she couldn't help but notice his deliberate attempts to get close to her. As time went on, her elusive husband had a change of heart. He suddenly refused to proceed with the divorce. When would his alternate identity be uncovered? Amidst a tumultuous blend of deception and profound love, what destiny awaited them?
Two years ago, Ricky found himself coerced into marrying Emma to protect the woman he cherished. From Ricky's perspective, Emma was despicable, resorting to underhanded schemes to ensure their marriage. He maintained a distant and cold attitude toward her, reserving his warmth for another. Yet, Emma remained wholeheartedly dedicated to Ricky for more than ten years. As she grew weary and considered relinquishing her efforts, Ricky was seized by a sudden fear. Only when Emma's life teetered on the edge, pregnant with Ricky's child, did he recognize-the love of his life had always been Emma.
Everyone was shocked to the bones when the news of Rupert Benton's engagement broke out. It was surprising because the lucky girl was said to be a plain Jane, who grew up in the countryside and had nothing to her name. One evening, she showed up at a banquet, stunning everyone present. "Wow, she's so beautiful!" All the men drooled, and the women got so jealous. What they didn't know was that this so-called country girl was actually an heiress to a billion-dollar empire. It wasn't long before her secrets came to light one after the other. The elites couldn't stop talking about her. "Holy smokes! So, her father is the richest man in the world?" "She's also that excellent, but mysterious designer who many people adore! Who would have guessed?" Nonetheless, people thought that Rupert didn't love her. But they were in for another surprise. Rupert released a statement, silencing all the naysayers. "I'm very much in love with my beautiful fiancee. We will be getting married soon." Two questions were on everyone's minds: "Why did she hide her identity? And why was Rupert in love with her all of a sudden?"
While Sienna reached the pinnacle of her success, Julian remained the forgotten son of his family, the one who had secretly stolen her first kiss in the shadows of the night. As Sienna hit her darkest moment, Julian returned home, leaving his life behind, only to witness her tears glistening in the moonlight as she reluctantly accepted another man's proposal. When Sienna needed Julian more than ever, he had risen to a position of power and had become her most steadfast pillar of support. "Please marry me." There was no one else in the world who could love Sienna as deeply as Julian did.