When Isla's estranged father steals millions from the Moretti family and vanishes, Dominic takes Isla as collateral. But he doesn't just want repayment-he wants her. Dominic drags her into his opulent, dangerous world and makes her an offer: either rot in a cell in his mansion or become his personal possession until her father shows up. What starts as captivity turns into a twisted obsession. Dominic pushes, breaks, and reshapes Isla's world-and her heart. But she's not as breakable as he thought, and Dominic starts to realize he might've met his match. As the secrets of her past unravel and the enemies of the mafia close in, the line between love and control begins to blur.
ISLA
Rain soaked through my hoodie as I hurried across the cracked pavement of 12th Avenue. My hands clutched my art portfolio like it could shield me from reality. Another exhibit rejection. Another door closed.
I was used to failure by now, but it still stung like open skin.
The lights in my building flickered. My cheap apartment was just five minutes away, and all I wanted was to crawl into bed, blast sad music, and forget the world existed.
That's when I noticed it.
A black car.
Not just any car-sleek, polished, and utterly out of place in this grimy part of the city. Its engine purred low, like it was waiting. Watching.
My stomach tightened.
I kept walking, faster now, my boots slapping against puddles. Don't look. Don't stop.
But then I heard them.
Footsteps.
I spun around just as a hand clamped onto my wrist.
"Miss Isla Monroe?"
I yanked my arm back with a gasp. Two men stood behind me-tall, suited, and terrifying. The kind of men who didn't just look dangerous. They were.
"Who are you?" My voice wavered despite my best effort to keep it steady.
"We're not here to hurt you," the one on the left said, though his grip said otherwise. "We've been asked to bring you to Mr. Dominic Moretti."
The name hit like a jolt of electricity.
"I don't know him," I lied quickly. "I've never met him."
"You don't have to know him," the other man replied. "Your father does."
Before I could run, scream, or even breathe, a needle of panic stabbed into my spine-and the world went black.
---
DOMINIC
She was smaller than I imagined.
The girl they dropped in front of me was pale, drenched, and trembling. She blinked awake in the leather chair across from my desk, her face etched with confusion and fear.
Not fear of me yet. That would come.
"Do you know who I am?" I asked, folding my hands beneath my chin.
She sat upright slowly, eyes locking on mine. Green. Defiant. I liked that.
"Dominic Moretti," she murmured. "I've heard of you."
"I'm sure you have," I said. "And do you know why you're here?"
She shook her head. "I didn't do anything."
"No," I agreed. "But your father did."
Her brows pulled together. "I haven't seen him in years."
"And yet, he used your name," I said, rising from my chair. "Transferred over three million dollars out of my accounts. Gone, just like that. Then he vanished. Clever bastard."
She stood too, chest heaving. "I had nothing to do with that! I don't even speak to him!"
"I believe you."
Her breath caught in her throat. "Then let me go."
I walked around the desk, stopping a breath away. "Your father thinks he can disappear and leave his debts behind. That's not how it works in my world, sweetheart."
Her fists clenched. "So what? You're going to kill me for it?"
"No." I leaned in, my voice low and calm. "You're not going to die. You're going to stay."
---
ISLA
I took a step back, but his hand shot out, gripping my chin. Not hard. But firm. Dominant.
"I'm not yours," I spat.
His eyes flicked down my body, slow and unapologetic.
"You are now."
“Drive this woman out!” "Throw this woman into the sea!” When he doesn’t know Debbie Nelson’s true identity, Carlos Hilton cold-shoulders her. “Mr. Hilton, she is your wife,” Carlos’ secretary reminded him. Hearing that, Carlos gives him a cold stare and complained, “why didn’t you tell me earlier?” From then on, Carlos spoils her rotten. Little did everyone expect that they would get a divorce.
It was supposed to be a marriage of convenience, but Carrie made the mistake of falling in love with Kristopher. When the time came that she needed him the most, her husband was in the company of another woman. Enough was enough. Carrie chose to divorce Kristopher and move on with her life. Only when she left did Kristopher realize how important she was to him. In the face of his ex-wife’s countless admirers, Kristopher offered her 20 million dollars and proposed a new deal. “Let’s get married again.”
"Mr. Evans, please maintain some dignity. Don't forget I'm your brother's wife!" Having caught her husband and best friend together in the bed, Elena wanted nothing more than to exact revenge on the people she once called family. She refused to be a pitiful divorcee and vowed to make everyone who had once looked down on her beg for forgiveness. And to start with her newfound freedom, Elena indulges in a one-night stand with a stranger. However, what was meant to be a fleeting escape turns into a nightmare when she learns that the stranger is none other than her husband's older brother! Would Elena be free from the shackles of her marriage? Or would the mysterious stranger make her life a living hell since he seemed to have a personal vendetta against his family? [The story is 18+ and involves mature content.]
Rosalynn's marriage to Brian wasn't what she envisioned it to be. Her husband, Brian, barely came home. He avoided her like a plague. Worse still, he was always in the news for dating numerous celebrities. Rosalynn persevered until she couldn't take it anymore. She upped and left after filing for a divorce. Everything changed days later. Brian took interest in a designer that worked for his company anonymously. From her profile, he could tell that she was brilliant and dazzling. He pulled the stops to find out her true identity. Little did he know that he was going to receive the greatest shocker of his life. Brian bit his finger with regret when he recalled his past actions and the woman he foolishly let go.
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."