Mafia's Rebellious Bride: His Forbidden Obsession novel Chapter 2

"Princess, where are you?"

My eyes shot open, and my body froze when his deep, velvety voice sliced through the heavy silence.

No. No, no, no.

My heart throbbed in my ears, and my breath became uneven as I pressed harder into the locker, silently praying for it to crack and melt me inside. I should have run or screamed for help, but my body didn't cooperate. I stopped breathing.

Maybe if I stayed still enough, he would go back, thinking I was not here.

But the next moment, my eyes widened when I heard a click as the door shut closed.

He knows... He knows that I am here.

He was just pretending to search for me. My stomach clenched, and thick beads of sweat burst on my entire body.

I was with him. Alone.

What if he attacked me again? No! He won’t. I need to stay strong. I have to fight him. I have to take a stand for myself.

I swallowed down the fear, curling my trembling hands into fists. The way he took slow and deliberate steps toward me felt like he was purposely playing with my fear, relishing it. It was entertainment for him. Dad was right. He is a monster, and I need to stay away from him. I flinched slightly when suddenly the lights filled the room. A strangled breath left my lips as I saw him, standing just a few feet away.

Nikolai De Moretti. The Mafia King.

My green-eyed monster. My nightmare in the form of a dangerously beautiful man.

He appeared to have stepped straight out of a dark fantasy book. His raven-black hair were perfectly styled. He wore a crisp black suit that molded to his sculpted body like a second skin, and his beard was perfectly trimmed to match his jaw. His haunting, emerald-green eyes shone with wicked amusement. My knees wobbled, and I had to press my hands against the wall behind me to keep myself upright.

One side of his lips curled up into a dangerous smirk, and I shivered. He was enjoying this.

He always enjoys his power over the weak. This is what I hate most about him. His inhuman ways of torturing people are known to everyone. He rules them all. He rules this country! Even the politicians and police officers bow before him. He could ruin lives with a single flick of his finger.

Suddenly, he took another step forward, closing the distance between us. His dark, musky, expensive cologne enveloped me like a blanket, making it hard for me to breathe.

He was close. Too close. And too familiar. I could feel his warmth seeping into my skin. My head began to spin, and my heart throbbed in my chest. It felt as if I was going to have a panic attack.

Nikolai shoved his hands into his pockets, and our breaths mingled when he leaned in slightly. Not even a single inch of his body touched mine, yet I felt tingles all over my skin.

"Missed me?" His voice was laced with amusement.

Drawing a deep breath, I lifted my chin, trying to match his burning gaze. I knew I could never match his intensity, but that didn't mean I should act like a scared cat in front of him. I couldn't let him see my fear or take advantage of it.

If he is a Mafia King, I am Alessia Rossi. I needed to remember whose daughter I was.

"What are you doing here?" My voice shook slightly, and I cursed myself for it.

His smirk only deepened, making my stomach twist.

"You at least recognized me."

I exhaled sharply and looked away, my nails digging into my palm, my knuckles turning white.

"You dance well."

His compliment only fueled my anger. I wanted to push him away, but I knew I could not match his physical strength. By taking this foolish action, I would only end up in his clutches, which is exactly what he wanted.

Then suddenly, I felt his touch.

My breath hitched when his fingers grasped my chin, tilting my face up. The contact was featherlight but burned hotter than fire.

"You know I don’t like it when someone looks away when I’m talking," he murmured, looking straight into my soul.

My fists clenched at my sides, and my nose flared slightly as I glared back at him, despite trembling inside.

"I don't care about your likes or dislikes," I stated, "nor am I interested."