BOUND TO HELL'S MAFIA KING

Chapter 1

Sabrina Moretti p.o.v

I walk through the corridor of my family estate as I thought about my life since my father's death.

First my mother passed away during my 12th birthday party, then my father.

Now, I try my possible best to keep the family together while my elder brother just sits at the head of the table claiming he is the one taking care of the family!

Lucas, My one and only elder brother has been making decisions lately without me, and it's putting everything we have built together as a family at risk.

I pushed the hall door open and step inside.

The room was filled with our business partners.

All of them were men who have served the moretti's name for decades.

Lucas sat at the head of the table, as always.

His expression was hard and unreadable.

He barely acknowledges me as I take my seat beside him, but I can feel his eyes on me, watching and calculating.

It was as if he was waiting for me to say something to him.

"Massimo Morano has started hitting our businesses again," Lucas says with his voice low and steady.

"We lost two shipments again this week." he informed.

Massimo Morano.

The thorn in the Moretti's flesh.

He is always pushing....

Always testing our limits.

And now, it seems, he has decided to take the fight to us directly.

How shameless!

Morano is a ruthless man, who won't stop until he has crushed us completely.

"We need to fight back," I say, cutting through Lucas's briefing.

"And we need to do it fast. Morano won't stop until we are wiped off the market board."

"I'm handling it, Sabrina," he says with a dismissive tone.

I see what he did there.

"We have a plan in place."

I don't like the way he says "we."

Who is this "we" he is talking about?

I'm sure the "we" doesn't include me.

I'm supposed to be part of every decision, every move we make.

But lately, Lucas has been secretive.

He has been making decisions without consulting me.

It's unlike him, and it makes me feel awkward.

Now what is this plan?

My suspicions increased, and I decided to press him for more information.

"What plan?" I ask, trying to keep my voice calm, even though I was so anxious inside of me.

"It's nothing for you to worry about. I got it covered." He says.

"You have been keeping things from me, Lucas. I need to know what you are planning Lucas. Remember the saying, two heads are better than one."

Lucas leans back in his chair.

"You worry too much, Sabrina. Trust me, everything is under control."

But I don't trust him.

I can't.

Not when everything feels so wrong.

Lucas has never been this hideous before, and it's setting off all sorts of alarms in my head.

I'm sure he is up to something that isn't good.

I won't let him jeopardize our family's business.

"You are asking me to trust you, Lucas, but you are not giving me a reason to," I say with a low but firm voice.

"I have always been part of the planning, part of the decisions. Why am I being left out now?"

Lucas smile fades and was replaced by a look of irritation.

"Because, Sabrina," he says with his voice tight.

"Sometimes things are better handled by men. You don't need to be involved in every little detail."

I could feel my temper rising, but I force myself to stay calm.

Lucas is trying to push me out.

He is keeping me away from this secret plan of his, and I need to know what this plan of his is.

"This isn't a little detail, Lucas," I say, leaning forward slightly.

"This is our family's business survival we are talking about here. You can't make decisions like this without me."

He meets my gaze, his eyes hardening.

"I'm doing what is best for the family, Sabrina. You need to trust that I know what I'm doing."

His words hit me like a slap in the face.

"And what exactly are you doing, Lucas? What aren't you telling me?"

The room falls into a tense silence, the other men around the table started shifting uncomfortably in their seats.

Lucas sighs and rubs a hand over his face as if he is tired of the whole conversation.

"Sabrina, this isn't the time or place for this discussion. We can talk about it later."

But I would rather not wait.

I can't wait.

I need to know what is going on, and I need to know now.

"No, Lucas, we will talk about it now," I say with a firm tone.

"You are hiding something from me, and I'm not going to let it go away. What is this plan you say you have?"

Lucas jaw tightens, and I could see the frustration in his eyes.

He doesn't like being challenged, especially not in front of the others.

But right now, I don't care.

This is too important.

"Sab," he says with a strained voice.

"I'm handling it. I'm not hiding anything from you. But you need to let me do my job."

"And what is your job, exactly?" I shoot back.

My patience was wearing off.

"Because it seems like you are making deals behind my back. Are you cutting me out of the family business, Lucas? Is that what this is?"

His eyes flash with anger, and he leans forward.

"Watch your tone, Sabrina. I'm still the head of this family." His voice was low and dangerous.

"Only because I let you be," I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

There were some inaudible words from one of our business partners, and I realize too late that I have crossed a line.

But it's the truth.

Lucas might have the title, but everyone knows I'm the one who keeps this business together.

Lucas barely goes to the company, but I do every single day.

Each department in the company report every matter to me.

When there is an issue in the company, I alone come up with ideas to solve it.

But for the past three weeks, for unknown reasons, the staffs stop reporting to me.

Lucas had instructed them to stop.

Even at that, he still didn't even check their reports.

So tell me why the company won't have an issue!

Lucas stares at me with a cold and unforgiving stare.

"You think you can run this business better than me?" he asks with a soft tone, but it was filled with intimidation.

I meet his gaze.

I refuse to back down.

"I know I can."

The other men were silent as their eyes dart between Lucas and me, waiting to see what will happen next.

For a moment, I think Lucas is going to explode.

He might lash out at me in anger.

But then, he does something I don't expect.

He smiles.

It's a cold smile.....

A calculating smile....

And it sends a chill down my spine.

"You were always a stubborn one, Sab," he says, his voice smooth.

"But you need to understand something. This business doesn't belong to you. It belongs to all of us. And as much as you might think you can do this alone, you can't. You need me, just like I need you."

I wasn't expecting such a statement from him.

"If I hear you correctly, you say we need each other but you are not acting like it," I say with a calm and softer but still firm voice.

"If we are in this together, Lucas, then you need to start acting like it. No more secrets."

He looks at me for a long time before he finally nods.

"Alright," he says.

"No more secrets. But you have to trust me, Sab. You have to trust that I'm doing what is best for the business."

I want to believe him, I really do.

But something still feels off.

Something about the way he has been acting, the way he has been shutting me out, doesn't add up.

However I nod anyway, knowing that pushing him too far right now won't do any good.

"Okay," I say with a calm voice.

"I will trust you. But don't make me regret it."

Lucas nods again with a serious expression.

"You won't. I promise."

The meeting continues as they talk about a new product we will be launching the following month, but my mind was not here.

It was elsewhere.

I listen as they talk about the product and their expectations, but I didn't really pay attention to it.

Instead, I was thinking about what I am going to do next.

I need to find out what Lucas is hiding, and I need to do it as soon as possible.

To be continued

Chapter 2

Sabrina Moretti P.O.V

My heart pounds in my chest because of the danger I'm about stepping into.

I looked through my room window and found Lucas moving out of the house.

Yes, he is definitely hiding something.

Why will he leave the house all alone at this time of the night?

I quickly dressed myself in black from head to toe, trying to blend into the shadows so he wouldn't recognize immediately.

My hair is pulled back tightly, and I wear nothing that could give me away or make noise as I move.

I have to be careful to avoid anyone finding out I'm leaving the house.

I don't know which of the guards in this house are for me and against me.

Any slight mistake, it will make my effort abortive.

Lucas won't know I'm following him, but even if he did, it's too late for him to stop me.

I tail Lucas's car through the tracking device I had placed earlier in the car.

He is headed to an abandoned warehouse.

Something is definitely fishing here.

Who is he meeting in an abandoned warehouse?

I watched Luca finally pull into the warehouse parking lot and I stay back....parking a few blocks away.

I step out of my car and the cold night air hit at my skin, but I care less about that right now.

That was less of my worries.

I need to find out who Luca is meeting and what they are planning before it's too late.

I approach the warehouse after removing my heel.

I try as much as possible to stay away from light.

Every sound I heard and every step I took, made me more alert.

I'm scared but determined to get to the root of this hide and seek game Lucas was playing.

This place feels weird.

It's like a hunted house in the horror movies we watch.

As I get closer, I spot Luca stepping out of his car.

He is not alone.

A group of unknown men came out from the shadows.

I couldn't see their faces properly because of the dim light.

They are tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark suits that make them almost invisible at night.

Even from this distance, I could sense power and danger in the environment.

Who are these people?

And why is Lucas with them?

I try to eavesdrop on their conversation as I hid myself behind a wall.

I could barely hear anything, but I was able to catch some words.

Words like -"shipment,"

"Morano," "payment"-but I still couldn't understand what they were talking about.

My frustration grows with each passing second as the need to know what they were talking about increased.

I inch closer while carefully trying to stay hidden.

My heart races as I saw one of the men stepping forward.

He was coming to my direction.

My breath catches in my throat as I recognized him.

The man is no other than Massimo Morano.

The very man Luca should be avoiding and not meeting with.

What has Lucas done?

What had he gotten himself into!

How did he get himself involved with the devil?

This isn't just a dangerous deal.

This is a betrayal of everything our family stands for.

Before I could process more what was happening, I felt a strong hand wrap over my mouth, and I was dragged out of my hiding place.

I panicked as I struggled to get away from the person who wrapped his hand around me, but he was too strong.

His grip tightens as he twists my arm behind my back with enough force, causing me to drop the small knife I have been holding in my pocket.

"Let me go!" I try to scream, but it comes out as a muffled cry against his hand.

I thrash and kick.

I was desperate to break free from him, but it was of no use.

"Quiet," a deep voice hisses in my ear.

It was low and dangerous.

"You don't want to make this worse."

His breath is hot against my skin, sending a chill down my spine.

I stopped struggling, realizing that I'm only making things worse for myself.

He is right.

I need to think.

I need to stay calm.

My mind races, searching for a way out of this, but there was nothing.

I'm trapped.

The man drags me away and forces me into a black SUV parked nearby as he shoved me roughly into the back seat.

My hands were tied tightly behind my back with a thick rope that would surely leave a mark on my skin, but I barely cared about that.

I was too concerned about what is happening around me.

I was afraid and at the same time angry.

As the door slams shut, I look up, and my heart stops cold.

Sitting just a few inches away, was a man watching me with cold, calculating eyes.

This man was Massimo Morano himself.

His presence filled the small space as he looked at me with an intensity that sends a jolt of fear through me.

Our eyes meet, and for a moment, time seems to pause.

It was just him and me.

It was the predator and prey.

He didn't utter a word, but his eyes speak volumes.

They were dark and unreadable and that makes my blood run cold.

I try not to be underestimated by him as I gave myself some positive words.

I'm a Moretti, and I will make Massimo Morano pay for this.

The SUV moved forward, and I'm thrown back against the seat as my body jolted by the sudden movement.

My mind races with thoughts of escaping away from this man.

Massimo Morano may think he is in control, but he doesn't know who he is dealing with.

I am one person who is like a hard nut to crack.

I make a silent vow to myself.

No matter what happens, I will survive this.

I will find a way to escape, and when I do, Massimo Morano will regret ever laying a hand on me.

I shift in my seat, trying to get a better look at the men in the front, but I couldn't.

It's not really bright inside here.

I can't see their faces, can't read their intentions, but I know they are dangerous.

Just like the man who captured me.

Just like Morano.

I grit my teeth against the pain in my wrist due to the rope I'm being tied with.

I tried to force myself to focus on my surroundings.

I need to stay alert, to be ready for whatever comes next.

"Where are you taking me?" I demand, my voice sharp despite the fear that I was feeling inside of me.

I need to know, need to have some idea of what I'm up against.

The man driving glances at me through the rearview mirror.

"You will find out soon enough," he says, his tone flat and emotionless.

I glare at him, but he ignores me, turning his attention back to the road.

I feel frustrated.

I'm scared.

I'm angry.

I hate feeling this helpless.

This powerless....

It's not who I am.

I'm used to being in control, to having the upper hand.

But right now, I'm at their mercy, and it's a position I hate.

I don't know how long we have been driving, but it feels like hours.

Finally, the SUV slows down, pulling into what looks like an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.

My heart sinks as I realize I'm being taken even deeper into the enemy territory.

Far away from any chance of rescue or escape.

The car comes to a stop, and the men in the front get out, leaving me alone with Morano.

He turns to face me, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

"You made a mistake following your brother, Sabrina," he says, his voice low and measured.

"A mistake that is going to cost you."

I glare at him, my anger flaring to life once more.

"You think you can scare me, Morano? You think capturing me is going to get you what you want?"

A small, humorless smile appears at the corners of his mouth.

"You are feisty and I like that. But bravery won't save you now."

He leans closer, his presence filling the small space between us.

I can feel his breath on my skin.

I could see the cold calculation in his eyes.

He seemed to be sizing me up probably trying to figure out how much of a threat I really am.

"Your brother made a deal," he continues, his voice soft but laced with menace.

"A deal that is going to change everything. And you... you are just a collateral damage."

"Collateral damage?" I repeat, my voice shaking with rage.

"You think I'm just going to sit back and let you destroy my family?"

Morano's smile widens, but it's devoid of any warmth.

"You don't have a choice, Sabrina. The ball is already in the court. There is nothing you can do to stop it."

I narrow my eyes at him as my mind thought of different things.

He is underestimating me, thinking I'm just another pawn in his game.

But I'm not.

I have faced worse than him, and I have survived.

To be continued

Chapter 3

Sabrina Moretti P.O.V

I was dragged out of the SUV, as my bare feet hit the cold ground.

The ropes around my wrists cut deeper with every pull, sending sharp pain through my arms.

I was pushed forward, herding me toward the house's entrance.

My heart pounds in my chest, but I keep my head up, refusing to show I was scared.

Massimo Morano will not break me.

Morano walks ahead, his tall figure.

He was walking like a dangerous, calm god.

He is in control, and he seemed to enjoy it.

Each step he takes echoed, a reminder of how isolated we are.

There is no one here to save me.

It's just me against them.

We enter the house.

It was huge and empty, except for a few cartons arranged against one wall and a single, bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, casting a weak, dim light.

It's the perfect place for Morano.

This is what he likes.

An isolated and hidden place.

A place where no one will hear my screams.

The men shove me toward a chair in the center of the room.

I stumble but manage to keep my balance, determined not to fall.

My pride is all I have left, and I will be damned if I let them take that from me.

"Sit" one of them barks, his voice was rough and commanding.

I didn't move, instead, my eyes were locked onto Morano's.

He stops the man and walks towards me as a small, almost amused smile, appeared on his lips.

"You are going to make this difficult, aren't you?" he says, his voice low and smooth.

"Go to hell," I spit back, my voice laced with venom.

His smile widens, but there was no warmth in it.

It was only a cold calculation smile.

A pretentious smile.

He nods to one of his men, who steps forward and shoves me down into the chair.

The impact sends pain shooting up my spine, but I bite down on the cry of pain that threatened to escape my lip.

I won't give them the satisfaction.

Morano steps closer to me.

His dark eyes looked into mine with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

He is studying me, reading me with his gaze, and I can feel the weight of his gaze like a physical force.

"You are strong-willed, I will give you that," he says, squatting down in front of me so we are eye level.

"But that strength can be a weakness if you are not careful."

I glare at him, my heart racing.

"You don't know a damn thing about me."

His smile fades and was replaced by a hard expression.

"I know enough," he says with a cold voice.

"I know you are loyal to your brother, which is admirable. But loyalty won't save you from what is coming."

"What do you want from me?" I demand, my voice sharper than I intended.

I'm trying to keep control, trying to understand the game he is playing.

Morano's eyes darkened, and he stands up, towering over me.

"I want revenge" he says simply.

Revenge?

"Your family. Your father, took everything from my family! " He roared, and I couldn't hold myself from shaking due to the scream.

I shake my head, my heart sinking due to fear.

"My father is no more.... "

He tilts his head slightly, studying me.

"Yes, and that's why you have to pay for his sins. "

"What did my father do to you?" I questioned with a stead voice as I summoned courage.

Morano narrows his eyes, and for a moment, I think he might let me go.

But then he nods to one of his men, and the man steps forward, a cruel smile on his lips.

He pulls out a knife, the blade was shining in the dim light.

"Let's see if we can tame that little mouth of yours, Angel." Morano says, his voice soft but menacing.

The man with the knife grabs my arm immediately.

I try to pull away, but his grip is like an iron.

He presses the blade against my forearm, just enough for me to feel the cold metal against my skin.

"Wait" I gasp, panic rising in my chest.

"Whatever my father might have done, please don't punish me for it!" I pleaded, but the man didn't hesitate.

He drags the blade down my arm, the sharp edge sliced through my skin with ease.

Pain explodes in my arm, and I couldn't hold back the scream that rips from my throat.

Blood wells up from the cut, and the man lets go of my arm.

"That is just a taste" he says calmly.

"You have no right to question me. You only speak when you are expected to speak. "

l'm breathing hard, my vision swimming from the pain, but I force myself to focus.

"You are wasting your time," I manage to say even though my voice was trembling.

"You can't control me."

Morano nods, almost as if he expected that reply.

"Very well," he says, turning to the man with the knife.

"Teach her some lesson."

The man grins, clearly eager to continue.

He grabs my other arm, and I could feel a fresh wave of fear wash over me.

I'm helpless, at the mercy of these monsters, and I know what is coming will be worse than the first cut.

He raises the knife, and I brace myself for the pain.

But instead of slicing my skin, he presses the blade against my cheek, just beneath my eye.

He leans close, his breath hot and foul against my face.

"You have ever been cut on the face?" he whispers, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.

"Hurts like hell. And it leaves a scar. You will be marked for life."

I grit my teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me scared.

I made a mistake of pleading for my skin not to be cut and yet, they went ahead.

This time around I won't make that mistake!

"Do it," I hiss through clenched teeth.

"See if I care."

He chuckles darkly.

"Oh, you will," he says, and then he presses the blade down, hard.

Pain went through my face, as the knife slices through my skin.

I scream, unable to hold it back.

I could hear the echoes of my scream through the empty warehouse.

Blood pours from the wound down to my face and dripping onto my clothes.

The man steps back, admiring his work.

"Beautiful," he says with a sick smile.

"That is going to leave a mark."

I'm shaking.

My entire body trembling from the pain and the shock.

Tears blur my vision, mixing with the blood on my face, but I blink them away, refusing to let them fall.

Morano steps forward, his expression cold and detached.

"This doesn't have to get any worse," he says, his voice calm.

"Just be a good girl."

I glare at him through the pain, my voice raw and ragged.

"You will never control me," I repeat, each word a struggle.

"You can cut me all you want but it won't change that."

Morano eyes narrow, and for a moment.

I think he might actually snap.

But he takes a deep breath, his composure returning.

He turns to the man with the knife and nods.

"Finish it" he says simply, and the man grins, stepping forward again.

He grabs my hair, yanking my head back, exposing my throat.

I struggle, but it's no use.

He is too strong, and I am too weak.

I feel the cold blade press against my neck, and for a moment, I think this is it.

This is how it ends.

But then there was a shout from the entrance of the warehouse, and the man freezes, his grip on my hair loosening.

I hear footsteps, hurried and heavy, approaching us, and then a voice.

A voice I recognize.

"What the hell is going on here?" The voice booms through the warehouse.

To be continued