He Stole My Heart, My Mafia Brother-In-Law

Lucas peered through the scope, observing the bustling plaza filled with people oblivious to the lurking danger, engrossed in their phones as life slipped past them. Then he spotted her; she bought a bouquet from the elderly woman with the bucket. A gust of wind blew her hair across her face. She adjusted it just as the target appeared behind her. Lucas aimed carefully. With a single pull of the trigger, the man collapsed to the ground. Sirens approached as he departed. Their eyes met briefly before she turned back to the commotion.

Lucas retrieved his burner phone and quickly sent a text: Done. Bella remained frozen in place until the ambulance eventually drove off with the man. Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

"Hello, Dad?"

"Come home immediately. We need to discuss something."

Bella pushed open the heavy oak doors of the family estate, greeted by the familiar chill that lingered in the marble foyer regardless of season. Sunlight struggled through the heavy drapes, barely illuminating the space her mother once filled with laughter. These days, Bella preferred the fluorescent lights of the hospital, the constant motion, the twenty-hour shifts that left no time for thinking. Her white coat was armor against this place, against questions about the family business, the legitimate front her father maintained while collecting debts and breaking kneecaps. Even Greg had disappeared into the shadows of their father's empire, making an appearance only for tense family dinners where no one mentioned the blood money that paid for the wine.

Her father was standing by the window when she entered, his back towards her. "Bella, you're quitting your job. Today."

She responded with a sharp, incredulous laugh. "What? Why?"

"Because I said so," he snapped, turning to face her, his voice rising in intensity. "That's why."

Greg, her brother, entered the room, his eyes fixed on their father. "They're here."

The maid ushered in three men clad in dark suits. Benjamin, her father, moved forward, shaking hands with practiced ease. They sat down, and two more men came in, armed.

"Is this really necessary?" Benjamin inquired, his tone clipped.

The lead man gave him a cold stare. "Your choice. You owe me. A lot. What did you do with the money?"

Benjamin remained silent. "What do you want?"

"Blood," the man told him, handing a photo to the man behind him. He glanced at it, then locked eyes with Bella. Leaning in, he whispered something to the leader.

Benjamin stood abruptly. "Please. Not my son."

Bella froze. "His son? What about me?" she thought

"The man behind me handles our business if you get my drift. He's my brother, Lucas. He looked at Bella. But my brother's feeling generous, he wants to marry her."

"Done," Benjamin replied quickly, relief flashing across his face. "Glad we settled this."

A gunshot rang out. Benjamin fell. The man in the suit had shot him, his gaze cold.

"Now we're done," walking over to Bella. "The wedding's in a week. And this," he gestured around, "is my brother's place."

Bella's chest tightened, her vision blurring as tears streamed down her face. She collapsed to the floor.

She blinked awake, glancing around. Her room. Taking a deep breath, she got up and headed to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Maybe it was just a nightmare. She walked downstairs, everything eerily normal, no body, no blood, like nothing had happened. Then she turned and nearly collided with him.

"Feeling better?" looked at her like he was studying her. I'm Lucas...

"Better? You killed my dad!" she spat, her voice trembling.

"Technically, it wasn't me," "But yeah, my brother handled it."

She glared at him. "Even if I have to marry you, I..."

"Relax! I saved your life. He reached out, brushing her cheek gently. She slapped him hard.

"Damn, for someone so small, you pack a punch," grinning as he rubbed his jaw.

"Stay away from me," she hissed. "Where's my brother?"

"Oh, Greg? He's one of us now," "Works with my brother. Part of the family."

Bella shot him a look, taking in the stubble on his jaw, his black hair tied back, and the glimpse of a tattoo peeking from his half-buttoned shirt.

Lucas grabbed his jacket. "Gotta run. He'll stay, jerking his thumb toward a hulking man in the corner. "Keeps an eye on you."

"Where's my dad?" Bella demanded.

"On ice till the wedding. Which is in two days, not a week," walking away.

Bella sank into the chair where her dad had sat just hours ago. Grief? No. Anger? Hell yes. He'd sold her off like some bargaining chip to settle his debts. She grabbed her purse and jacket, heading for the door, only to be blocked by a wall of muscle.

"Where you are going?" the bodyguard asked, arms crossed.

"Work. I've got a shift. Move," glaring up at him.

He pulled out a phone, muttered something into it, then hung up. "Not today. Call in sick. Boss's orders."

Bella let out a frustrating scream, stormed into the kitchen, and put the kettle on. As soon as it boiled, she slipped out the back entrance, smirking as she peeled out in her car, watching the guard scramble after her in the rearview. She parked in the hospital garage, clocked in, and lost herself in the chaos of her shift.

Around 2 a.m., things finally slowed down. "One more patient," the nurse said, nodding toward a room.

Bella walked in and froze. Lucas was sitting there, calm as ever.

"How am I supposed to protect you if you keep running?"

He grabbed her arm, but she fought back, twisting in his grip. He spun her around, his arms locking her in place. "You can't outrun me, his breath sending a chill down her spine.

"Get your hands off me, or I'll scream loud enough to bring the whole hospital running,"

"What are you going to say? That my husband decided to drop by for a visit?

Newsflash, you're not my husband yet."

He laughed nervously, "Look, just go home, alright? You don't need to be here."

"This is my home," "There's nothing in that godforsaken mansion for me anymore."

Bella was jolted awake by a noise. She quickly got up, straining to catch the words being spoken. After dressing hurriedly, she headed downstairs. There, people were busy moving furniture, setting up an arch adorned with flowers, and arranging chairs in front of it. As she scanned the room for a familiar face, she spotted Lucas's brother. He appeared to be in his thirties, exuding a calm yet predatory demeanor that made Bella shiver.

He approached her and introduced himself, "We haven't met properly. "I'm Damon," his cold black eyes piercing into her dark blue ones. "Tomorrow is the day. He saved your life, so be grateful."

Bella chuckled. "Should I get on my knees and thank you? Arrogant, egocentric... stumbled with the words.... cold."

He looked taken aback for a moment. "That's a first," stepping closer. Bella instinctively moved back until she hit the wall. His hand circled her neck, not tightly, but enough to frighten her. "No one has ever insulted me and lived," tightening his grip slightly. His face was mere inches from hers, his presence overwhelming. She could sense his body pressing against hers, his scent faint yet distinctly masculine. His long dark hair fell over his face as he looked down at her.

"Damon, stop it, please, that's my wife you're touching," a voice interrupted.

Even then, their eye contact remained unbroken. Finally, Damon relaxed his grip on her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin, before he let her go.

Lucas glanced at Bella, her face pale and shaken, then turned to Damon. "What the hell was that?"

Damon didn't answer. He walked off, his chest tight, his mind a mess. She'd gotten under his skin, those eyes, that defiance. He'd almost lost it back there. Almost. Now he was just pissed.

Lucas shouted after him, finally catching up. "You're still coming to the party, right?"

"Of course," Damon said flatly. "Wouldn't miss my little brother's big day."

Luca sigh. "Not my type. I saved her. That's it."

"You know I wouldn't have asked you to kill her, right?"

"Yeah, I know. But the old man... he showed his true colors."

"Fair enough. I'll see you later."

Damon drove off, ending up at" the" house. He knocked, and a girl answered.

"Clothes off. Now," he barked.

She hesitated, trembling, but he didn't care. He threw her on the bed, yanked her around, and reached for his belt. He hit her once, twice, his grip on her neck tightening. Almost lost control. Again. Nothing satisfying him anymore. The sex was just relief, nothing more.

When it was over, he tossed some money on the bed and left.

Back in his car, he couldn't shake her. Those eyes. That defiance. Fuck.

At the office, he paced like a caged animal. Rafael walked in, holding a suit and a gift.

"Boss, everything's ready," Rafael said, grinning.

"Good. The dress, did you send it?"

"Done. Should be there by now."

Rafael left, and Damon stared at the wall, his thoughts swirling. Fuck.

The pre-wedding party was bustling with people, including numerous armed guards. Bella opened the box to reveal a stunning satin black dress, backless and lowcut. She slipped it on, paired with blood-red heels, and applied light makeup. Her light brown hair was styled in a bun, with long bangs framing her face. Her thought drifted to Damon. Despite his hand around her neck, she sensed his deep pain, a darkness in his heart he couldn't fill. She understood that kind of pain. Why was she even thinking about him? She dismissed the thought, took a deep breath, and headed downstairs. Scanning the room, she caught Damon's eye, but Lucas soon interrupted.

"You look beautiful," "Just smile and pretend it's easy."

"I don't know anyone here, Lucas,"

The music started, transforming the morning seating area into a dance floor. Lucas went to get her a drink. As she turned to step outside, Damon blocked her path.

"May I have this dance, please?" He looked sharp, his dark hair pulled back, his face no emotions.

Bella hesitated but placed her hand in his. His other hand rested on her bare back, stirring something in her stomach. What was it about him that made her feel this way? He leaned in, whispering, "I'm sorry if I scared you this morning." A shiver ran down her spine.

She gently pulled back to meet his gaze; he seemed sincere. Bella smiled.

"Am I forgiven?"

She leaned close to his ear. "For now, yes." He inhaled her scent, closing his eyes. When he smiled, it was like she was seeing a different man. She was taken aback.

"What is wrong?"

"I didn't think you could smile. It suits you,"

"If I smiled during business, no one would take me seriously," he replied, pulling her closer. Bella blushed.

"You know I'm marrying your brother tomorrow," she reminded him.

His hand drifted lower as he whispered, "Yeah, I know."

Bella didn't pull away, and he noticed. Her body language said, "I like that."

The music stopped, and she attempted to step back. "Bella," he murmured in her ear, "I want one more dance, maybe later."

She studied him, trying to decipher his intentions. "Of course, maybe... later," she replied.

Luca was deeply engrossed in a conversation, so Bella decided to step outside to the back of the house for some fresh air. Why did she feel this way? The man was a ruthless killer, the one who had killed her father, the father who had sold her to settle his debts. In a twisted sense, she felt relief at his death but still fought back tears.

"Don't be sad; he was selfish and not worth your tears," Damon said, surprising her by standing beside her, almost as if he could read her thoughts. He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," she mumbled.

"He owed money to a lot of people. I just happened to get there first. Sorry you had to witness that," Damon said, taking a sip of his drink before handing it to her. She took a sip and started coughing.

"It's a bit strong for me," she admitted.

Damon stepped closer, almost closing the gap between them. "Bella, stop me if I'm wrong," he paused, then softly kissed her lips. She remained still. He pulled back, searching her eyes, thinking how sincere they looked.

"I have to go," Bella said, handing his jacket back. "Let's forget about all this." She turned to leave but hesitated, glancing back. Damon looked sad.

"What am I doing with his brother?" she thought. Luca was set to marry her tomorrow, and then what? She dashed inside, accidentally running into Luca.

"Hey, did my brother say something?"

She shook her head, took his drink, and finished it.

Her dress was made of simple white satin, and her hair was adorned with baby's breath, flowing loosely down her back. She carried a bouquet of white calla lilies. As she walked down the aisle and met his gaze, she silently pleaded with him to put an end to this madness. The ceremony was a blur, and before she knew it, chaos erupted. Gunshots rang out, screams filled the air, and bullets whizzed by. Bella reached for Damon, who pulled her close and shielded her with his body. She spotted Lucas's bleeding on the floor. Damon, covering her, drew his gun.

Bella clutched her ears, tears streaming down her face. When Damon ran out of bullets, he was shot in the arm. He turned to Bella and said, "Stay here. I need more guns. Don't move." Silence fell over the room. She peeked and saw a man aiming a gun at the back of Damon's head. Bella grabbed a chair and struck the man with all her strength. Amid the distraction, Damon seized the man's gun and shot him in the head. Sirens wailed in the distance. Bella quickly moved to Lucas, who was still alive. She tore her dress and pressed it against his wounds, noting the two bullet holes.

Damon reached out, his hand brushing her shoulder, and she flinched. Then, without thinking, she stood and wrapped her arms around him, her tears soaking into his shirt. Slowly, his hand moved to her back, holding her there. "Shh," he murmured, his voice low. "The ambulance is coming." Her fingers grazed his arm, sticky with blood seeping through his sleeve. She yanked off his belt without a word, tightening it around his arm as he watched, eyebrows raised. His grip tightened on her shoulder as she worked. He kissed her forehead, a gesture that felt too gentle for the moment.

Then chaos erupted again. Bella's eyes darted around the room, bodies everywhere, some motionless, others writhing in pain, the floor slick with blood. In the confusion, they were separated. At the hospital, Lucas rushed into surgery, and Bella searched frantically for Damon. Bodies were wheeled past her, but she finally found him in the emergency room, stitches freshly done.

The doctor glanced at her. "Bella, is this your husband?"

She shook her head quickly. "He's in surgery."

The doctor nodded. "Well, this one's patched up. Just take the..."

Damon cut him off, grabbing Bella's hand and pulling her out of the room. He dragged her into the stairwell, his frustration boiling over. "Why the hell are you worrying about me?" he shouted, slamming his hand against the wall beside her head. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face.

He was close now, his breath hot against her skin. When she opened her eyes, she saw the pain etched into his face. "Go to your husband," his voice rough. "I've got things to handle." He stepped aside, letting her pass.

But as she took a few steps, he grabbed her hand, spinning her around. His kiss was desperate, his hand gripping her waist like he was afraid she'd vanish. "Fuck," he mumbled as he pulled away. "Hate me," he shouted, his voice cracking. "Just hate me."

Her hand reached up, touching his cheek. He kissed her palm, his lips trembling. Then she walked away, leaving him slumped on the stairs, his head in his hands.

Rafael found him slumping in the stairwell. "Boss?" he said, placing a tentative hand on Damon's shoulder.

"Find out who did this," Damon replied, his voice eerily calm, sending a chill down Rafael's spine. He stood, his hair wild, looking like a man on the edge of sanity. "Get the guys together. Round up whoever's left. And give me the count of the dead when you're done."

Rafael nodded, already backing away. "You'll be here?"

"Yeah. Waiting for my brother to wake up." Damon dismissed him with a sharp wave. "Now go."

He grabbed two coffees on his way back to the waiting area. Bella sat crumpled in a chair, her dress stained with blood, her eyes swollen from crying. He handed her a cup without a word. She took it, sipping quietly.

Damon sat beside her, his voice low. "I..."

"Don't," she interrupted softly, resting her head on his shoulder. Tears slid down her cheeks. "Just... don't."

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen," staring at the floor. "You're just so..."

"Damon, let it go," she whispered. "I acted on how I felt. I'm sorry."

"How you felt?" he echoed, his mind racing. She felt something for him. "Don't be sorry. I'm not."

Bella let out a shaky laugh. "I married the wrong brother," she thought to herself. "I'm falling for my brother-in-law."

The surgeon didn't sugarcoat it. He's in a coma, and the next two days will decide everything. They wouldn't let them see him. Then the cops showed up, hauled them to the station, and after two hours of pointless questions, Damon finally drove them back to his place. The maid took one look at Bella and nearly keeled over.

"Get her something to wear, find pajamas. Show her to the bathroom and her room."

He walked off without saying another word. Bella stepped into the shower, letting the steam wrap around her as tears mixed with the water. She pulled on an oversized T-shirt, and a pair of pajama bottoms she had to roll up twice just to keep from tripping. After drying her hair, she stood there, feeling hollow.

A knock on the door brought her back to the present. She opened it to find Damon leaning against the doorframe.

"How are you holding up?" he asked.

She didn't reply, simply resting her head against his chest.

"Alright, let's get you to bed," he suggested, his tone gentler than usual.

"Stay with me for a few minutes. Please. I'm scared."

He exhaled but moved over to the bed, settling against the pillows. She lay down next to him and fell asleep within minutes, breathing even. Damon watched her for a moment, gently moved a strand of hair from her pale face, and pressed a light kiss on her forehead.

What was wrong with him? This woman was messing with his mind. She made him feel something he hadn't experienced in years. The way she looked at him, as though he wasn't just a broken mess. And, damn, if he didn't feel something for her too. The reality? She was his brother's bride.