Chapter 1 The Auction

Evangeline's POV

I've made a grave mistake. I should've never let Nico Moretti set his eyes on me, ever.

……

I'm the young wife of Sir Antonio DeLuca, and it was a dying moment, flash marriage. I was sold to him for an alliance.

My husband pleased me alright and treated me well, but I was still very much afraid of him. We all were. He belonged to the Camorra.

What they did wasn't certain, but I knew it was fairly decent work. No matter what, he would dig out the truth and that's how they all became feared men. He was like a philanthropist, but he dealt with violence in the gentlest way possible.

I've managed to learn to love my husband. Soon, I discovered that he was anxious and terrified about something for a whole week, he barely even touched me.

Then he broke the news. He walked in one evening and simply ordered me to sleep with Nico Moretti like it was appropriate.

He claimed it was for a good cause but my heart hammered in my chest. I paced in shock, biting my fingernails, confusion setting in.

“You're beautiful. He likes girls like you. I have a feeling it will work. Please don't be mad at me. It will only happen once, and if you get what I want, I'll give you the world.”

He sounded desperate as he ran his calloused hands through my face, like he really needed it, but I still couldn't process the shock. How could he ask that of me?

Asking me to sleep with one of the leaders of the Cosa Nostra? I couldn't believe my ears. Even though I knew the life my father used to live, I never expected to be a part of it, and even at that, I still knew of the existence of Nico Moretti.

If I thought my husband was a feared man, Nico Moretti was beyond fear. He didn't have time to instill fear in people, he would simply silence you immediately if he chose to.

I've heard the worst stories, and he wasn't a man I would want to be around, even in the same country. Now, I should share a bed with him? I should let him inside me?

I wanted to decline, but I was eventually sold when my husband told me the reason. Nico was bullying a young girl in the shadows and was trying to get her to sign a bad deal, and my husband told me it was for sex trafficking. My stomach churned and my fists clenched in anger.

I would never consent to trafficking. If my husband really believed he could bring him down with this, then I was in agreement. Even without reason, it was my responsibility to obey my husband.

The next day was the time to strike, at a private event, an auction.

Nico Moretti was many things but the most important fact was that he thrived on power and control. There was nothing he wouldn't do to acquire it.

My husband directed everything. All I had to do was act. Most people didn't know who I was married to, or that I was married. It happened barely a month ago. I was practically non-existent here until now.

A red bodycon dress caressed my skin, locating every curve and plastering itself perfectly on it. It was sleeveless, and I paired it with heels. My hair was up in a really tight bun, and for the overall finish, I had a furry little coat over the dress.

My heart pounded and my thoughts raced, but I had to do this.

I took on a new identity. Everything happened so fast, I almost suspected my husband would've made me do it anyway, even if I refused.

I brushed the thought away. No way he would do that to me. I'm Gia Nelson for the time being.

I'm mixed, American and Italian but I lived in America all my life, and I surely looked the part, so I knew this was literally a walk in the park if I managed to get his attention somehow.

All my nerves went haywire as I walked in with a private pass. I was all alone now, but my husband promised that he had his men everywhere, watching my every move.

Only a few women were there, and I was fashionably late. I was right at the back but when I walked in, I noticed heavy stares on me, then gossips. Guess I made a perfect entrance.

I stylishly looked for Nico around, hoping I had managed to catch his attention. I had never actually seen him in real life, so I wondered if he looked any different from the photos.

I took my seat anyway, and soon, the event was in full swing. It looked rigged. It was ridiculous, because then why were we here? I kid you not, right towards the end of the program, when all the beautiful stuff was getting auctioned, I finally felt the presence of the Mafia Don.

The whole night I had been acting untouchable, ignoring all the men that tried to talk to me, but now, I shook in my seat. Hell, I almost peed my pants.

I immediately asked myself what I was thinking, doing all of this. Gossip reached my ears. Two people were brutally murdered last night, their lungs pulled out and kept beside their dead bodies.

Just thinking about it almost made me vomit because apparently they were tied to Nico Moretti. Except, who dared to prove it?

I swallowed, then air left my lungs when I saw his face. Perfectly chiseled, brown earthy eyes, tall and muscular in that suit. He had decently long, rich brown hair. He looked like sin, like empty promises, like disaster and heartbreak. Most importantly, he looked like a sex demon.

He was unfortunately my type. As if on cue, his eyes floated to me, but it didn't last. I still wanted to believe it was all in my head because why would he look at me?

It was clearly rigged, and I stuck around to prove it, because when it got to a certain artifact, nobody even bothered to raise up their paddles. Except me, right after I heard his price.

The hall fell silent, all eyes focused on me, but I could only feel the heavy stare of one pair. Holy Christ. I had Nico Moretti's attention. Was this safe? He was staring at me, heavily, wondering who dared to mess with him.

My feet weren't stable. Good thing I was sitting down. It felt like I couldn't breathe anymore.

“Three million dollars.” I said, as eloquently as I could, looking like the average but rich American that I was.

“Four point five million dollars.” He raised, shocking me. He was clearly insane. But it seemed like that was all he was willing to pay. Good thing I had more than that.

Everyone watched me like I was crazy, but I didn't care. At least I pretended not to.

He stared at me again, right when I raised my paddle again. He communicated with me through his eyes, trying to tell me to be smart and make the right decision.

Fuck you, sex trafficker.

I did no such thing.

“Five million dollars!” The whole hall went into a frenzy when the big and mighty Nico Moretti didn't raise his paddle.

He was no longer staring at me in such an uncomfortable manner. He rose abruptly from his seat the same time the auctioneer marked the end of the program with my win.

I just sat there and nervously ordered a drink that arrived right as people came to congratulate me. But I wasn't interested in them.

Did I make a mistake? Had I missed my chance by pissing him off? What was I thinking?

I was almost drowned in my thoughts when I felt a presence

beside me. I looked up, scared that something had happened.

“Miss, my master would like to meet.”