

Playing With Fire
Mariam El-Hafiđ„ · Completed · 318.1k Words
Introduction
âWeâll have a little chat together soon, okay?â I couldnât talk, I just stared at him wide-eyed while my heart was beating like crazy. I can only hope it was not mine he was after.
Althaia meets the dangerous mafia boss, Damiano, who gets drawn to her big innocent green eyes and can't seem to get her out of his mind. Althaia had been hidden away from the dangerous devil. Yet fate brought him to her. This time, he will never allow her to leave again.
Chapter 1
Althaia
I was standing in my hotel room as I was getting ready for my cousinâs engagement party. I have always been close to Cara as we basically grew up together in the same household as both of our fathers were running a business together. Long story short, I found out my father and uncle were running a mafia, and since they would always be busy doing whatever, they were doing, Cara spent most of the time with me and my mother. Sadly, Caraâs mother died when we were kids and my mother raised Cara like she was her own daughter, other than that, we were a pretty happy family.
Or so I thought.
There are things you just donât notice when you are a kid because why would you when you are too busy being a kid, right? My father, Gaetano, was always a busy man but he did remember to spend time with me from time to time, not as often as I would have liked, but it was better than nothing.
One day Cara and I were being nosy as always and tried to eavesdrop on my parents because it sounded like they were fighting. We had sneaked down the stairs to get a better look and listen to what was going on but we couldnât hear anything.
What happened next shocked us both.
My mother, Jacinta, slapped the fuck out of my father that night. We stood still, shocked to witness what had just happened before we ran back to our shared room, and pretended to be asleep so we wouldnât be caught.
The next day, my mother had our bags packed and we left. I remember crying so hard that day because Cara wasnât coming with us, my mother tried to take her with us, but uncle refused to let her go. It pained my mother to leave Cara behind like that and I was sure she had her reasons to leave, however, the reason for that is yet still unknown. My father and I didnât stay in touch after that even though I tried to call him because I missed him, but he never once called me.
We moved hours away from our old home and I got to meet up with Cara whenever it was possible, but it did get more difficult for her to leave the house the older she got because her father became strict as hell. He became a parent from hell. He was always intoxicated with alcohol and drugs, a very dangerous mixture that made him insane and beat Cara whenever he was like that.
To say that I was nervous to be around them all for the first time in forever was an understatement. I didnât know what to expect and kept thinking about if my father would be happy to see me after so long.
ââŠDonât throw up.â I said to myself as I took a deep breath as I felt nauseous, especially now that I was all dressed up.
I decided to wear a long black backless silk dress with thin straps, the front is a deep v-plunge neckline that showed quite a bit of my cleavage. The dress was tight from the top and got a little loose from the hips as there was a long split on the right side, stopping mid-thigh. I finished the look with a pair of open-toe black stilettos with straps around the ankle.
I took one last final look in the mirror, and I was pleased with the work I had done. My long wavy and heavy brown hair reached the end of my back, and on the right side, I had put a rhinestone leaf design clip to lift some of the hair away from my face. I did a simple brown smokey eye which complimented my green eyes well and shaped them to be more cat-like.
âLetâs go.â I sighed to myself when I was done and made my way down to the lobby.
Cara made sure to send a car to my hotel to escort me to the mansion. My old home. My heart started to beat a little faster at the thought of being there after so long, and to see if it had changed much over the years. My father got himself a new wife not long after we left, and even has a son. Not biologically as it was from his wifeâs previous marriage but treated him like his own. I would be lying to say if that didnât bother the shit out of me because he treated someone else more like his own than with me.
Cara had spilled the tea on that immediately and said my father had totally downgraded. She said I will see what she meant when I get there, and I was ready to give the stink eye to whoever my father ended up marrying.
In the elevator ride down to the lobby, I felt myself getting more nervous and my hands fidgeted around the little gift box I had with me. It felt like my stomach was in a thousand knots, giving me a stomachache.
âGet it together, Althaia. Whatâs the worst that can happen. Itâs just family.â I breathed out, trying to calm my nerves.
Reaching the lobby, the elevator doors opened, and I took a final deep breath, holding the small engagement gift in my hands. It wasnât anything grand, just two champagne glasses saying âMr. Rightâ with a mustache, and the other âMrs. Always Rightâ with red kissy lips. It immediately made me think of Cara because she thinks she was always right. Even in situations where she wasnât, she still was according to herself. Sheâs a little cocky sometimes.
Nearing the middle of the lobby, I stopped in the middle of my track as I spotted the tall blonde-haired man in a grey suit that hugged his body to perfection.
âMichael?!â I said in shock. He turned around and smiled at me when he spotted me.
âAlthaia. Long time, no see.â He said while giving me a perfect smile, showing his perfectly white teeth. It has been so long since I last saw him, my first crush ever. Damn, now I remember why I was obsessed with him. He had the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen, a sharp jawline, and a clean-shaven face. His dirty blonde hair styled into perfection, giving the âI didnât bother to tryâ look, which just made him a hundred times sexier.
We actually dated when we were younger. He just didnât know.
I just stared at him, my mouth was slightly open as I couldnât believe my own two eyes.
âDamn, Althaia, just take a damn picture if youâre just going to stare at me like that.â He chuckled, and I immediately felt heat coating my cheeks. Damn, he still has that effect on me.
âDonât flatter yourself too much, Michael. I was just surprised to see you here.â I laughed, hoping he didnât notice my flushed cheeks.
âYeah, well I kind of overheard Cara saying that you were coming, and she was going to send someone over to come and get you. I couldnât believe that the Althaia was coming, so I said I would come and fetch ya.â He smiled and tucked his hands into the pockets of his slacks. His eyes slowly scanned from my eyes and trailed down to my body, and then up again to meet my eyes, giving me a lazy smirk in the process.
âCanât say I regret the decision. You look stunning as ever, Althaia.â His beautiful blue eyes turned a shade darker as he drank me in. My heart was beating just a little faster with the way he was looking at me.
âAnd you look handsome as ever, Michael.â I said with a smile as he slowly walked up to me with a sexy grin on his face.
Oh boy, this was going to be a long night.
BE AWARE!
This is a very rough first draft version and needs major editing. I am well aware of the mistakes throughout the story, so kindly refrain from making "editing comments" :D
Last Chapters
#149 Our Beautiful New Life
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#148 Forever & Always
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#147 Let It Burn
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#146 The Truth
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#145 Bombshell
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#144 An Old Flame
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#143 Let It End
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#142 No More
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#141 The Aftermath
Last Updated: 7/14/2025#140 Come Back To Me
Last Updated: 7/14/2025
You Might Like đ
Mated To The Cold Hearted Alpha
"You want me to fuck you, I know it"
"As much as you don't like me, you're my mate and you can't deny it."
He stood up behind me, one hand holding my hip, and leaned down, his breath ragged against my neck, his voice was husky,
"You'll listen to your body... what it wants... and my body... what it needs. Only the pleasure that a small bite can bring."
At the age of 15, I was shocked to hear the ruthless Alpha claim that I was his mate.
To make matters worse, he killed my father, who was trying to protect me. At that time, I successfully ran away from him.
However, when I turned 18, I fell into his trap again.
I hated him and wanted revenge, but the moon goddess had a different plan for me.
I was his mate, and we were fated to be together. No matter the circumstances, my body couldn't resist him.
Stuck With My Three Hottie Boss
"Do you want that, buttercup? Do you want us to give your little cunt what it craves?"
"YâŠyes, sir." I breathed
Joanna Clover's hard work through university paid off when she got a secretary job offer to her dream company, Dangote Group of Industries. The company is owned by three mafia heirs, they don't only own a joint business, they are also lovers and had been together since their college days.
They are sexually attracted to one another but they share everything together including women and they change them like clothes. They are known as the world's most dangerous playboys.
They want to share her but will she accept the fact that they fuck each other?
Will she be able to navigate business and pleasure?
She has never been touched by a man before let alone three, all at the same time. Will she oblige?
The Luna's Vampire Prince
His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I donât jerk away from him. I have no idea whatâs going on. I donât understand why Iâm here. I donât know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want meâdead or alive. And yet, all I can think about right now is how badly I want this vampireâs hands on my body.
I live in a desolate village on the edge of the Vampire Kingâs lands. This used to be wolf shifter territory, but now, we are just trying to survive.
When I mess up and find myself in a culling, I know Iâm dead. No wolf shifters ever survive these events.
And after the stunt I pulled in the middle of the village, Prince Rafe probably wants me dead.
Is it a good thing or a bad thing when a vampire looks at you like youâre a snack?
Something tells me, once I reach the castle, Iâll be missing my miserable existence in the village.
But thenâit turns out I have no freaking idea who I even am, and when the royals start referring to me as Princess Ainslee, I realize my life is about to take a turnâfor better or worse.
Letting Go
That fateful night leads to Molly and her best friend Tom holding a secret close to their hearts but keeping this secret could also mean destroying any chance of a new future for Molly.
When Tom's oldest brother Christian meets Molly his dislike for her is instant and he puts little effort into hiding it. The problem is he's attracted to her just as much as he dislikes her and staying away from her starts to become a battle, a battle that he's not sure he can win.
When Molly's secret is revealed and sheâs forced to face the pain from her past can she find the strength to stay and work through the pain or will she run away from everything she knows including the one man who gives her hope for a happy future? Hope that she never thought she would feel again.
The Wolf Prophies
Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Upon meeting the three Lycan kings, Zirah learns that the Kings are no prince charmings. That this would be no fairy tale love story, but one where her life is constantly balanced on the sharp edge of a knife's blade. A knife that is poised to take her life or leave her horribly broken. The Kings want nothing to do with her or each other and plan to get rid of her.
What they don't expect is for Zirah to fight back, only she plays with something far more dangerous than weapons. Sheâll play with their hearts.
Zirah has to pick one King, but secrets will be revealed, and the battle between the Kings will be for more than just the throne. They will battle for the queen that they tried to break. But there's just one issue: Zirah wants revenge, and what better revenge than taking away their precious throne?
Shattered Girl
âIâm sorry, sweetheart. Was that too much?â I could see the worry in his eyes as I took a deep breath.
âI just didnât want you to see all my scars,â I whispered, feeling ashamed of my marked body.
Emmy Nichols is used to surviving. She survived her abusive father for years until he beat her so severely, she ended up in the hospital, and her father was finally arrested. Now, Emmy is thrown into a life she never expected. Now she has a mother
who doesn't want her, a politically motivated stepfather with ties to the Irish mob, four older stepbrothers, and their best friend who swear to love and protect her. Then, one night, everything shatters, and Emmy feels her only option is to run.
When her stepbrothers and their best friend finally find her, will they pick up the pieces and convince Emmy that they will keep her safe and their love will hold them together?
A FORCED CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE DEVIL
MXM R18+
A FORCED CONTRACT MARRIAGE WITH THE DEVIL.
I sucked in my breath when he all of a sudden took hold of my jaw and kept my other hand above my head" "Let go of me, you devil," I beat against his chest repeatedly. I wanted to shove him off me but he didn't even budge a bit. Within minutes , l brought my knee up and kicked him in the shin. As soon as I did, he groaned out in pain and I took that as an opportunity to free myself from his grasp. I rushed quickly to the other side of the room desperate to get away from him.
He wasn't going to do as he pleases with me and yet we are fellow men
A pack of their own
An Ice Queen for sale
Alice is an eighteen-year-old, beautiful figure skater. Her career is just about to climax when her cruel stepfather sells her to a wealthy family, the Sullivans, to become the wife of their youngest son. Alice assumes that there is a reason a handsome man wants to marry a strange girl, especially if the family is part of a well-known criminal organisation. Will she find the way to melt the ice cold hearts, to let her go? Or will she be able to escape before itâs too late?
Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother
"What is wrong with me?
Why does being near him make my skin feel too tight, like Iâm wearing a sweater two sizes too small?
Itâs just newness, I tell myself firmly.
Heâs my boyfirendâs brother.
This is Tylerâs family.
Iâm not going to let one cold stare undo that.
**
As a ballet dancer, My life looks perfectâscholarship, starring role, sweet boyfriend Tyler. Until Tyler shows his true colors and his older brother, Asher, comes home.
Asher is a Navy veteran with battle scars and zero patience. He calls me "princess" like it's an insult. I can't stand him.
When My ankle injury forces her to recover at the family lake house, Iâm stuck with both brothers. What starts as mutual hatred slowly turns into something forbidden.
I'm falling for my boyfriend's brother.
**
I hate girls like her.
Entitled.
Delicate.
And stillâ
Still.
The image of her standing in the doorway, clutching her cardigan tighter around her narrow shoulders, trying to smile through the awkwardness, wonât leave me.
Neither does the memory of Tyler. Leaving her here without a second thought.
I shouldnât care.
I donât care.
Itâs not my problem if Tylerâs an idiot.
Itâs not my business if some spoiled little princess has to walk home in the dark.
Iâm not here to rescue anyone.
Especially not her.
Especially not someone like her.
Sheâs not my problem.
And Iâll make damn sure she never becomes one.
But when my eyes fell on her lips, I wanted her to be mine.
Up North
My hands move from his jaw to his hair, tagging at its ends. His hands travel down my body and pull the material from my shirt up my body, he places a wet kiss right beside my belly button. I tense as I let out a gasp. He makes his way up, showering my stomach with slow kisses, studying my body as he goes until the shirt is completely off and his mouth is on my neck.
Aelin has been mistreated by her pack for as long as she can remember, but as the threats of the Vampire Kingdom becomes more and more palpable, her pack has to call the Northerners to help them train and prepare for the Vampire Kingdom. What happens when the Northern Alpha takes a liking to Aelin?