
The devil, my husband
Nathan van den Broek · Ongoing · 43.8k Words
Introduction
But hell has a sense of irony: on the day he buries his sister, Nicolai is forced into a marriage with Alessandro De Luca—the heir of the most ruthless mafia family in the city. The Phantom. The man everyone fears.
What was meant to be a political alliance quickly turns into a battle for dominance and sanity. Alessandro claims Nicolai as if he has every right to—through orders, through touch, through a kiss that feels less like affection and more like a brand burned into skin. And Nicolai hates it… almost as much as he hates that his body doesn’t always agree with him.
Caught between loyalty, guilt, and a man who sees right through him, Nicolai starts to fall. Deeper, darker, more dangerously than he ever should.
Because Alessandro is no legend, no myth—he’s far worse: a man who always gets what he wants.
And he wants Nicolai.
What follows is a war of desire, power, and broken promises. A marriage that isn’t one. A prison without bars. And a man fighting not to lose himself to someone who might bring him back to life… or destroy him completely.
Forced Marriage with the Devil — a story about obsession, pain, unwanted intimacy, and the slow, brutal fight for freedom… or personal ruin.
Chapter 1
Nicolai’s perspective
It was a dinner like any other, yet tonight was no ordinary night. I listened to my parents talk about business, about the successful meeting with Viktor De Luca. And my sister? She had been forcing a smile since the first bite. A smile that didn’t reach her eyes. Sad enough to make my blood boil.
“You hypocrites!” I suddenly shouted across the room, slamming my fists on the table so hard that my chair toppled backward as I rose in the height of my anger.
Iris, our young housemaid, flinched. She rushed to pick up the fallen chair while my father slowly turned toward me—his gaze cold, calculated.
Then he barked, “Nicolai! Sit down!”
“No, father! I won’t sit here and listen to you talk about your damn meeting with De Luca when we all know exactly what it was about—and that it will destroy her life! How could you sign such a contract? How could you sell Selena to that devil? She’s your daughter! And he… he— damn it, how could you do this to her?”
I watched how my twin sister stood up from the table with tears in her eyes and ran out of the room, probably back into her bedroom. Ever since we found out two weeks ago that our father had arranged a marriage contract five years earlier—between Selena and Alessandro to secure an alliance between our families—she barely left her room at all.
“Nicolai!” my father warned, and I could hear in his voice how angry he was and how much effort it cost him to keep control.
“Rafaele, not tonight,” my mother pleaded softly, her gaze warm as it moved from him to me. “I’ll go check on Selena. Tomorrow is an important day. Rafaele, talk to your son.”
She left.
“He’ll break her! Selena has always been too gentle for this world!” My voice was still thick with anger, though I forced myself back into my seat.
“Your sister will be well taken care of.”
A dry, mocking laugh escaped me. “You don’t even believe that yourself! You’re handing her over to a monster. They call him The Phantom. Everyone knows the De Luca heir is a heartless bastard without a shred of mercy.”
For a moment, no one spoke. The silence was unbearable. I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.
Father leaned back in his chair and signaled Iris to clear the table. “This contract was necessary. You know how this works. I didn’t bring you into my business for nothing, my son. Selena will marry tomorrow, and Alessandro will be her husband.”
“And what about what she wants? What about her studies? Did you even ask her once if she wants this?”
“No. And it doesn’t matter.”
With those words, my father stood and headed toward his office. I followed him.
I wanted to say something—anything. But what would it have changed? Words bounced off him like bullets off concrete. Maybe he wasn’t a De Luca, but my father was still a cold mafioso with a heart of stone.
In his office, he sat at his desk and resumed working when his phone vibrated.
“De Laurentiis.”
…
“What?” His eyes narrowed. “God damn it. I’m coming.”
He slammed the phone onto the desk, anger radiating from him, then turned to me.
“I don’t have time for more of your drama. Vito stays here. You keep an eye on your sister. Do you hear me? No mistakes. No hesitation. No bullshit. Don’t make me regret this, Nicolai.”
“Yes, Father.”
I left his office. I was still furious, and seeing Vito leaning against the doorframe with that infuriating smirk, eyeing me up and down, didn’t help.
Before I did something I’d regret, I buried my fists in my pockets.
“You know he likes you more when you say ‘Yes, Father’ without sounding like you’re about to burn the house down,” Vito commented as I passed him.
I wanted to whirl around and punch that smug smile off his face. Say something—anything. But I didn’t. I just kept walking up the stairs, hearing my father bark more orders at Vito before slamming the door behind him.
I continued down the long hallway to the west wing, to my room.
Once inside, I leaned against the door, eyes shut, forcing myself to move—to shower, to brush my teeth. I let my clothes fall to the floor, stepped under the hot water that beat against my tense shoulders, and my thoughts drifted again and again to my sister—and how our father could do this to her.
When I finally snapped out of the trance, the sun had long set. I washed mechanically, grabbed a towel, dried off, and put on simple workout clothes—joggers, a shirt.
I had planned to go train, but before that, I wanted to check on Selena again.
I knocked on her door opposite mine. A memory hit me—us sitting on our beds with tin-can phones, laughing and plotting pranks on our nannies. Selena’s laugh was so light back then, as though the world had no weight.
The creaking of the door cut through the memory.
“Hey, Sis.”
I stepped into her room and immediately pulled her into a tight hug. Her long dark curls fell over her shoulders and back, her face bare of makeup, eyes red, tearstreaks still drying on her cheeks. One arm held her against me, the other rested on her head, stroking her hair as she started crying again.
“I won’t let this happen, Selena! I’ll find a way to get you out of this.”
“You can’t, Nicolai. The De Luca family is too powerful! And Father already signed the contract.”
She clung to my shirt even harder, like it was the last thing keeping her anchored.
“I don’t care. And if I have to burn the entire damn De Luca family to the ground! You’re my little sister. It’s my duty to protect you and make sure you’re happy!”
Her eyes widened, shock clear as she processed what I’d just said.
“Nicolai, no! They would torture you to death!”
The thought made my jaw clench.
“Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll come up with something to get you out. I’m Father’s right hand… along with Vito.”
At the mention, her expression darkened.
“Nicolai! You know how I feel about that!”
“Yes, I know. And you know I had no choice.”
“I know. Still… you’re such a good person. Don’t let Father change that.”
“Selena… that sounds like a goodbye. You’re my twin. Nothing can separate us. And yes, I promise—I won’t let Father break me.”
I let the words settle before adding softly, “You’re the only one who can.”
I winked at her, and we talked a bit more before I finally headed to the gym in the east wing.
Last Chapters
#36 Chapter 36 chapter 36
Last Updated: 8/2/2026#35 Chapter 35 chapter 35
Last Updated: 8/2/2026#34 Chapter 34 chapter 34
Last Updated: 8/2/2026#33 Chapter 33 chapter 33
Last Updated: 7/21/2026#32 Chapter 32 Chapter 32
Last Updated: 7/20/2026#31 Chapter 31 Chapter 31
Last Updated: 7/20/2026#30 Chapter 30 Chapter 30
Last Updated: 7/20/2026#29 Chapter 29 Chapter 29
Last Updated: 7/20/2026#28 Chapter 28 Chapter 28
Last Updated: 6/29/2026#27 Chapter 27 Chapter 27
Last Updated: 12/12/2025
You Might Like 😍
Omega Bound
Thane Knight is the alpha of the Midnight Pack of the La Plata Mountain Range, the largest wolf shifter pack in the world. He is an alpha by day and hunts the shifter trafficking ring with his group of mercenaries by night. His hunt for vengeance leads to one raid that changes his life.
Tropes:
Touch her and die/Slow burn romance/Fated Mates/Found family twist/Close circle betrayal/Cinnamon roll for only her/Traumatized heroine/Rare wolf/Hidden powers/Knotting/Nesting/Heats/Luna/Attempted assassination
Twin Prince Alphas Student Mate
As her 18th birthday approaches, her brothers warn her about the powerful pull she might feel toward dominant wolves. But it's not just any wolves they need to worry about—it's her teachers. Cameron and Samuel are more than just older, wiser, and off-limits; they might just be her fated mates.
While navigating complex relationships, academic pressures, and the normal trials of young adult life, an unexpected threat jeopardizes the academy. Explosions rock their world, forcing Lyla and her love interests into a chaotic swirl of heroism, heartbreak, and hard choices.
Will Lyla follow her heart and let destiny lead the way, or will the very rules that bind their world tear them apart? Amidst turmoil and taboo, Lyla must make choices that could forever change the course of her life and the lives of those she holds dear.
Discover a story where love isn't just complicated—it's forbidden, ageless, and defies all rules. In a world of supernatural beings and extraordinary stakes, will Lyla's love life be another casualty, or her saving grace?
The Dark Witch & The Alpha Book 2
The vampire queen (Ambrosia) and Pythia will become close and discover the true origins of their pasts. They rely on each other when their mates are not around. New family is discovered and it is time they all come together to face one of the toughest moments in the dark witches history.
Bella and Her Beast
.
Locked in her frozen tower, Bella dreamed of warmth, of touch, of freedom and of love. Cursed with the power of ice and snow, she’s spent her life alone. A secret they tried to protect the world from. Her only escape comes in the form of the books she reads. Stories of heat, desire, and the kind of love that could melt even her frostbitten heart.
Damien is the Beast. A dragon King with a temper forged in flame and a soul hollowed by duty. The world fears him. The people call him a monster. But beneath the scales and the rage lies a man who has never been touched by love.
When frost meets fire, the world shatters. She was never meant to leave her tower. He was never meant to find her. But destiny doesn’t bow to kings or care for cages and now the question burns through them both: Can Bella have her Beast? Or will the girl of snow melt in the heat of his desire?
.
"I’m keeping her."
"What?"
Before I can react, he scoops her up. Her small body fits easily in the cradle of his talons. For a split second, she looks startled, but not afraid. Her hand rests against one scaled finger, and she stares up at him with that same curious wonder, as though she’s already forgotten she was ever meant to fear me.
"Put her down," I try to command, panic threading through my thoughts. "You’ll hurt her."
"She’s ours," the beast insists, possessive and fierce. "Our snowflake."
A Queen Among Darkness (Book 4 in the Gods' Saga)
For centuries, she has been on the run, helping the supernatural community under the cloak of anonymity while she works to clear her name and save the very people after her from destruction.
Enemies are closing in, but an unexpected complication befalls her when she realises she’s been fated to someone who wants her species exterminated. After all, an evil chance seldom comes alone.
A Queen Among Darkness is the 4th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.
Books in the series in order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7
Dark Vocation - Darkness spin-off (will be available under book 4)
A Court of Arcane Souls Anthology (side character short stories exclusive to Ream)
Royal Shadow Series (Next Generation Coming Soon)
My Benchwarmer Boyfriend's Secret
As the team's benchwarmer, Marco practices harder than anyone, though few seems to notice. There's something about his quiet determination that draws me in, and I find myself falling for the underdog.
But when Marco's true story starts unraveling—about that first night, about who he really is, about the future he's destined for—I realize I might have gotten in way over my head.
And there's another problem: this was always meant to be temporary. His training program has an end date, and we're both fighting against a reality that seems determined to pull us apart.
When everything is on the line, how far are we willing to go for love?
Accidentally Crossing the Tycoon
Four years ago, the Bailey family faced a devastating financial crisis.
Just when bankruptcy seemed inevitable, a mysterious benefactor emerged, offering salvation with one condition: a contract marriage.
Rumors swirled about this enigmatic man—whispers claimed he was hideously ugly and too ashamed to show his face, possibly harboring dark, twisted obsessions.
Without hesitation, the Baileys sacrificed me to protect their precious biological daughter, forcing me to take her place as a pawn in this cold, calculated arrangement.
Luckily, in those four years, the mysterious husband never asked to meet in person.
Now, in the final year of our arrangement, the husband I've never met is demanding we meet face to face.
But disaster struck the night before my return—drunk and disoriented, I stumbled into the wrong hotel room and ended up sleeping with the legendary financial mogul, Caspar Thornton.
What the hell am I supposed to do now?
King of the Underworld
However, one fateful day, the King of the Underworld appeared before me and rescued me from the clutches of the most powerful Mafia boss's son. With his deep blue eyes fixed on mine, he spoke softly: "Sephie... short for Persephone... Queen of the Underworld. At last, I have found you." Confused by his words, I stammered out a question, “P..pardon? What does that mean?”
But he simply smiled at me and brushed my hair away from my face with gentle fingers: "You are safe now.”
Sephie, named for the Queen of the Underworld, Persephone, she's quickly finding out how she's destined to fulfill her namesake's role. Adrik is the King of the Underworld, the boss of all bosses in the city he runs.
She was a seemingly normal girl, with a normal job until it all changed one night when he walked through the front door and her life changed abruptly. Now, she finds herself on the wrong side of powerful men, but under the protection of the most powerful among them.
The mafia princess return
Tempted By The Enemy
She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath.
The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years?
What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to sinful temptations? Read to find out!
Part of the Temptation Series. Can be read as a standalone.
The Family Books 1-3 (A Mafia romance)
The saint to my sinner. with her innocent eyes and devilish curves.
A Madonna that was meant to be admired but never touched.
Until someone took that innocence from her.
She left.
The darkness in my heart was finally complete.
I avenged her, I killed for her, but she never came back.
Until I saw her again. An angel dancing around a pole for money.
She didn’t know I owned that club. She didn’t know I was watching.
This time I won’t let her escape.
I will make her back into the girl I knew.
Whether she likes it or not.
2/ Judge and Jury- I can’t stop watching her.
I’m not even sure I want to.
Taylor Lawson, blonde, beautiful, and totally oblivious to how much dangers she’s in.
She’s also the one juror in my upcoming murder trial that hasn’t been bought.
The one who can put me behind bars for a very long time.
I know I should execute her.
After all that’s what I do.
I am the Judge.
I eliminate threats to The Family.
And Taylor is a threat.
But I don’t want to kill her.
Possessing her, making her love me seems like a much better plan for this particular Juror.
3/ Rags and Ritches-
The Ice Between Us.
Then comes Jax Miller.
Jax is a hotheaded rookie with a lightning-fast puck and a reputation for burning bridges. He doesn't follow playbooks, he doesn't respect authority, and he’s determined to melt Julian’s icy composure. When a viral video of their on-ice collision threatens to bankrupt the program, Coach Clain delivers an ultimatum that feels like a death sentence: they must live together in a cramped, two-bed dorm for the duration of the season.
Forced to navigate the high-stakes world of sports fame, "forbidden" locker-room tension, and the mysterious blackmailer who caught their first mistake on camera, Julian and Jax must decide what’s more dangerous: losing their careers, or losing themselves to the person they were supposed to hate.












