I have recurring dreams about a mysterious man who watches over me as I sleep. But I know he can’t be real—at least, that’s what I thought until today.

I’ve spent my life running with my mother. She always said we couldn’t stay in one place for more than six months. Whenever I asked why, she never gave me an answer.

On my 18th birthday, I decided to apply to university. I thought it was a good way to start adulthood. I should’ve listened to my mother.

The consequence of disobeying her came that same day. The reason we’ve been running all these years was to escape my sadistic, mafia father. His first words to me were: “You showed up at the perfect age to get married. Go get ready to meet your fiancé.”

I had to behave—for the sake of my mother’s safety.

My fiancé was old enough to be my grandfather and looked at me like I was his favorite dessert. But he wasn’t the one who caught my attention. His son did.

Standing beside the man I was promised to… was the man from my dreams, in the flesh—dangerous, tempting, and very real.

All I want now is to find a way to escape, but now that I know he exists, I realize I won’t get very far.

The mafioso's obsession

31 – Conservatory day

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My eyes scan over him, dress clothes suit him well, though they’d definitely look better on the floor. I laugh at my own internal joke. Would he find it funny? I must be a joke to him. Everything is a joke: me, my life, this awful day, this birthday from hell, everything.
“Too bad you’re out of your...

8 – Night visit

1 – Senhora Leonora

2 – Imaginary friend

3 – Persecuted

4 – End of the line

5 – Mr. Lucius

6 – Badly behaved

7 – Son of the groom

9 – Escape plan

10 – Punished

11 – Distorted present

12 – Undue attraction

13 – Requirements

14 – Lessons in Power

15 – Good girl

16 – Some answers

17 – Falling into temptation

18 – Mafia Lord

19 – Temporary dismissal

20 – Di Rinaldi Conservatory

21 – More Unpleasant Surprises

22 – The Mafiosos’ Plaything

23 – The Dinner

24 – Farewell

25 – The hostess

26 – No Way Out

27 – Tatami

28 – Down the Hallways

29 – Stitches

30 – Relapse