Isabella Martinez's father died when she was eighteen years old. She had been separated from her mother at an early age and had no knowledge of the business her mother was involved in with her new husband.

After her father's death, she is pushed into her mother's world, where she meets her husband and her husband's son, Alex. Alex is unlike any male she has ever encountered; he is cruel and demanding. He's harsh and intimidating. Alex was known to instill dread in individuals merely by glancing at them. Isabella is unaware that he is the world's most dreaded Mafia Don.

Alex claims Isabella is his own the instant his eyes meet hers. Her stepbrother is a womanizer who astonished everyone when he claimed Isabella.

Isabella is terrified and despairing; will she learn to accept her stepbrother into her heart?

She shouted out, "Y-You can't do that." ❝You are my brother.❞

He chuckled at her as his fingers gripped her tiny lace underwear. ❝I am not your brother, neonata.❞ His lips were on her neck, nibbling her skin and moving down to her breast.

❝ Why are you doing this? She asked, biting her lip as his tongue touched her bud.

❝ Because you are mine.

"Dad, I'm going to miss you," Isabella whispered as she stared at the closed casket. Everyone had already left the cemetery hours ago, so she was alone-drenched in her tears.

Soon, she got up from her kneeled position and walked toward her car. As she trudged along the short journey, visuals of her father's death entered her mind. The poor girl was beginning to go a little insane, as she attempted to push the torturing thoughts away.

A dinging came from her phone, which indicated that she had received a text message. Isabella's blurry eyes gazed down at the text sent from her mother. She scrunched her brows together at what it stated: I want you to move in with me now.

Isabella could clearly remember the last time she had seen her mother. It was something she always tried to avoid thinking about, because her mother was a terrible person, in her eyes. However, although she didn't want to go, she had no other choice. With her being eighteen and still being in school, it wouldn't be easy to become so independent of herself. She still needed an adult's guiding hand to lead her into the life of adulthood.

For the past week, she struggled to pay bills and live all on her own. Isabella ran out of money as soon as the water bill was paid-she couldn't even pay the mortgage. Another message popped up on her screen that revealed an address. She bit down on her bottom lip before she looked back over to her father. She couldn't exactly see him, but knowing he was inside the casket, ached her heart. Moments after sitting in complete silence, Isabella drove off down the road.

It's been an entire decade since she's last seen her mother. The only reason her parents split up was because her mother constantly doped herself up and cheated on her father. After the divorce, Isabella's father received full custody of her; he didn't want his daughter's future corrupted. Ever since that day, she has never laid eyes on her again.

When she pulled up to her house, there was a foreclosure sign imprinted on the lawn. Isabella quickly got out of her car and sprinted to the front door; she twisted the knob but it was locked.

"What the hell?" Isabella whispered very confusedly because she didn't even get a notice. At least they could've sat her clothes outside, being that was all she wanted to collect from the huge home. She groaned out loud and kicked the door in frustration. She missed her dad; he'd know how to handle this situation and she wished he was here to help her.

Her phone dinged once again and it was another text message from her mother. She made her way back to her car and got inside. Once she was seated, she texted back: I'm on my way.

Isabella pushed her key into the ignition and drove down the road. She was still mourning over her father; she couldn't help but think about him in every moment. Memories clouded her mind and she smiled when she recalled the way he smiled. He cared about her with everything in him and she knew she'd never get that type of love again. That made her even sadder and she started to feel pathetic. She began to laugh as she remembered their arguments about her staying out late or hanging out with the wrong type of people.

After a very long drive, Isabella looked down at her phone to make sure she had gotten the correct address. Her jaw dropped the minute she arrived at the nowhere-near-humble abode. It was a beautiful mansion, the luxury basically slapped her across the face. One thing she immediately loved about it was that it was completely isolated. Trees surrounded the huge place, which blocked any pedestrian from walking passed it.

The sight of a woman running out of the doors and over to Isabella's car sort of freighted her. "Isabella!" She heard the woman shout as she made it to her car. Isabella opened up her car door only to be engulfed in a hug. "I've missed you so much! You've gotten so big!" The woman exclaimed the moment she pulled away from the embrace.

Isabella shot an awkward smile at her. "You don't remember me?" The woman asked. As Isabella inspected her, she noticed her dark brown hair sprawling down her back in waves, along with her piercing gray eyes that resembled hers.

"My mother, right?" She asked.

The woman nodded her head as a huge smile made its way onto her face. "Come in! I want you to meet my husband." Those words didn't stop the pang she felt in her heart. She could recall how her father wouldn't even come close to looking at another woman because he was still in love with her mother. It just amazed her how her mother was already happily married and seemed quite sober.

Her mom opened up the front doors and the moment Isabella stepped inside, everything screamed wealth. There were maids and guards all around the mansion, which caused her to narrow her eyes suspiciously at everything that came into view. "Who is your husband?" Isabella asked while her mother tensed up.

"You will see," was the only thing her mother whispered as she gripped Isabella's arm and pulled her towards an office. The walls were a dark red color, almost black, and it blended in well with the marble flooring. As they walked, Isabella noticed the maids with their heads tucked down. She also couldn't help but see a bruise on one of their cheeks. The guards each had a gun as they walked around the home.

What the hell is this?

She turned her head back to her mother when she heard a knock against a door.

"Come in." A dark, enchanting voice had called out from behind it. She looked down and watched her mother twist the knob before pushing the door open.

The first feature Isabella noticed was a long scar on his eye; it trailed from his eyebrow to his lip. He had black hair on top of his head and eyes that screamed danger. When he looked up, he smiled at his wife before his eyes turned to Isabella.

He got up from his seat and pushed the chair into the jet-black-colored desk. "Is this the lovely daughter?" He asked as he crossed his arms against his chest. Her mother smiled at him before standing beside him.

"She is. Isabella, this is my husband, Angelo Romano." Her mother introduced. Isabella looked at him and she could feel herself slightly shivering in fear from his cold gaze. He held his hand out, leaving her to place her small hand into his to shake.

"Nice to meet you. Your mother has spoken so much about you." He told her with a smile gracing his features.

Isabella smiled at him before looking around the room awkwardly. She could hear him chuckle causing her eyes to shoot right back to him. "You can stay here for as long as you'd like. I am deeply apologetic for the loss of your father." He empathized.

She began to pick up on his accent. Also at the fact that each word he spoke dripped with every bit of no emotion. Her eyes switched over to her mother to see her smiling. It looked as if she dreamt of the moment her entire life.

"Yeah, me too," Isabella told him with the same exact monotone as him. The vibes that went off in the room were just floating around, revealing the emotion none of them were willing to share.

"I can't believe you are really here." Her mother spoke, walking up to Isabella to give her another hug. She awkwardly patted her mother's back before backing away from the hug.

"I'll have Valerio show you to your room," Angelo told her as he walked back over behind his desk. At that moment, a man walked into the room. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice strong jaw. He smiled over at Isabella before nodding towards the door. She took that as her cue and began walking towards the door. Once she was out, she paused once she heard Angelo's voice.

"She's going to be perfect for him." She heard him mutter. Her eyes unconsciously narrowed as she tried to figure out who he was talking about.

"I told you so." Her mother spoke.

"Let's just hope he enjoys his present."

Isabella was so close to knocking down the door but refrained from doing so when Valerio tapped her shoulder. They walked up a flight of stairs and into a huge bedroom. As she inspected the room, she came to the realization that everything was made to her liking.

There was a huge couch in the corner of the room and a big king-sized bed situated in the middle. She walked into the closet and saw clothes that were exactly her size. There were even drawers full of expensive jewelry all for her. She couldn't understand how they knew exactly everything about her physique. Everything was absolutely perfect and it only made things more confusing.

"I'll be downstairs if you ever need me," Valerio spoke. She looked over at him, her eyes shedding all of the bemusement she had. He sent her a smile and walked towards the door.

"Wait. I-I-I need to go home. I c-can't stay here." She told him feeling fear lace within her emotions. His eyes softened for a second before they hardened.

"You can't." He told her.

Her eyebrows furrowed in anger. She didn't know what exactly was happening. She dug her hands inside her pockets to fish her keys, but they were not there.

"What do you mean 'I can't'?" She asked him.

"Once you are here, you can't leave. At least not until our boss comes home." He tells her before walking out of the door. Isabella looks around the room and towards the door to see that it is unlocked.

The moment she pulled it open, she regretted it. In front of her was a man; he looked scarier than Angelo. Tattoos littered his skin in every place that was visible except for his face. His blue eyes held darkness and fearlessness. He looked down at Isabella with a smirk on his face.

"I-I-I," she tried to speak, but nothing came out as she stared at the man. His suit did a good job of showcasing his jaw-dropping muscles. She was so caught up in his looks that she didn't notice when he pushed the door open even further.

"Isabella, right?" He asked. The way he spoke her name was different and it sounded better than when anyone else had said it. His Italian accent was clear and deep, almost arousing. She didn't find him making her panties wet nor did she find herself shivering. Isabella was simply scared of everything to come after this day.

"W-Who are you?" She cried out as she tried to move past him. He smirked mischievously, again.

"Alex."

- ❧ -

Isabella's pulse raced in her chest as she continued to gaze into Alex's eyes. The terrified child moved slowly by him and dashed down the stairs in pursuit of her mother. She rushed past a group of maids who glanced at her perplexedly as she approached Angelo's office door. She arrived moments later and knocked right away.

Angelo opened the door quickly and with a smile. "What's wrong?" He inquired, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. She wanted to weep out of fury and dread.

"I want to go home." She remarked as she backed away slightly, concerned. He chuckled as he opened his office door further. He moved back to his desk, and she took a timid step inside, then another.

"I don't bite." He informed her when he sensed her hesitancy. "Why must you want to leave so soon?"

Isabella nervously stood in the corner of the room. "I just don't feel comfortable here." To be honest, she was OK until she met Alex; something about him made her want to flee, and she could tell he was up to no good.

He chuckled, "You just got here." She wanted to shout at him, but dread overcame her voice. Angelo seemed nice, yet something about him didn't seem to fit it. He took a deep drag on a cigar he had grabbed from his desk.

"I-I know, but my friends and boyfriend will be really anxious. I literally have no reception in this area, and I really need to go home," she said.

He opened his lips to speak right as the door opened. Her eyes shifted to Alex, who exhibited no compassion. He looked across to his father with a harsh and icy glare.

"Alex, have you met Maria's daughter, Isabella?" he said. Alex smirked as he grabbed Isabella's hand and raised it to his lips. She could swear his tongue brushed across her flesh as he pecked it. She removed her hand from his clutches, which he scowled at.

"How rude, neonata?" he mocked.

"She just told me she needed to get home. Angelo whispered the strange words to his kid as he switched to his computer. Alex glanced at her as if he was arguing in his head.

She stood there awkwardly once again, trying to flee from his intense gaze. "She stayed. This is my sister, after all, right?"

That piqued Angelo's interest, causing him to glance up at his son as if he had just solved the most difficult problem in the world. Isabella hurriedly wiped the tear that had spilled from her eye. "Where's my mother?"

"Maria!" Angelo exclaimed.

Maria entered the room in seconds, her brows furrowed. She turned around and froze as her gaze met Alex's. The woman hurriedly looked down at the floor before approaching her spouse.

"Isabella asked for you," Angelo said softly against her ear. Her focus immediately shifted to her kid. When she noticed Isabella's sadness, she instantly walked over to her.

"Is everything okay?" Maria forced a grin on her face. Isabella's gaze shifted to Alex, who continued to stare at her intensely.

"I want to go home," she said. She observed how her mother paused for a moment before looking across at Alex, then Angelo. He nodded and offered her a wink.

"You don't really have a home anymore, Isabella," her mother explained. Isabella felt like crying at that point. She had entirely forgotten about her father's house, which she had lost. Her heart ached, and the continual state of terror did little to help.

Isabella rushed out of the office and walked towards the front door. A guard stood in front of it, and it appeared that she would not be able to pass through. She stormed up the stairs and back into her room, slamming the door.

She hurled herself against the door, and slid down it, palming her head. Tears began to fall from her eyes, and her sobbing resonated throughout the room. She hoped her father was here to console her like he usually did. She hoped her mother was not such a foolish piece of nothing.

A faint knock at the door could be heard. Isabella immediately dried her tears with her shirt before opening the door. Her mother was there, a sorrowful expression on her face. When Isabella spotted her, she started to lock the door, but her mother had already entered the room.

"Look at Isabella. I understand you're terrified and bewildered, but this was the only way I could persuade him to let you remain." Her mother yelled something out before running her fingers through her hair. She looked down and locked the doorknob.

"What is all of this? Why can't I leave? Who are they? "Why have you brought me here?" Isabella inquired, shedding tears once again. She despised her delicate heart, which constantly felt the need to make her cry over the simplest things.

"It will all make sense shortly. Just remember that Alex is a terrifying man. You are his step-sister; perhaps that would help him not be so nasty." Maria gazed around the room, uncomfortably.

"Be too cruel?" "What are you talking about?"

"Bella, please be polite to your stepbrother. Do what he says. I'm sure you despise me because I despise myself. This will all be for the best, okay?" Maria inquired before proceeding to the door, leaving Isabella perplexed.

"This isn't normal," Isabella mumbled to herself, but her mother overheard.

She offered her another mournful grin before opening the door. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the place."