chapter 7

BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR

Chapter 7

Published(69)

69. Chapter 69

11:49 Jan 5, 2025

(UTC+0 10:49 Jan 5, 2025)

1118 words

68. Chapter 68

11:09 Jan 4, 2025

(UTC+0 10:09 Jan 4, 2025)

891 words

67. Chapter 67

08:09 Dec 29, 2024

(UTC+0 07:09 Dec 29, 2024)

1152 words

66. Chapter 66

16:01 Dec 21, 2024

(UTC+0 15:01 Dec 21, 2024)

1390 words

65. Chapter 65

13:03 Dec 20, 2024

(UTC+0 12:03 Dec 20, 2024)

2684 words

64. Chapter 64

08:44 Dec 19, 2024

(UTC+0 07:44 Dec 19, 2024)

1560 words

63. Chapter 63

06:05 Dec 18, 2024

(UTC+0 05:05 Dec 18, 2024)

1173 words

62. Chapter 62

10:25 Dec 17, 2024

(UTC+0 09:25 Dec 17, 2024)

2456 words

61. Chapter 61

06:32 Dec 16, 2024

(UTC+0 05:32 Dec 16, 2024)

1199 words

60. Chapter 60

09:04 Dec 15, 2024

(UTC+0 08:04 Dec 15, 2024)

2180 words

59. Chapter 59

21:38 Dec 13, 2024

(UTC+0 20:38 Dec 13, 2024)

1893 words

58. Chapter 58

16:36 Dec 13, 2024

(UTC+0 15:36 Dec 13, 2024)

1686 words

57. Chapter 57

20:32 Dec 12, 2024

(UTC+0 19:32 Dec 12, 2024)

1107 words

56. Chapter 56

06:13 Dec 12, 2024

(UTC+0 05:13 Dec 12, 2024)

1377 words

55. Chapter 55

06:11 Dec 12, 2024

(UTC+0 05:11 Dec 12, 2024)

1309 words

54. Chapter 54

05:22 Dec 11, 2024

(UTC+0 04:22 Dec 11, 2024)

808 words

53. Chapter 53

05:20 Dec 11, 2024

(UTC+0 04:20 Dec 11, 2024)

942 words

52. Chapter 52

05:19 Dec 11, 2024

(UTC+0 04:19 Dec 11, 2024)

785 words

51. Chapter51

22:22 Dec 9, 2024

(UTC+0 21:22 Dec 9, 2024)

742 words

50. Chapter 50

22:21 Dec 9, 2024

(UTC+0 21:21 Dec 9, 2024)

816 words

49. Chapter 49

22:18 Dec 9, 2024

(UTC+0 21:18 Dec 9, 2024)

1039 words

48. Chapter 48

21:04 Dec 7, 2024

(UTC+0 20:04 Dec 7, 2024)

777 words

47. Chapter 47

21:03 Dec 7, 2024

(UTC+0 20:03 Dec 7, 2024)

933 words

46. Chapter 46

21:02 Dec 7, 2024

(UTC+0 20:02 Dec 7, 2024)

885 words

45. Chapter 45

21:00 Dec 7, 2024

(UTC+0 20:00 Dec 7, 2024)

1117 words

44. Chapter 44

21:05 Dec 6, 2024

(UTC+0 20:05 Dec 6, 2024)

1328 words

43. Chapter 43

21:55 Dec 5, 2024

(UTC+0 20:55 Dec 5, 2024)

996 words

42. Chapter 42

19:40 Dec 4, 2024

(UTC+0 18:40 Dec 4, 2024)

1251 words

41. Chapter 41

21:20 Dec 3, 2024

(UTC+0 20:20 Dec 3, 2024)

980 words

40. Chapter 40

22:57 Dec 2, 2024

(UTC+0 21:57 Dec 2, 2024)

1143 words

39. Chapter 39

12:32 Dec 1, 2024

(UTC+0 11:32 Dec 1, 2024)

1256 words

38. Chapter 38

22:33 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:33 Nov 24, 2024)

1200 words

37. Chapter 37

22:30 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:30 Nov 24, 2024)

1665 words

36. Chapter 36

22:23 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:23 Nov 24, 2024)

737 words

35. Chapter 35

22:20 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:20 Nov 24, 2024)

862 words

34. Chapter 34

22:17 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:17 Nov 24, 2024)

1201 words

33. Chapter 33

22:08 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:08 Nov 24, 2024)

1583 words

32. Chapter 32

22:04 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 21:04 Nov 24, 2024)

1340 words

31. Chapter 31

20:19 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:19 Nov 24, 2024)

2118 words

30. Chapter 30

20:18 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:18 Nov 24, 2024)

1312 words

29. Chapter 29

20:16 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:16 Nov 24, 2024)

1204 words

28. Chapter 28

20:14 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:14 Nov 24, 2024)

1688 words

27. Chapter 27

20:12 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:12 Nov 24, 2024)

1314 words

26. Chapter 26

20:02 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 19:02 Nov 24, 2024)

1455 words

25. Chapter 25

19:59 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 18:59 Nov 24, 2024)

1555 words

24. Chapter 24

19:57 Nov 24, 2024

(UTC+0 18:57 Nov 24, 2024)

2649 words

23. Chapter 23

18:23 Nov 12, 2024

(UTC+0 17:23 Nov 12, 2024)

1278 words

22. Chapter 22

19:40 Nov 10, 2024

(UTC+0 18:40 Nov 10, 2024)

1327 words

21. Chapter 21

19:38 Nov 10, 2024

(UTC+0 18:38 Nov 10, 2024)

1179 words

20. Chapter 20

19:21 Nov 9, 2024

(UTC+0 18:21 Nov 9, 2024)

1893 words

19. Chapter 19

19:14 Nov 9, 2024

(UTC+0 18:14 Nov 9, 2024)

761 words

18. Chapter 18

18:53 Nov 9, 2024

(UTC+0 17:53 Nov 9, 2024)

1671 words

17. Chapter 17

18:49 Nov 9, 2024

(UTC+0 17:49 Nov 9, 2024)

1020 words

16. Chapter 16

09:56 Nov 8, 2024

(UTC+0 08:56 Nov 8, 2024)

1201 words

15. Chapter 15

09:52 Nov 8, 2024

(UTC+0 08:52 Nov 8, 2024)

793 words

14. Chapter 14

12:37 Nov 7, 2024

(UTC+0 11:37 Nov 7, 2024)

1323 words

13. Chapter 13

09:26 Nov 6, 2024

(UTC+0 08:26 Nov 6, 2024)

1104 words

12. Chapter12

08:24 Nov 5, 2024

(UTC+0 07:24 Nov 5, 2024)

1167 words

11. Chapter 11

12:02 Nov 4, 2024

(UTC+0 11:02 Nov 4, 2024)

906 words

10. Chapter10

11:57 Nov 4, 2024

(UTC+0 10:57 Nov 4, 2024)

1012 words

9. Chapter 9

15:18 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 14:18 Oct 29, 2024)

888 words

8. Chapter 8

15:13 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 14:13 Oct 29, 2024)

623 words

7. Chapter 7

15:10 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 14:10 Oct 29, 2024)

1519 words

6. Chapter 6

15:03 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 14:03 Oct 29, 2024)

1197 words

5. Chapter 5

14:53 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 13:53 Oct 29, 2024)

1843 words

4. Chapter4

14:48 Oct 29, 2024

(UTC+0 13:48 Oct 29, 2024)

1227 words

3. Chapter 3

08:31 Oct 13, 2024

(UTC+0 07:31 Oct 13, 2024)

1926 words

2. Chapter 2

08:26 Oct 13, 2024

(UTC+0 07:26 Oct 13, 2024)

1922 words

1. Chapter 1

08:22 Oct 13, 2024

(UTC+0 07:22 Oct 13, 2024)

1278 words

Drafts(1)

Trash(0)

Chapter 7

The brick wall was rough against Roberto Connolly's back as he leaned against it, trying to shake off the lingering feel of Kylie's lips on his. The alley stunk of piss and rotting garbage, but right now, he welcomed the stench. Anything to clear his head of her perfume, of the soft sounds she'd made when he'd kissed her back.

Fuck.

He'd let her play him like a goddamn fiddle. The second her lips touched his, his brain had short-circuited, and all his carefully laid plans had gone straight to hell. He could still feel the ghost of her body pressed against his, the way she'd melted into him even as she'd used the kiss to distract him.

"Well, if it isn't the happy groom-to-be."

Roberto's hand was on his gun before the words fully registered. John Finch stepped out of the shadows, his Fed-issue suit a stark contrast to the grimy alley walls. The agent's face wore its usual smirk, the one that made Roberto itch to punch it off him.

"Following me now, Finch?" Roberto kept his voice level, but his heart was hammering. If anyone saw him talking to the Fed...

Finch shrugged, casual as you please. "Just checking in on our favorite informant. Heard about your engagement. Congratulations."

The word 'informant' hit Roberto like a physical blow. For three years he'd been feeding information to the Feds about his father's operation. Three years of walking a tightrope, knowing one slip would end with him in a shallow grave — if he was lucky.

"I've given you everything you need," Roberto growled. "Time to hold up your end."

"About that." Finch pulled out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to Roberto, who shook his head. "We're going to need you to stay in play a little longer. This engagement of yours? It's perfect cover."

Roberto's jaw clenched so hard he could hear his teeth grind. "Perfect cover for what?"

"Word is, Victor Hayes isn't too happy about you snatching up his dead son's fiancée." Finch lit his cigarette, the flame briefly illuminating his face. "Man like that, grief can make him sloppy. Might start making mistakes."

The muscle in Roberto's jaw jumped. Daniel Hayes's death was still fresh news, barely cold on the ground. And here was Finch, talking about using it like it was just another play in their game.

"I'm done," Roberto said flatly. "Find yourself another rat."

Finch's smile didn't waver. "You sure about that? Because I've got a file this thick" — he held his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart — "full of evidence that could put your old man away for life. It would be a shame if someone connected those dots back to you."

The threat hung in the air between them, heavy as a noose. Roberto had known from the start that working with the Feds was like making a deal with the devil. But he'd been young and stupid, thinking he could outsmart them, use them to take down his father without getting burned himself.

Now here he was, engaged to a woman who'd just tried to manipulate him, being blackmailed by the Feds, and caught in the crosshairs of what was about to become a full-blown war between the Connollys and the Hayess.

"What do you want?" The words tasted like ash in his mouth.

"Keep playing the devoted son. Keep playing the loving fiancé." Finch's eyes glittered in the dim light. "And when Victor Hayes makes his move — because he will — you make sure you're there to see it. And more importantly, to tell us about it."

Roberto thought about Kylie, about the way she'd trembled slightly even as she'd tried to play him. About the fear in her eyes when he'd mentioned her father. What the hell had Patrick Morgan gotten his daughter into?

"And what about Kylie ?" The question was out before he could stop it.

Finch's eyebrows rose slightly. "Didn't think you were the type to worry about collateral damage, Connolly."

"She's my fiancée." The words came out harder than he'd intended, almost possessive. "If this goes south—"

"Then make sure it doesn't." Finch dropped his cigarette, ground it out under his shoe. "You've got a week to get me something useful. Otherwise, that file I mentioned? It finds its way to your father's desk."

With that, he melted back into the shadows, leaving Roberto alone with the weight of his choices pressing down on him like a physical thing.

He needed a drink. Several drinks. But first, he needed to figure out what the hell he was going to do about Kylie . The kiss might have been a manipulation, but the fear in her eyes when he'd mentioned her father? That had been real.

His phone buzzed in his pocket. A text from James Hayes, of all people.

*We need to talk. Now.*

Roberto closed his eyes, let his head thump back against the brick wall. Out of the frying pan, into the fucking fire.

Across town, in a study that reeked of old money and older power, Victor Hayes stood with his back to his sons, staring into the flames of a fireplace that was more for show than warmth.

"Say that again." His voice was soft, dangerous.

James Hayes swallowed hard, shot a glance at his younger brother Ricky who was practically vibrating with nervous energy beside him. "Kylie Reynolds is engaged. To Roberto Connolly."

The crystal tumbler in Victor's hand shattered, sending shards of glass and expensive whiskey flying. Neither of his sons flinched. They'd seen worse. Much worse.

"That fucking bitch," Ricky spat, always eager to please, to prove he was as hard as his father and dead brother. "After everything Daniel did for her—"

"Shut up." James didn't raise his voice, but Ricky's mouth snapped shut anyway. The middle Hayes son stepped forward, carefully avoiding the broken glass. "Father, we don't know the full story. The Reynolds have always been loyal—"

"Loyal?" Victor finally turned, and in the firelight, his face looked like something carved from stone. "My son is barely cold in his grave, and that whore is spreading her legs for an Connolly?"

James felt the familiar ache in his chest at the mention of Daniel. His older brother had been the golden child, the heir apparent. Now he was gone, and James was left trying to hold together a family that was fracturing along fault lines of grief and rage.

"Patrick Morgan arranged it," James said quietly. "Kylie probably had no choice in the matter."

Victor's laugh was a harsh, ugly sound. "No choice? There's always a choice, boy. And she made hers." He moved to his desk, pressed a button on the intercom. "Get me Donovan. Now."

James felt his stomach drop. Donovan was Victor's enforcer, the man he called when he wanted someone to suffer before they died. "Father, think about this. Starting a war with the Connollys and the Morgans—"

"They started this war when they took my son from me!" Victor roared, and for a moment, the grief broke through the rage, raw and bleeding. Then it was gone, replaced by something colder, deadlier. "Now they think they can spit on his memory by giving his fiancée to that Connolly cur?"

"What are we going to do?" Ricky asked, practically bouncing on his toes at the prospect of violence.

Victor turned back to the fire, his figure casting a long shadow across the expensive carpet. "We're going to remind everyone in this city why the Hayes name used to make men tremble." His voice was quiet again, almost gentle. "We're going to take everything from them. Their businesses. Their territories. Their pride." A pause, heavy with promise. "And then, when they're on their knees begging for mercy, we're going to take their lives."

James closed his eyes, seeing the dominoes starting to fall. His father's grief had curdled into something toxic, something that would poison everything it touched. And caught in the middle of it all was Roberto Connolly, the Fed's pet rat, and his unwitting fiancée.

God help them all.

Back in the alley, Roberto stared at his phone, at James Hayes's message. He thought about Kylie, about the web of lies and betrayal he'd woven around himself. About how one kiss had complicated everything beyond measure.

He typed out a response to James: *Name the place.*

Then he pushed off the wall, headed for his car. He had a week to give Finch something useful, a pissed-off crime family gunning for his head, and a fiancée who was either the best actress he'd ever met or genuinely terrified of what he might discover about her father.

All he knew for sure was that kiss had changed everything. And as he slid behind the wheel of his car, he made himself a promise. No matter what happened next, no matter what secrets came to light or what blood

was spilled, he would keep Kylie safe.

Even if it meant burning everything else to the ground.