by J. L. Beck
To Kelly,
Our beloved editor who has put up with our shenanigans for over a year now.
We love and appreciate you dearly.
XOXO
Your Evil Queens
Savage Beginnings
It started with a single look, my obsession, my desire, and the need to possess the sweet and incredibly naive Elena Romero.
Like a thief, I came in the dead of night and stole her away from her protected castle and placed her in a gilded cage made of gold.
The arrangement had been made.
Her father knew I was coming, knew I had intended to make him pay.
His empire was crumbling.
He had no money, nothing of value to me, nothing except... her.
Which is why he agreed.
His precious, virgin daughter, in return for a debt paid.
He thought I would break her, kill her, he had no idea what I had planned.
How he had given me the one thing I wanted most.
She would become my wife.
She would bear my children.
She would bend to my will.
And I would go to any lengths to keep her by my side.
Contents
1. Elena
2. Julian
3. Elena
4. Julian
5. Elena
6. Julian
7. Elena
8. Julian
9. Elena
10. Julian
11. Elena
12. Julian
13. Elena
14. Julian
15. Elena
16. Julian
17. Elena
18. Julian
19. Elena
20. Julian
21. Elena
22. Julian
23. Elena
24. Julian
25. Elena
26. Julian
27. Elena
28. Julian
29. Elena
30. Julian
31. Elena
32. Julian
33. Elena
34. Julian
35. Elena
36. Julian
37. Elena
38. Julian
39. Elena
40. Julian
41. Elena
42. Julian
43. Elena
Epilogue
Cruel Obsession Sneak Peak
About the Authors
Also by the Authors
In Dark Matrimony
1
Elena
Slipping into my nightgown, I sit down on the edge of the bed and finish drying my dark hair while humming some pop song I heard on the radio earlier.
I’ve asked my father numerous times for a cell phone or laptop, but he swears it’s for my own protection that I have neither, so the radio is all I’ve got. Dropping the towel, a shiver skates down my spine when my long wet hair brushes over my shoulder.
Bending down, I reach for the towel. Before my fingers even touch it, a deafening knock booms through the room. It’s so loud and unexpected that a tiny shriek passes my lips.
Who the hell is that?
I glance at the clock on the wall and realize it’s after eleven. My father never calls for me this late, and besides him, who could it be? No one, that’s who. Since my mom’s death two years ago, my dad is the only person I have left. I have no other family and no friends, thanks to my father’s overbearing nature.
I wasn’t even allowed to go to school because he deemed it too dangerous for his little girl. Everything I’ve ever learned was taught to me through homeschooling. Covering my chest with one arm, I open the door and find Richi, one of my father’s personal guards, on the other side.
“Miss Elena, your father wants to see you in his study.” There is a strange look on his face, a mixture of fear and remorse. He’s never looked at me in such a way. Seeing how uncomfortable he appears to be makes me suspicious.
“Now?” I ask, still a little shocked, given the time. “Is something wrong?”
“Just come with me, please.”
Oh no, something is wrong. I can already feel it, something is definitely going on.
“Okay, let me get dressed real quick.”
“I’m afraid there is no time for that,” a deep, penetrating voice comes from behind the door, filling my ears. Opening the door a little wider so I can see who that voice belongs to, I almost gasp. There’s a man in a suit, a man I’ve never seen before, standing beside Richi.
In the dim light, it’s hard to make out the man, but from what I can see, he looks down-right sinister. His gaze pierces mine, and his lips press into a thin line, impatience rolling off of him in waves.
Now I’m really worried, why is a man I’ve never seen or met before inside our estate, much less outside my bedroom door.
“What’s going on?” I try to hide the panic from my voice, but even I can hear how nervous I am.
“Just come downstairs, Miss, enough with the questions,” the unknown man orders, and I know there is no sense in arguing. When you’re told to do something, you do it, that’s what my father always said. If my father has asked for me, then surely this is safe.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I step out into the hallway and grit my teeth at the cold that kisses my bare feet. Goosebumps spread out across my skin as I walk between the two men, wearing nothing but some panties and a thin nightgown. I really wish they would have let me put some clothes on. This is no way to greet my father or any visitors.
The walk to my father’s study seems to drag on, but when we reach the heavy wooden door, it doesn’t feel long enough. I don’t know what’s going on yet, but I do know it’s not good, and I’m not ready for it. My gut tightens with the unknown. I’ve had enough heartache in the last few years to last me a lifetime.
Looking up at the door, I don’t bother knocking, knowing that my father is expecting me. Reaching for the knob, I pause for one more second, mentally preparing for whatever awaits me on the other side. I’m not sure why, but I glance back at Richi and the unknown guy. Both look at me with blank expressions, which is nothing new to me. My father’s men are all trained to look at me like that. No emotions. Feelings get you killed.
Sucking in one last breath, I push the door open and take a step inside.
As soon as I catch a glimpse of what’s beyond the door, I want to retreat from the room. It’s a reflex, really.
Since I was a little girl, my father had trained me, told me to never listen to him, and his associates talk. To never listen to anything regarding his business. So, when I see him and three men in his office, I have this deep primal instinct to go in the opposite direction.
I shouldn’t be here. I can’t be here. My fingers tremble against the brass doorknob.
“Elena, come in,” my father says, his tone clipped.
He is all business at this point, and even as badly as I would like to run from the room and seek shelter in my bedroom, I know better than to disobey my father, especially in front of his associates.
On shaky legs, I walk further into the office, my arms still tightly wrapped around my chest as if I’m giving myself a hug.
“Take a seat, we have some matters to discuss,” he explains without looking at me. I hate how emotionless he sounds and looks, even more so than usual.
Two men I don’t know are standing off to the side while a third man is sitting at the desk opposite my father. All I can see is his back from the position I’m standing in, his broad shoulders and thick arms rest against the arm of the chair as he casually leans backward.
“Elena, do you remember Mr. Moretti?” My father motions to the man beside me. “Julian Moretti.”
Moretti? The name sounds familiar, but I can’t pinpoint it right away.
As I glance over to the man in question, my heart thunders in my chest, trying to put a face to the name. Immediately, our eyes lock, his icy blue stare penetrates me like a sharp dagger… just as they did the first time we met.
I remember it well, and I know the exact date because the first time I met this man was at my mother’s funeral.
Just as most men I know, he too wears a mask of indifference. His eyes are blank, a carefully constructed wall placed around him, refusing to let anyone see the man beneath.
“You were at my mother’s funeral.” I simply state.
“Yes.”
His voice is deep and smooth, not matching the rest of him. Everything else about him seems rough and jagged. His jaw sharp, his cheekbones angular, and his lips pressed firmly into a tight line. He’s handsome in a devilish way, he could even be a model I’m sure. I can tell that he’s older than me as he has this air of maturity about him, but I’m not sure how old since he has no fine lines around his eyes, only a permanent scowl between them.
I wonder if this man has smiled a day in his life.
“Elena.” My father draws my attention back to him. “I need you to sign right here.”
He pushes a piece of paper across the mahogany desk and passes me a pen.
“What is this?” I look down at the document but can’t make out any of the words.
“Just sign it,” my father orders, his tone harsh. Cruelty isn’t something my father has ever shown me, and I can see he’s struggling even right now with how to act. He’s never been a great father, but that’s because of his absence and overbearing nature, not because he is unkind to me. Whatever this is about is weighing heavily on him.
Dragging the paper closer to myself, I grip the pen between my clammy fingers and start to sign my name at the bottom. The room is silent, and I can hear the pen gliding across the paper. I’m not even halfway through signing my name when my hand freezes. My eyes dart from the document before me and up to my father, then back again.
That can’t be right.
With the ink pen hovering over the paper, I reread the first few lines of the document.
Ownership Contract
This agreement confirms that as of today, Elena Romero will belong fully and without further stipulation to Julian Moretti in exchange for ten million dollars...
“What is this?” I question with fervor, dropping the pen as I pull back from the desk.
A knife twists in my chest, the edge digging deeper with every breath I take.
This can’t be what I think it is.
“Don’t question me. Just sign the damn document,” my father growls, slamming his fist down on the desk, and for the first time, he looks up at me. The coldness that reflects back at me makes me shiver. I’ve never seen him like this, and I don’t understand why he’s selling me to this man. Julian Moretti.
“I…” My bottom lip trembles and I bite it to stop it. “You can’t do this… You can’t sell me. I’m not signing this.” Tears blur my eyes at the betrayal that consumes me. I want to scream, to fight this with all my might, but I feel helpless. There isn’t a single person in this room that will help me.
The words have barely passed my lips when Moretti leans over and grabs my hand, engulfing his much larger one with my small one. Heat encompasses my hand, and it’s like being burned by fire. I try to pull away, but he only tightens his grip as he forces the pen between my fingers and my hand back to the paper.
“Please… don’t do this. You don’t want me.” I try and tug my hand away with all my might, my hand throbbing as he tightens his grip.
“But I do, Elena.” He speaks into the shell of my ear.
With bruising force, he presses the pen to the paper and guides my hand, forcing me to write the rest of my name. A sob breaks free from my lips, and big fat tears of weakness fall from my eyes. The man who now owns me smiles like the devil and releases my hand with ease, placing it down against the paper.
“Father… please?” I pull my hand from the document and press it to my chest.
“The contract is complete,” my father says on a sigh, leaning back in his chair. “She is now yours, do with her as you please.”
That statement has me blinking back tears.
“Please, don’t do this,” I whimper, looking up at my father, pleading with him.
How could he just sign me away to someone I don’t even know? Sell me for money? It’s like I don’t even know him. Like he’s not my father at all.
“It’s business, sweetie, don’t take it personal.” He shrugs and looks away from me, giving Moretti a get out of here gesture.
My mouth pops open, and I’m shocked, completely shocked. Where is my loving, caring father? The man who taught me how to ride a bike, the man who used to read me stories at bedtime, who held me when my mother died? He wasn’t always the perfect father, but I never expected him to do this.
“You can’t do this!” I hiss pushing up from my chair while slamming my fists down on his desk, but it does nothing but cause my hand to throb with pain.
He doesn’t see me, doesn’t care.
“Don’t worry, Romero. I’ll take good care of her… I mean… I’ll break her in gently,” Julian says darkly to my father. It’s like looking at a shark and expecting it not to bite you. The only difference is this man isn’t just going to bite me, he’s going to devour me, slowly, piece by piece.
Julian stands, smoothing his hands down his suit. My heart skips a beat, and my eyes dart over my shoulder. I want to bolt for the door, but know I won’t make it. Before I can devise an escape plan, his strong arm is circling my waist. He tugs me back against his hard chest and guides me toward the door.
I whimper like a wounded animal knowing the worst is yet to come. I’ve been sold to the devil, my body, mind, and life bound by an unbreakable contract.
2
Julian
Wrapping one thick arm around her waist, I pull her from her father’s office, ignoring her tears and small whimpers. There will be many more in the following days.
“You don’t want me...”
Her words ring in my ear. Oh, how wrong she is. I more than want her… in fact, I’ve wanted her for a very long time. Years. And now, I finally have her and her father exactly where I want them. I’ve been watching, waiting, planning to take Romero down for the last five years. The moment he killed my mother, taking from me the one and only person who ever mattered, I’ve been plotting his downfall.
It wasn’t until Lilian Romero’s funeral that I knew exactly how I was going to get my revenge. Romero fell off the wagon after his wife’s death, his gambling problem multiplying into the millions. He thought he had time to pay his debts, he was comfortable and being comfortable left you vulnerable.
He didn’t have shit now—nothing but her.
Now, I finally have her, my prize. My Elena. A dark raven-haired beauty that would soon become my wife. As if she can hear me thinking her name, she shoves at my arm, her nails sinking into the flesh as she struggles to get away from me.
Oh, Elena, there is no getting away now.
Releasing her for a fraction of a second, I grab her by the waist and lift her up, tossing her over my shoulder with ease. The nightgown she’s wearing rides up with the movement, giving me a side view of her perfectly shaped ass and a glimpse of her satin panties that hide her virgin pussy. That too will soon be mine.
Markus, my second in command and the closest thing I have to a friend, walks ahead of me while Lucca, one of my best and most brutal e
nforcers, covers my back. We can’t be too careful in this place. I did just steal Romero’s daughter, after all. And a contract won’t matter if I’m dead.
I carry her all the way out to the car while she spends the entire time pounding her little fists against my back. She doesn’t actually think she has a chance of escaping me, does she?
When we reach the sleek black SUV, Marcus opens the door. Turning around, his eyes fall on Elena, who is still struggling like a cat on my shoulder, her ass cheeks jiggling beside my face. Rage fills my veins, and I forget for a moment that Markus is my ally.
“Look at her again, and I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out.”
Most men cower in fear when I make a threat like that because everyone knows that when I make a threat, it’s not just a threat, it’s a promise. Markus is not most men, though, he takes in my words and gives me a respectful nod. If I didn’t know him better, I could have sworn his lips twitched up into a smile.
Fucker.
I put her down on her feet but grab her arm before she can make a run for it. Her feistiness only makes me want her more. She covers her chest with her free arm, trying to hide her tits covered only by the thin material. She’s beautifully naive, and the fact that she’s even trying to maintain an ounce of modesty in this situation proves that.