Reign of Pride by A.G. Kirkham
Series: Dark Reign #1
Publication date: August 11th, 2020
Synopsis:
Nero was born and raised to take over "La Famiglia". It is his destiny. Along with this power comes traditions, one being marrying a dutiful wife to have dutiful babies and raise them to respect the way of the family. It is a severe handicap to fall in love. Enemies take those you love and use them to their advantage. Can Nero resist the youth and charm of Felicia or will she be the downfall of his destiny? Can he lose all he desires by letting his heart rule instead of his head?
Felicia always knew that she would be promised in marriage, but was assured by her father that her future husband would be a man that she could fall in love with and would love her in return. Instead when an attack hits the school, Felicia grabs her friend's hand and they run for their lives. Her quick thinking saved them both and her reward, Nero. Felicia understands tradition and the ways of the Famiglia but was not prepared to marry the next Capo. How does she make a man made of ice fall in love with her?
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Trailer
Excerpt
I am rattled awake by the car jolting over potholes in the road. My head aches and when, I move my head, I feel something oozing down my face. My hands are bound. I force my eyes open. I must be dreaming. I blink to force the haze out of my mind and refocus. Zio Amate is in the front seat next to a husky man.
"She's awake," the guy says.
"Fuck, I was hoping we could drop her off without her seeing me," he exclaims, not even acknowledging my presence.
"Doesn't matter. When they're done with her, she won't be able to say your name," says the slimeball.
I start looking around and make an attempt to open the door. I would prefer taking my chances rolling out of a moving car then what they have in store for me.
"Sorry, Felicia, that won't work," Zio Amate states, barely acknowledging my presence.
"Why? What did I do to you?" I probe, the throbbing in my head getting worse.
"You're a casualty of war. It's time for a change in La Famiglia. If Nero can't control his men and they end up shooting each other, and then he loses his wife to a rival family, the men won't follow him as a leader and Marco Moretti will be forced to give the title to someone else. Someone who's capable. I will petition the underbosses and I will win," Amate says. "I bet your Nero is losing his mind right about now. He's going to lose his mind and his wife. He will not be able to control his emotions and they will see him as the immature and incapable man that he is. Not a chance he will be the Don our Famiglia needs."
"He will come for me," I vow.
"I hope he does. Then they will kill you both and I won't have to endure any other problems."
He turns his back to me while his sidekick sneers at me in the rear-view mirror. We drive for at least another hour before heading down a dirt road to a secluded building. It looks abandoned but that doesn't stop the slimeball from hauling me out of the car. He grabs my hands and leads me like cattle to slaughter while Amate leads the way into the building.
We are met by three men. Three lethal, hard, gorgeous men. Two of them are blond with blue eyes. The one in the center has wavy chestnut hair and smoke gray eyes. All extremely large, not fat, but very big. They could crush me in an instant, but I refuse to cower. I am a Moretti; I will not weep or beg for mercy.
I straighten my shoulders and walk with purpose. I keep my eyes forward and chin held high.
"I have delivered my part of the deal," Amate declares. He pulls me forward by my hands are throws me toward them. I stumble into one of the big guys, who grabs me before I hit the ground.
"I can see that," says one of the other guys.
"You remember our deal. You do whatever you want with her, then you send her to Nero in pieces. Fuck her, whore her out, whatever, just make sure that when she speaks her last words to Nero, he knows that she has suffered," he says.
I cringe at his words. I have heard what happens to women caught between feuding families.
"Don't tell me how to do my job, Amate. I'm the Don of the Viale family; I shall do what I want with her with no commands from you." He looks me up and down. "You brought me battered goods. Is this how you present a gift?"
"She put up a fight. We had to restrain her," the slimeball says.
The Don turns his attention to one of the men behind him. "Sebastian, take Mrs. Moretti to the waiting room."
I don't want to go with him, but my options are limited. I could make an attempt to fight, but that's only going to make me--and, therefore, my family--weak. I'm no match for these guys and there are too many of them. I'm just going to have to brazen it out and hope Nero finds me before it's too late. But I will make him proud no matter what my fate.
"She's awake," the guy says.
"Fuck, I was hoping we could drop her off without her seeing me," he exclaims, not even acknowledging my presence.
"Doesn't matter. When they're done with her, she won't be able to say your name," says the slimeball.
I start looking around and make an attempt to open the door. I would prefer taking my chances rolling out of a moving car then what they have in store for me.
"Sorry, Felicia, that won't work," Zio Amate states, barely acknowledging my presence.
"Why? What did I do to you?" I probe, the throbbing in my head getting worse.
"You're a casualty of war. It's time for a change in La Famiglia. If Nero can't control his men and they end up shooting each other, and then he loses his wife to a rival family, the men won't follow him as a leader and Marco Moretti will be forced to give the title to someone else. Someone who's capable. I will petition the underbosses and I will win," Amate says. "I bet your Nero is losing his mind right about now. He's going to lose his mind and his wife. He will not be able to control his emotions and they will see him as the immature and incapable man that he is. Not a chance he will be the Don our Famiglia needs."
"He will come for me," I vow.
"I hope he does. Then they will kill you both and I won't have to endure any other problems."
He turns his back to me while his sidekick sneers at me in the rear-view mirror. We drive for at least another hour before heading down a dirt road to a secluded building. It looks abandoned but that doesn't stop the slimeball from hauling me out of the car. He grabs my hands and leads me like cattle to slaughter while Amate leads the way into the building.
We are met by three men. Three lethal, hard, gorgeous men. Two of them are blond with blue eyes. The one in the center has wavy chestnut hair and smoke gray eyes. All extremely large, not fat, but very big. They could crush me in an instant, but I refuse to cower. I am a Moretti; I will not weep or beg for mercy.
I straighten my shoulders and walk with purpose. I keep my eyes forward and chin held high.
"I have delivered my part of the deal," Amate declares. He pulls me forward by my hands are throws me toward them. I stumble into one of the big guys, who grabs me before I hit the ground.
"I can see that," says one of the other guys.
"You remember our deal. You do whatever you want with her, then you send her to Nero in pieces. Fuck her, whore her out, whatever, just make sure that when she speaks her last words to Nero, he knows that she has suffered," he says.
I cringe at his words. I have heard what happens to women caught between feuding families.
"Don't tell me how to do my job, Amate. I'm the Don of the Viale family; I shall do what I want with her with no commands from you." He looks me up and down. "You brought me battered goods. Is this how you present a gift?"
"She put up a fight. We had to restrain her," the slimeball says.
The Don turns his attention to one of the men behind him. "Sebastian, take Mrs. Moretti to the waiting room."
I don't want to go with him, but my options are limited. I could make an attempt to fight, but that's only going to make me--and, therefore, my family--weak. I'm no match for these guys and there are too many of them. I'm just going to have to brazen it out and hope Nero finds me before it's too late. But I will make him proud no matter what my fate.
About the Author:
I was born in a small town in Italy. My parents are loving people; and true traditionalists. I grew up being a chatterbox of a child and evolved into a quiet and shy teenager. I was definitely not the life of the party. As a matter of fact, I never wanted to go to any high school dances or any activities the school offered. I was good with being alone. I had to grow into my own and I eventually became the fun loving, open-minded and creative person I am now. I love the 'me' I have become and I am grateful that this is where I have landed.
Writing is my release and I have escaped in my imagination to some incredible places meeting the most awesome characters. I also wanted to be a rock star but anyone who has ever heard me sing kindly convinced me that I do not have any talent. (In other words, I suck at it.)
Although I have been writing since I was in grade school, and I am a hopeless romantic.
Why I write romance? I thrive on two individuals connecting in mind, body and soul. The understanding of wants and needs and placing them as a priority and not out of fear of losing them or because you feel you need to concede; you do it because it feels easy and right in your own heart.
My other passion is cooking! I enjoy making meals for my family and friends and bantering around the table. I have colourful people in my life and they all add to my rainbow. I love music! I like it all, depending on my mood.
And lastly, I love to travel. I want to enjoy all that life has to offer. I want to meet people, learn from them and create the most fantastic, sexy love stories. If I can do this overlooking the ocean and feeling the breeze wash over me then I have my heaven on earth.
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