I Was Never Yours

I'd been with Daniel Bonanno for five years. On our anniversary, I was the one who processed his marriage license application— but the bride wasn't me. It was Emma Miller. He told me it was just a merger. A fake arrangement between families. Once he took the Don's seat, he'd marry me for real. I'd heard that line so many times I'd lost count. But I watched him grow closer to that woman. Day by day. Even when I was kidnapped, he was in bed with her. And finally, it hit me. Five years of loving him, and it was all just a joke. So I faked my death. I made sure everyone thought I jumped off that cliff. But after that, Daniel started haunting the base of that cliff. Two years, pacing back and forth, murmuring under his breath: "I was wrong. Please. Just come back." Chapter 1 On our five-year anniversary with Daniel, he showed up at the city hall where I work. Only he wasn't alone. Emma Miller from the second-largest mafia family was right beside him. And in their hands—a marriage license application. Daniel saw me and forced an awkward explanation. "Sophia, you know this is just a merger. It's not real." "Once I take the Don's seat, I'll divorce her." I'd heard that line so many times. The Bonanno family's highest rule: no government employee can become the family's Madre. And I just happened to be a government employee. Ever since we got together, Daniel's people had been coming at me one after another, threatening me to leave him. At first, I actually thought about ending it. He was the son of the biggest mafia don, the future Don himself. And me? Just some ordinary civil servant. We were never from the same world. But Daniel kept telling me—over and over—that he only loved me, that I was the only one he'd ever marry. And I believed him. Until a year ago, when the Bonanno family set him up with an arranged match. Forced them to date, to spend time together. At first, he just went through the motions, clearly annoyed. He'd come back and cling to me, needing me over and over, whispering all the sweet things to make up for it. Back then, his eyes were still full of me. But slowly, his dates with Emma got longer. Her heavy perfume started showing up on him. Then lipstick stains. Then hickeys. Now? There was even a bite mark on his neck—hers. My eyes stung, but I forced them wide open, refusing to let the tears fall. Emma's saccharine voice pulled me back. "She has to approve you marrying me?" She flashed the marks all over her skin, like she was showing off trophies. "I don't get what you see in her. She doesn't understand a thing about how our families work—" I swallowed the burning in my throat and cut her off. "The future Don's wedding? None of my business. Congratulations." Daniel nodded and slid the papers across the counter. "Good. You understand. And you know I'll marry you eventually. You and me." No, I thought. You won't. I should've realized it a long time ago. Two different worlds? Then they should stay separate. Emma clung to Daniel's arm, her eyes dripping with smug challenge. I took their documents. My fingers were cold, trembling slightly. This man had once sworn he'd love me forever. And now, on our five-year anniversary, he wanted me to process his marriage to someone else. What a joke. I shoved the ache down and typed away at the computer, fast. Emma leaned in close to the window, her pale chest covered in fresh marks. She mouthed the words, no sound, just for me: "He was mine last night." My fingers froze for half a second. I took a breath, pushed down the nausea crawling up my throat. Then I looked up, slid two forms across the counter, and gave them my perfect professional smile. "Please sign here." If this were before, I'd have thrown a fit by now. Demanded to know if those vows he made even meant anything anymore. But now? No point. My calm clearly threw them off. Daniel's brow knitted tight, something uneasy flickering across his face. But I didn't even glance at him. I waited for them to sign, stamped the certificate, and handed it over. Just like I did for every other couple. Smile bright, voice warm. "Congratulations. Happy wedding." Watching their backs as they walked away, arms wrapped around each other, I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled out my phone. "Set up a fake death. Wipe everything about me." "Three days. I'm gone from Daniel's life for good." Chapter 2 The clock tower at city hall struck six before I realized I'd been sitting at my desk for two hours. Daniel and Emma's marriage registration file was still glowing on my computer screen. I stared at that certificate. The edges of my vision went blurry. In the photo, Daniel was wearing the dark gray suit I'd given him for his birthday last year. Even the tie—I'd picked that out myself. On his birthday last year, he'd held me and talked about this year. Said maybe by then we'd already be married. Now he really was married. Just not to me. I wiped my eyes, gathered my things to leave. My hand knocked against the photo frame on my desk. Daniel was hugging me from behind, kissing my neck. I was laughing, trying to squirm away. I took one look, flipped it face-down into the trash, then dropped my resignation letter on my boss's desk. I was done. Done with this place. Done with him. I was going to Anli—that little seaside town I'd always dreamed of. I'd told Daniel about it so many times. And he'd told me just as many times—once things settled down, he'd take me there. Five years. He never did. I let out a bitter laugh and stepped outside. It was raining. A man in a black trench coat walked up with an umbrella, tilting it over me. "Miss Sophia," he said with a slight bow. "Mr. Bonanno sent me to take you home." One of Daniel's personal guards. Every time we fought, Daniel would send him to pick me up—like some silent white flag. He thought this was the same as always. Thought I'd throw my tantrum and come running back the second he sent someone to smooth things over. "No." I pushed his umbrella away. "I've got it." Then I walked into the rain alone. The water hitting my skin felt good. Clearing my head. My phone wouldn't stop buzzing. Daniel's name lit up and faded, lit up and faded. Finally went dark. I don't know how long I walked in the rain. But I ended up back at the apartment Daniel and I shared. Everything in that place still screamed his name. Except it didn't look like it did this morning. The place was swarming with people. Emma was giving orders. "Get rid of all this useless junk." She heard me come in, turned, and let out a cold laugh. "Sophia, I thought you had at least a shred of self-respect. I'm married to Daniel now, and you have the nerve to still be staying here?" "You've got three days. After that, I don't ever want to see your face again." She walked out without looking back. My things got stuffed into an old burlap bag and tossed outside like garbage. I sat on the couch for a full day and night, staring at nothing. The next day, Daniel finally came back. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing his face into the back of my neck like he missed me. "Why didn't you answer my calls? You came back and didn't tell me? Why are you all wet—didn't I send someone to get you?" I could smell her perfume all over him. But instead of hurt, all I felt was hollow. "Emma's moving in here. Did you know?" He froze against me. Then his voice turned awkward. "The family already knows I've been hiding you here. Emma's just helping us keep up appearances. You're smart, Sophia. You get it." "You'll move to that apartment in the suburbs. No one knows about it there. We can still be together forever. I promise." My head dropped. My eyes burned. Two years ago, after my parents died, he held me and said this would always be my home. Not anymore. I pulled away, looked at the face I'd loved for five years, and said flatly: "Forget it. I'll leave on my own." I started for the door. He grabbed my arm. His voice was tired. Frustrated. "Sophia, do you have any idea how much I've given up for you? And you're really going to pull this right now?" I caught sight of the fresh bite mark on his neck. A laugh escaped me—even as the tears fell silent. I took his hand and asked him, "Daniel, are you really going to send me to that suburban apartment?" Something in my calm face must have scared him. He reached for me, started to nod— The doorbell rang. Emma walked in. She came up beside us, looped her arm through his, and gave him that coy little smile. "You forgot! We've got something way more important tonight." Every Don before taking the seat had to have an heir first. And the Bonanno family's chosen heir? Had to come from Emma's womb. The man I'd loved for five years was going to have a child with another woman. And he said it was for me. Daniel slowly let go of my hand. His face twisted with guilt. "I'll have someone drive you over." I didn't answer. Just walked out. No one followed. I looked back at the closed door and laughed at myself. What was I even hoping for? He wasn't the man who used to hold me like I was the most precious thing in the world anymore. My phone rang. Final confirmation for the fake death plan. "Miss, your services have been arranged. Fatal fall from a cliff. We're now at final confirmation—do you accept?" I didn't hesitate. "I accept." After I hung up, my head started spinning. I wandered through the crowded streets, aimless. Before I knew it, night had fallen. The crowds had thinned. I was looking around for a hotel to crash at— When a hand clamped over my mouth. And everything went dark. Chapter 3 When I woke up again, my head was pounding. The air reeked of mildew and rust. My hands were tied behind my back, the rope cutting into my wrists until they'd gone numb. "Oh, she's up." A gruff voice came from the corner. I looked over. A burly man with a thick black beard was crouching a few feet away, sizing me up with cloudy eyes. "Who are you? Why did you take me?" Panic clawed at my chest. I couldn't tell if this was real or part of the fake death setup. The man grinned, yellow teeth showing. "That's on you, sweetheart. We were after Emma Miller—the Miller family's precious daughter. Spent days tracking her down. And we end up with you. Useless." My heart dropped. The panic got worse. He stood, walked over, and crouched in front of me, grabbing my chin. "But hey... a catch is a catch. Can't let it all go to waste." "You're Daniel's woman. Sure, he married that bitch Emma, but he's not gonna just let you die, is he?" He fished my phone out of my pocket, grabbed my finger to unlock it, and dialed Daniel. The moment the call connected, my heart was practically in my throat. Scared he'd come and get hurt. Scared he wouldn't even care. "Daniel, right?" The man's voice was lazy. "I've got your woman. If you want her alive, bring Emma. Come alone. No games." "If you're not here in half an hour, I'm dumping your girl in the red-light district." "Daniel!" I lunged toward the phone, the rope biting into my skin. I didn't care. "Daniel! Help me!" The man kicked me. I hit the ground with a muffled grunt. Crack. Something in my ribs gave. I curled up, pain ripping through me. "Shut it." He shot me a glare. Then I heard it through the phone—Daniel's heavy, wet breathing. And Emma's moans. My blood went cold. I'd been taken. I was fighting for my life. And the man I'd loved for five years was in bed with someone else? The line went quiet for a long moment. Then his voice came through, cruel and clean. "...Do whatever you want with her." "You want Emma in exchange for her? Don't you think that's a joke? Emma is my wife. How could she compare?" A pause. "She's nothing to me." I lay frozen on the ground, tears spilling out of nowhere. Daniel kept going on the other end. "A mistress. That's all. Kill her. Let her go. Use her to threaten me—" The kidnapper yanked the phone away, clearly thrown by how cold he was. He looked at me, confused. "You really got nothing with him?" "Nothing. Just let me go." I bit down on my lip so hard it hurt. Kept myself from sobbing. Five years. Five whole years. He'd bought me the best jewelry in the world. He'd taken a bullet meant for me in a family hit. He'd held me in bed, whispered love into my skin. And now? He said I was nothing to him. Just his mistress. The kidnappers got restless. "Fucking useless catch!" "What now? We just wasted our time?" "Hell no. I spent ten days staking this place out. This girl—no background, right? Pretty enough. Darknet's been asking for girls. Sell her. At least we get something back." My eyes went wide. If I got sold to the darknet, I'd be better off dead. I shoved the grief down. My brain went into overdrive. Daniel was busy with Emma. I'd have to save myself. My wrists were still tied behind me. Every move burned. But my fingers found something—a shard of glass. The bearded guy and some tall, skinny one were huddled together, not even looking at me. A woman her boyfriend threw away like trash—to them, she was less than dirt. I gripped the glass and started sawing at the rope. Too fast. My wrists got sliced up. Blood mixed with sweat, dripping down. Don't know how long it took. But the rope finally snapped. I held my breath. Slowly pushed myself up. The two kidnappers had their backs to me, muttering. My phone was on the floor nearby. Screen still lit. My eyes found the door—a rusty iron slab, half open. Through the gap, the sky was pitch black. Run. I grabbed the phone off the ground and bolted for the door before they could react. A roar behind me. "Shit! She's gone!" Then a group of men in black showed up. They stopped the kidnappers from chasing me. But I didn't look back. Just kept running. The sky was dark. Woods everywhere. I had no idea where I was going—just dove into the thickest trees I could find. Branches whipped across my face, my neck, my arms. Left stinging cuts everywhere. I don't know how long I ran before I reached somewhere safe. Then my phone buzzed. The name on the screen—Daniel. Too familiar. I didn't want to answer. But my thumb moved anyway. "Sophia?" Daniel's voice came through, wrecked. Urgent. "Don't be scared, I've already sent—" "Daniel." I cut him off. My voice barely above a whisper. "...What?" The memories crashed over me. Five years ago, he stepped off a plane in front of me, holding a bouquet of white roses, saying he'd protect me forever. Four years ago, he took a bullet meant for me in a family hit. His lips pale, but he still smiled and said, "See? I really did protect you." Two years ago, he knelt at my parents' grave, held my hand, and said, "I'm your family now. Forever." All lies. "Daniel. I hate you." My voice was shaking. "Sophia, listen to me—" He must have felt it coming. Panic creeping into his voice. "Sophia!" I hung up. Met up with the fake death team. Grabbed my things. Boarded the plane without looking back. Daniel. After this. Nothing.