Devil of Desire

DEVIL OF DESIRE BLOOD AND BONDS SERIES BOOK 2 MARA J. GRETH Copyright © 2023 by Mara J. Greth All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, contact the author: [email protected] Cover Design by Books and Moods Table of Contents Table of Contents Playlist Author’s Note CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5 CHAPTER 6 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 CHAPTER 9 CHAPTER 10 CHAPTER 11 CHAPTER 12 CHAPTER 13 CHAPTER 14 CHAPTER 15 CHAPTER 16 CHAPTER 17 CHAPTER 18 CHAPTER 19 CHAPTER 20 CHAPTER 21 CHAPTER 22 CHAPTER 23 CHAPTER 24 CHAPTER 25 CHAPTER 26 CHAPTER 27 CHAPTER 28 CHAPTER 29 CHAPTER 30 EPILOGUE Acknowledgements Also by Mara J. Greth Connect with the Author Playlist Desperado by Rihanna Kind of Love by Natalie Jane Toxic by 2WEI Can't Help Falling in Love (Dark) by Tommee Profitt Love is a Bitch by Two Feet Deep Dive by Zaryah Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Lorde Bow by Reyn Hartley Blind by Kesha Decode by Paramore No Shame by 5 Seconds of Summer Only Love Can Hurt Like This by Paloma Faith Favorite Crime by Olivia Rodrigo Teach Me To Fight by YONAKA You Right by Doja Cat, The Weeknd Guys My Age by Hey Violet Elastic Heart by Sia (Piano Version) Nervous by The Neighbourhood god sent me as karma by emlyn Flare by Ashwarya bellyache by Billie Eilish Nothing Breaks Like a Heart by Mark Ronson Ft. Miley Cyrus Photograph by Ed Sheeran Make it Rain by Ed Sheeran whatshisface by OSTON Devil Doesn’t Bargain by Alec Benjamin Eager by Britton i’m yours by Isabel LaRosa Big Jet Plane by Angus & Julia Stone Spotify Author’s Note This is the second book of the Blood and Bonds Series . It can be read as a standalone. However, it is highly recommended to read all the books in this series to get the full experience. Please keep in mind that this book is a dark mafia romance containing content that may be triggering, such as sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, and other possible triggers. As well as foul language, graphic violence, and adult content meant for audiences 18 or older. If any of these things make you uncomfortable, I advise you to stop reading. That being said, if you're interested in joining me on this journey, I hope you enjoy the ride! Thank you! *TRIGGER WARNING: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, VIOLENCE, BLOOD, AND MURDER* To those who are trapped in a barricade of norms. Shatter it to pieces. CHAPTER 1 Viola The reality of life can be much more difficult to understand when deep-diving into the depths of its core; to be a good person, this has to be done, to have morals, that has to be practiced, but who truly defines what life is about? Being painted a picture of what is expected down the road of our years isn’t always pleasant. For some, it involves getting a job and then working for most of their lives until they retire. For others, they have the option of pursuing their dreams, and for the less fortunate, their lives are dictated to a certain degree. Having everything doesn’t mean you live the life you want. Sometimes we desire what others have and never what is within our reach. I’ve told myself over and over that if I could be born into a family that wasn’t so fixated on the power of money, then I would. When I turned fifteen, I was informed that when I became an adult, I would be handed over to a man that would marry me. Not for love, but for something else in exchange that would provide more power to the family. Eighteen was still very young, barely ripe, as the men around us would describe. The chance of exploring freedom was stripped from us, and the small taste of adulthood became bitter. Since I was fifteen, I would constantly question why someone would make such an important decision for me, but it would always circle back to power and money. So, I did what those privileges would grant those that had possession of it. I used it to my advantage and created a bargain with my father. I convinced my family to agree to allow me to pursue a higher education, and once I graduated, I would marry. That was my only condition to at least do something I wanted for my life. It was uncommon for women in this society to go to college and were usually housewives. I might not have much control, but I knew I’d at least have this small say in what I did. It would stall my marriage, but I would take those four years to at least get the chance to mature more and open doors with a degree. By some miracle, I would figure out how to avoid it completely, but I wasn’t holding my breath. My father loved me to death and always made sure I was happy. That much I knew, so when I was younger, the idea of him giving me away to someone else hurt me deeply. At first, I thought it was because he wouldn’t want to keep me once I got older, and each year for my birthday, I wished to stop aging. I eventually understood that all girls went through what they expected me to, yet I refused to go down that path. I had everything, but I had nothing. “Have you written your paper yet?” my classmate for the semester and friend, Ava, said on the phone. We had to do