Prologue
Pearl
My life ended when I was fifteen. My father had died that year, leaving my mother and I by ourselves with no money. He gambled it all away before he killed himself. It’s sad to say but my mother was more devastated by losing all our money instead of my fathers’ death. She couldn’t bare to live without all her materialistic things and her grand old house, so she made a deal. She signed my life away. At the age of eighteen I am to be married to Duke Valentino. He’s the boss of the Valentino Italian mob. He’s a dangerous criminal and I know he has killed people. In two days, I am turning eighteen and I am supposed to be marrying him. The mere thought of him kissing me, touching me, makes me want to throw up. He’s not ugly, far from it. He’s extremely handsome, with dark curly black hair, dark brown eyes, and huge muscles. He’s twenty-five, 6’3 and has beautiful golden tanned skin. He’s beautiful on the outside but it’s what’s on the inside that scares me. He’s a ruthless, evil man who is now supposed to be my husband. My mother couldn’t be any happier since she arranged this marriage. The Valentino family has been paying for us to continue to live in our luxurious house and for us to live very comfortably. I honestly could give two shits as to where I live or what brand name I could be wearing. All I care about is my freedom. The freedom that was taken away from me when my mother signed that contract. My life is already laid out for me like a pretty little package that I want nothing to do with. I’m terrified, yet no one seems to care what I’m feeling or thinking. As long as I continue to be the good little bride and stay pure, untouched, everyone could care less about me. I’m doomed for a life of hell, unless I do something to change the fate of my life I will be trapped, forever.
