They call him the Beast of New York because of his violent and deadly past. But to college student Gazelle, he's simply the man who neglected to claim her as his bride. For two years!
Lorenzo Anghileri only sees his marriage as a duty. But everything changes when he takes his wife to bed...and finds out about the other man who desires what's his.
He's here. He's here. He's here.
Everyone's practically singing it.
But not just with their lips.
You can also see the words flash in their eyes like a voiceless scream and feel it sheathe people's skins like an unbreakable layer of ice despite the scorching heat of summer.
Oh yes, he's here, I can't help thinking.
But as for what to feel about this?
Tension in the air thickens as he comes closer and closer.
He's a boogeyman that scares other boogeymen and a monster that kills other monsters. He's a king who rules with neither an army nor a kingdom, his power rooted in the darkness of his past.
He is the Beast of New York.
But soon, everyone will also know him as my husband.
So help me, God.
Because his eyes have finally found me.
And I suddenly find myself struggling to breathe.
Out of fear or excitement, I'm not quite sure.
Maybe both.
This is what Viktor warned me about, I can't help thinking.
As much as I hate admitting it, his fear-mongering had made me doubt myself, and I did end up asking Nonna if I could marry Viktor instead.
It's not like I'm in love with my brother's best friend or anything, but...
Better the prince next door than a beast from the dungeons, you know?
Or at least I was hoping my grandmother would see it that way.
But she didn't.
And so here I am now, unable to decide whether I want to laugh or panic as Lorenzo Anghileri strides towards me, and the crowd immediately parts like the Nile River even without him saying a word.
It's as if everyone expects him to act like a beast just because he's called one.
They clearly think he's the type to beat up anyone foolish anyone to block his path.
But that can't be true since my grandmother would never make me marry such a man.
Right?
The thought has me wanting to look for Nonna, but it's just too late.
Because he's already standing in front of me, and I...I...I don't know what to do!
Please help me, God!
The Beast of New York looms over me, and my mind instantly scrambles to absorb everything about him in seconds.
Tall, he's so, so tall.
Maybe six-seven? Or six-eight?
And broad, so broad.
I've never seen such broad, broad shoulders, and with the four brothers I have, that's saying a lot, and ooooh.
His eyes.
Green.
They're green.
Is that good or bad?
The Beast of New York has green eyes.
I've read over a hundred articles about him, and not one has mentioned this.
Not one!
My mind finds such negligence appalling for some reason, and my confusion only grows the longer he stares at me.
Are you scared, self?
The answer to this is immediate.
Absolutely!
Because every lethally powerful inch of him exudes horror-movie vibes, and it makes me want to run away and never look back.
But is that all, self?
My heart sinks to my stomach.
Or are you also...excited?
And I'm all messed up from within when I realize the truth.
Yes, oh, yes.
He scares me as much as he excites me.
But I don't know if that's a good thing.
Not when I suspect my grandmother of blackmailing him into claiming me as his bride.