The Mafia King’s Deadly Love

I married Kael Throne—the infamous king of New York’s mafia—not for his power, not for his fortune, but because I loved him.

He was unlike any man I’d ever known. A man who could have a thousand women at his feet, yet dismissed them all with a single glance.

I believed his faithful love until the day I learned the existence of a college girl.

He’d “respected” me enough to keep her hidden… until I forced the truth into the light.

Kael didn’t rage. He didn’t deny it. He only looked at me with that calm, dangerous gaze and said, “Then we divorce.”

I refused.

He offered me his money, his casino, his everything.

Still I said no. Because I loved him.

That’s when his love turned black.

He had me kidnapped. My mother, too. All to force my signature on those papers.

“You found out,” he said, almost bored. “And there’s no more fun in hiding. Leave now, Vivienne. Give me—and Nyssa—our happy ending.”

I watched as the man he’d sent slit my mother’s throat. My answer came too late.

Kael Throne was a monster.

I collapsed, my head cracking against the floor. And when I opened my eyes… I was back on the day I first learned Nyssa existed.

This time, I didn’t confront him. I played the perfect wife, smiling sweetly while I waited for the perfect moment to vanish from his life forever.

I just never imagined that when I finally disappeared… Kael would lose his mind.

1

Vivienne’s POV

My ever-loyal mafia husband had a secret. A college girl.

In my last life, that secret ended with him demanding a divorce… and killing my mother to get it.

But luckily, I was reborn. And I swore—in this life, I’d give Kael what he wanted and stay as far away from him as possible.

The second I realized I’d gone back, I called my mother. Relief flooded me at the sound of her voice. Then I called my lawyer. I told him I wanted a divorce from Kael Throne and that he could keep everything—every cent, every property—if it meant I could leave him and this hellhole faster.

And then… there was Nyssa.

I’d first learned her name by accident—some gossip tabloid sent me a glossy photo, gushing over the “perfect shot” they’d taken of me and Kael.

Only it wasn’t me. It was her.

In my last life, I never met her. But I always wondered what spell she had over him. How she’d turned my loving husband into a man capable of killing me—and my family—for her.

So the next thing I did was go to Nyssa’s university. Call it stubbornness, but I needed to look into the eyes of the girl who’d been at the center of my ruin.

It was the first day of the semester. She was helping friends set up a booth for new students.

God, I envied her. That fresh, unlined face. The energy. The way she smiled at everyone who passed. In the hour I stood there watching, she helped an old woman cross the street and found a lost kitten for a little boy.

She was sunshine, spilling warmth on everyone around her.

“Miss, would you like a drink? It’s scorching today—and I’ve noticed you’ve been standing here for a while.”

Her voice pulled me from my thoughts.

I froze. My plan had been to watch her from a distance, not speak to her… certainly not make friends with her. But faced with that open, guileless smile, how could I refuse?

“Thanks,” I said softly.

She handed me a lemonade, eyes bright. “Miss, do you work here? Or are you waiting for someone?”

“Just passing by,” I said after a beat. “I guess I missed my college years—and my youth—and lost track of time.”

Her smile widened, her eyes crinkling into crescents. “I hope I can grow up to be like you. You’re so beautiful.”

Heat crept up my neck. And I instantly regretted coming here today.

People say the other woman is the most hateful. But I’ve never believed that. If a man wants to stay faithful, there’s no woman alive who can lure him into cheating.

It’s always him. Always.

Before I could say another word, a truck swerved out of control—barreling straight toward the sidewalk.

I froze.

Nyssa moved before I did. She shoved me hard to the side, her own body taking the brunt as she stumbled back.

By some miracle, the driver managed to wrestle the truck away at the last second, tires shrieking as it veered off.

I was unscathed. Nyssa wasn’t. She’d worn a skirt, and her knees were scraped raw, blood trickling down her legs.

“Are you okay?” I asked, still shaken.

She shook her head, then forced herself upright. “I’m fine. Just a few scratches. They’ll be gone by tomorrow.”

I insisted on taking her to the hospital for a more detailed check up. Because whatever else she was—my husband’s secret lover—she was also good-hearted. I saw it in her eyes. She hadn’t thought twice before saving me.

And she was lucky. No concussion, no serious injuries. Just cuts and bruises.

Relief loosened something tight in my chest.

I thought for a moment, then reached into my purse, scribbled out a check, and held it toward her. “It’s not much, but… take it. For what you did.”

“No. I didn’t save you for money, miss.” Her eyes—God, those eyes—were so painfully pure.

I pushed the check back into her hand. “I insist. I’m grateful. And…” I hesitated, wondering if I should say it. “I’ll be leaving the city soon. I want you to take good care of yourself.”

Nyssa’s cheeks flushed as she tried to push the check back again—but before she could, her phone rang.

Kael’s voice burst through, loud enough for me to hear every word even without speakerphone.

“Are you insane? You shouldn’t play the hero. Whoever that woman was—let her die. I want you safe. Only you.”

If Kael knew the woman she’d saved was me, would he still say it?

Probably…No, I was sure of it.

Nyssa’s voice softened. “Don’t say things like that. I don’t regret it. And I’m not badly hurt—just a few cuts.”

Kael was never the kind of man to raise his voice. Not even when killing someone. But now, with her, he sounded… desperate.

“I don’t want to hear it. I’m coming over. Don’t move.”

So my distant, ever calm husband was capable of this—of panic, of care. I never knew.

I almost laughed. When we’d just married, I’d miscarried. I’d called him in tears, shaking and terrified. His reply? That it was inappropriate for me to lose control. That we could always have another child, and as his wife, I needed to remember that emotion could never outrun reason.

I’d believed him. Back then, I told myself I’d overreacted. That I’d been wrong to bother him.

But now I knew better.

It wasn’t that I’d overreacted.

It was that he didn’t care. Or at least—not enough to come see his wife.

…

I hadn’t seen Kael since I came back.

That was a blessing.

But the divorce still had to be discussed, and when I heard he was at his casino, I decided to stop by.

Anna, his assistant, looked awkward the moment I walked in—like she wished I’d come at literally any other time.

I glanced toward his office. The curtains were drawn, but voices carried through.

Nyssa’s voice. “Don’t do this. We’re in your office—someone could walk by.”

Kael’s low, teasing reply: “Don’t do what? You have to tell me, sweetheart, so I know what to do and what not to do.”

“Mrs. Throne…” Anna’s voice faltered.

“Please,” I said with a small smile, “call me Vivienne.”

Hearing Kael and Nyssa’s playful banter, I couldn’t help but be reminded of my past life. Kael had never allowed me to show any affection in front of the staff or at the casino. He always treated me like just another employee. Maybe, to him, that’s all I was.

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of those irrelevant thoughts. “Actually… this might not be the right time. I wouldn’t want to disturb Kael and his guest. Could I leave a document with you?”

I’d brought the divorce papers with me.

“What document, Miss Vivienne?”

“A confidential file. Give it to Kael exactly one week from today. And don’t read it yourself.”

Anna nodded, took the envelope, and locked it away.

2

Vivienne’s POV

I’d loved Kael for years. Even after I learned just how cold and distant he could be. I told myself that if I loved him, I had to love all of him. And if he was already cold to me, he’d be colder to everyone else.

That I was still special.

I couldn’t be more wrong.

Luckily, the fate had given me a second chance.

Screw his cold love or distance.

After moving out, I don’t even have to talk to him from now on. My lawyer can handle everything. And the divorce terms are generous—Kael won’t lose a thing. I doubt he’ll refuse.

All that’s left is to pack my things from what used to be our home.

I hailed a cab, heading back to the house that once felt like hope and love. Now it looked like a tomb—cold, silent, heavy with loss.

…

When I stepped in, the maid froze at the sight of me. In my last life, I’d been traveling with friends at this time; she wasn’t expecting me home.

“Mrs. Throne, you’re back early. Should I inform Mr. Throne and prepare dinner for you two, like always?”

“No need,” I said quietly. “I’m leaving tonight.”

I didn’t explain. I just went to my room and started packing.

It wasn’t until I started packing that I realized just how much of myself was in this house—how many pieces of my life I’d left scattered in what used to be a home.

I worked fast. A few sets of clothes went into one bag. Then my jewelry. Some were gifts from my mother—those I’d take with me. The rest, especially the ones Kael had given me, I hesitated over.

My fingertips brushed over them, pausing on my wedding ring.

I’d cherished it so much I rarely wore it, choosing a plain band for everyday. The diamond—once brilliant—looked dull now. Had it always been like this?

I slipped it on. It was tight. Too tight. I remembered then—that was another reason I never wore it. It didn’t even fit.

But it was still my wedding ring. I wasn’t generous enough to leave it for another woman.

With a little effort—and more force than I expected—I pried the diamond from the setting. The band I tossed into the trash. The diamond went into my jewelry box.

This dream of marrying Kael and living happily ever after… I was awake from that dream now.

“You’ve done well, Vivienne,” I murmured to myself. “This time, you’re going to live well for yourself.”

…

My plan was to send my mother to stay with an old friend of mine—a wealthy heiress from England I’d met in college first.

Then, once I’d tied up every loose end here, I’d join them.

I guess fate has a twisted sense of humor.

Because on my way to grab a quick bite, I ran into Nyssa.

For a moment, I froze. Wasn’t she supposed to be with Kael right now? He was clingy with her—if she didn’t have class, he’d whisk her away somewhere. Always.

“Hey! Vivienne!” she called, smiling like we were old friends.

“Hey. Long time no see. What are you doing here?” I asked.

Her cheeks flushed. “I work here.”

“You work here? Weren’t you already busy with school and the clubs?” I was stunned.

She blushed deeper. “Actually, it’s my boyfriend’s store. I’m working here to help ease my family’s situation…”

Since when did Kael’s business extend into restaurant management?

“Your boyfriend owns a restaurant?”

“It’s his side business, I guess. His real job is managing a casino. But when I said I wanted to work, he told me I could come to this restaurant.” Nyssa blushed even more.

Maybe Kael bought this place just for Nyssa. It was his way of protecting Nyssa while making sure she didn’t feel obligated.

She glanced around, then back at me. “I just finished my shift. But if you want to eat, I can still make you something. Anything you like, it’s on me.”

I felt uneasy eating here now that I knew it was the restaurant Kael had bought for his lover.

I smiled, soft and polite. “Actually, I’m craving some spaghetti now. Maybe I’ll just go to another restaurant, instead of troubling you.”

Her face lit up instantly. “If you don’t mind, can I join you? I haven’t eaten yet, either.”

Looking at her radiant smile, I found it hard to say no. In the end, I took her to a French place I liked.

“Order whatever you like,” I said as we sat down. “The beef stew is divine.”

“Then I’ll have that,” Nyssa said, still smiling.

When the waiter left, I noticed the faint redness around her eyes. Crying. Was that why she wasn’t with Kael in the middle of the day?

“Have you been crying?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“It’s just… something with my boyfriend.”

I didn’t press, but she went on anyway. “I’m pregnant. I thought he’d be happy. He always talked about starting a family with me. But when I told him, all he said was ‘good,’ and then he left. Said he had other things to do.”

I’d thought I was ready for anything. But hearing she was pregnant knocked the air out of me.

And Kael—unhappy about her pregnancy? What was he thinking?

“Maybe he really was busy?” I lied. I knew he wasn’t. But I didn’t want to make her sadder.

“I know him. That’s not how he acts when he’s busy. In the past, no matter what, he always put me first.”

I had no words for that.

“Do you think…” she hesitated, “do you think he’s in love with someone else? Or maybe he’s hiding something from me?”

Yes, sweetheart. What he hasn’t told you is that he’s already married. And the woman sitting across from you has been his wife for years.

But I couldn’t say that.

All I could offer was, “Be patient. If you believe he loves you, don’t let doubt ruin that.”

Her eyes brightened. “Thanks, Vivienne. That means a lot.”

The rest of dinner was uneventful—until an older man wandered up to our table, reeking of whiskey.

“Are you two lovely ladies looking to spend the evening with me?” he asked, voice dripping sleaze.

I’d dealt with men like him before—half of Kael’s casino regulars were worse. I was ready to brush it off, but Nyssa moved faster. She grabbed a water bottle and dumped it over his head.

The man exploded. Shouting. Red-faced. His arm drew back, aiming for her.

The room fractured into chaos. A waiter and a guard rushed over, trying to pull him back. I stepped in and kicked him hard in the leg.

He turned on me instead, grabbed a plate off the table, and hurled it. It hit me square in the head, blood dripping down my face.

But all I could think was: I had to get Nyssa out. She was pregnant. And if she got hurt—

I cannot bear the consequences of getting Kael punishing me for that.

She was his lifeline.

3

Vivienne’s POV

Before the man could swing at me again, Nyssa snatched a fork from the table and pressed it to his throat.

“I’ve already called my boyfriend,” she said, her voice steady. “If you knew his name, you wouldn’t dare touch me or my friend.”

The man froze. So did I.

Panic curled in my stomach. Kael could not see me here with her. If he did, he’d think I was plotting something. He would never believe I’d simply had dinner with Nyssa.

“Hey, Nyssa—” I started.

A cold voice cut through the noise behind me. “What happened, babe?”

Kael.

He was here in under five minutes.

“This man insulted me—and my friend,” Nyssa said, pointing at the old man.

The man’s face drained of color the second he saw Kael. Everyone in New York knew his name—not just for his casino and the dirt it ran on, but for the long list of crimes tied to him that had never stuck. He had the best lawyer money could buy.

“It was all a misunderstanding, sir—” the man stammered.

“Is that so?” Kael stepped forward, gripping him by the throat, then throwing him hard to the ground. He kicked him twice in the gut—calculated, brutal. Then he turned to one of his bodyguards.

“Take this scum to the back alley. Make sure he learns his lesson. No blood. Internal injuries only.”

Ever-perfect Kael—clean, efficient. The same way he’d dealt with me and my mother in my past life.

“Babe,” he said, turning back to Nyssa, “let my bodyguard take you to my car. I need to have a word with the restaurant manager.”

“But my friend—”

“Come on, be good. I’ll take care of your friend for you.” He patted her head like she was a child, then glanced at me—a sharp, silent warning.

Nyssa left, smiling at me as she went.

The second she was gone, Kael turned back. His eyes went glacial. “How did you know about Nyssa?”

“What do you mean, ‘know about Nyssa’?” I kept my voice even, but we both knew the truth. I hadn’t flinched when he called her babe.

He read me in an instant. He always had.

“What were you trying to do—taking her out to dinner?” he pressed.

“I wasn’t trying to do anything. What can I do, Kael? Eat? In a public restaurant?” My patience snapped, my mask slipping.

“Oh, there’s plenty you could do. Drug her. Nyssa is fragile. Humiliate her. Did you tell her about our marriage?” His voice sharpened. “I warned you, Nyssa is—”

“Please. If I wanted her to know, she would’ve known the first time we met.”

I searched his face, desperate for some trace of the man I’d once loved. But all I found was distance. Coldness.

Before the tension could climb higher, one of Kael’s guards rushed in, leaning down to whisper in his ear.

Kael’s expression shifted instantly. “Hooker?”

He waved the guard away, then turned back to me, his voice like a blade. “You’re selling my Nyssa to that old man?”

Selling Nyssa?

Wait—what?

“I—”

Before I could finish, Kael’s hand cracked across my face. The sting exploded through my cheek before I even processed the sound. Then his fist twisted into my hair, jerking my head back until I was staring up into his cold, furious eyes.

“How dare you, Vivienne,” he snarled. “How dare you do this to the girl I love?”

I thought I was numb. I thought I was ready to face him again. But the fear from my last life was still there—coiled deep in my bones. My knees weakened. My eyes burned. My entire body was trembling.

Kael saw me and chuckled. “Drama much? I remember you being tougher than this. A few threats and you’re already shaking?”

“Edison,” Kael turned, calling his guard over without looking away from me, “take Mrs. Throne to my favorite club. If she wants to make someone else a whore, she can start by being one herself.”

Edison hesitated for half a second, confusion flickering in his eyes, but obeyed. He yanked me to my feet, dragged me outside, and shoved me into the car.

The drive was short. Too short.

When we stepped inside, the club reeked of sweat, liquor, and cheap perfume. Naked women gyrated under strobe lights. Men pawed at them like they were nothing.

“A new one?” a man whistled from a booth. “She for sale?”

“Yes,” Edison said without pause. “One hundred for the night.”

The man stood, tossed a bill onto the table, and clamped a hand around my wrist. In one brutal tug, he dragged me into his lap.

Edison turned his back and walked out of the club. Before he disappeared, I caught the look in his eyes—pity, confusion, maybe even guilt—but not enough to reach for me. Not enough to save me.

The man wasted no time. His hands were everywhere, greedy and rough.

I could have cried, but the tears had dried on the drive here. I’d forgotten how to scream. Screaming would only make it real.

Vivienne Thorne. Wife of Kael Thorne—in two lifetimes. And in both, I was destroyed by him.

He hadn’t even let me explain. He’d only looked at me like I was a monster that might harm his precious baby.

I pitied myself then, pitied the hollow wreck I had become. What had I done to deserve this?

I fought, but it didn’t matter. His palm was big enough, strong enough, to pin both of my wrists. His body intent on shaming mine.

“Stop!” The sharp voice cracked across the room like a whip. “If you so much as touch her again, I’ll blow your brains out.”

4

Vivienne’s POV

His hand froze.

We both turned. At the door, Nyssa stood with a pistol raised. Her arms shook, her voice trembled, but her aim never wavered.

“Now get off her and step away.”

The man lifted his hands in mock surrender, lips curling into a lazy smile. “Relax. It’s business. I already paid a hundred.”

“Business?” Nyssa’s voice cracked with fury. “Since when did rape become business? Can’t you see she’s being forced?”

I had never seen her so furious, so wild. “Vivienne, are you okay? Can you move?”

“Yes,” I managed, my voice a broken stammer. I pushed to my feet, smoothed down my dress, but my knees gave out.

I was about to fall when Nyssa rushed to me, one arm wrapping firm around my waist. “It’s all right. I’ve got you.”

The man lunged.

Nyssa was too busy holding me to swing the pistol back in time. His shadow loomed, the blow about to fall.

Instinct made me throw myself in front of Nyssa, to shield her.

Next second, Nyssa twisted her arm, aimed, and—

Bang.

The shot rang through the club.

Everything went still.

The man howled, collapsing, clutching at his bleeding leg. Nyssa’s hands trembled but her voice was steady when she hissed, “I said don’t move.”

Chaos erupted around us. Shouts, screams, the scrape of chairs. It was enough cover. We ran.

Nyssa half-carried me out of that hellhole, never letting go until we stumbled into the quiet safety of a smoothie shop a block away.

She eased me into a chair and sat heavily beside me, cheeks flushed, breath ragged.

I couldn’t meet her eyes. She had to know now—that I’d lied to her before. That something about me and Kael wasn’t what I’d pretended.

“I knew something was wrong with Kael,” she whispered, finally steadying her breath. “I just never thought he’d fall this low.”

“Nyssa…” I reached for her hands, my voice unsteady. “I need to tell you something.”

Her gaze dropped. “You don’t have to. I heard you. In the restaurant. You and him.” Her voice cracked. “It was my fault for stepping between you two. I never knew he was married. Forgive me, Vivienne. Please.”

“I knew you weren’t the kind of girl who’d ever make herself the third wheel in someone else’s marriage.” I squeezed her hand tight. “It was always him. His betrayal. His choices. He was the one who cheated. He was the one who destroyed everything.”

Nyssa’s eyes locked on mine, wide and searching. “Is Kael really that powerful? Powerful enough to send someone to drag you to that club? And if I hadn’t walked in today… would he have let another man touch you?”

A bitter laugh tore from my throat. “Touch me? Nyssa, he’s done worse than that.”

Her lips parted in shock. “We can go to the police. I’ll testify for you.” Her words came quick, urgent.

Sweet, naïve Nyssa. She thought a badge could cage Kael.

“It won’t matter.” I turned to the window, watching the city blur by in neon and shadows. “I don’t know how much he’s told you about his business, but Kael practically owns the underworld in New York. And half the police with it.”

Nyssa’s face went white. Her hands trembled where they rested on the table. “I should never have… God, how could I ever let myself be tied to a man like him?”

“I was already planning to leave,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “But now that you’re caught in this, you have to leave too. Nyssa, he’ll find out. And I don’t know what he’ll do to you.”

She didn’t answer. Only lowered her gaze, her hands sliding protectively to her stomach.

Pregnant. And she had just learned the truth.

My heart sank.

“I have to make a phone call.” I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers. “Mom? How are you?”

“I’m alright!” Mom said warmly at the other end. “Lisa’s been showing me around England. The food here is wonderful, and you know how much I love the rain.”

Her voice was a lifeline, reminding me of everything I’d planned.

I forced my voice steady. “Is Lisa there? I want to speak to her.”

A moment later, Lisa’s familiar voice came through. “Girl! Can’t wait for you to get here. Your mother loves it here!”

“Lisa…”

She must have heard the shift in my voice, because her tone sobered instantly. “What is it?”

“I need you to help me with something.”

“Anything for you, baby.”

“I’m leaving New York sooner than we planned,” I said quietly into the phone. “And I’m not alone. I have a friend with me. She’ll need your help, too.”

A few beats, then Lisa’s voice came, low but steady. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you. I’ll have a private plane waiting at your location in exactly two hours. Board it, and we’ll talk more when you arrive. Alright?”

I ended the call and turned to Nyssa, forcing a reassuring smile. “It’s going to be fine. With men like Kael, we can’t win in one move—we have to play the long game. But for now, your safety, your family’s, and your baby’s… that’s what matters most.”