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Chapter 41
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2025-04-20 15:31:19
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Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 42
FLORA"Absolutely not,” I said, crossing my arms as I stared down at Dante from across the penthouse living room. "I'm not going into hiding."Dante's jaw tensed visibly as he kept pacing around, and the ankle monitor blinked with each forceful step he took. The morning sunlight coming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows made his shadow appear very long across the marble floor. He hadn't slept throughout the night. The dark circles under his eyes and the rough stubble on his jaw told me that much."This isn't negotiable, Flora. Anthony's threat was explicit." His voice was low and controlled, but I could hear the edge of fear underneath it. Not for himself, because Dante Romano had never feared for himself, but for me.After discovering Anthony Ricci was alive and was now targeting me, Dante had spent the entire night either on the phone or pacing around the entire penthouse. By morning, he had arranged for a federal safe house three states away, complete with a new identity and 2
Last Updated : 2025-04-21Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 43
FLORA"Absolutely not," Dante snapped immediately."Her plan actually makes sense," Salvatore said carefully, while ignoring Dante's glare. "Anthony is emotional. His hatred is quite predictable, if nothing else.""I'm not dangling Flora in front of Anthony like a worm on a hook," Dante growled. His fists had turned white because of the way he was clenching them. “She won’t be used as bait.”"At the end of the day, it’s not your decision, Dante,” I replied firmly. "I'm volunteering. And I'll be surrounded by federal agents and whatever security you arrange. This is our best chance to end this."Sofia studied me for a short moment. There were hints of respect and approval in her eyes. "She's right, Fratello. Anthony won't be able to resist.""Where should we use?" Salvatore asked. "It needs to be somewhere we can control."I didn't hesitate. "The restaurant. The original Romano family restaurant,” I suggested.Dante's head snapped up immediately. "Why there in particular?" he questione
Last Updated : 2025-04-22Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 44
FLORA"This isn't a proposal," Dante clarified quickly. "Not yet. I'm still a man under federal supervision, rebuilding a new legacy, different from the one that was tainted by generations of blood. But it's a promise that if we survive this, I want to build something real. I want something legitimate with you, Flora."I stared at the ring in awe as its stones caught the moonlight. After everything we had been through—the fear, the betrayal, the violence—this moment of tenderness felt almost unreal."We're going to survive," I told him as I let him slip the ring onto my right hand. "And then I'm going to hold you to that promise."He pulled me against his chest, and for a moment, we were just a man and woman looking toward the future, not a crime boss and his unlikely partner planning for war.***Morning arrived too quickly. I sat at a table in the newly rebuilt Romano restaurant, drinking a cup of coffee I really couldn't taste. The space had been transformed since the bombing attac
Last Updated : 2025-04-23Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 1
"Flo, table six needs more coffee." I grabbed the half-empty pot and hurried across the diner floor, dodging a toddler who'd escaped his mother's grasp. My feet ached in the cheap sneakers that had seen better days. "Coming right up," I called, plastering my customer service smile on my face immediately. The man at table six barely looked up from his phone as I refilled his cup. No "thank you," not even a nod. Just another invisible service worker in his world. But I was used to it. "Anything else I can get you?" I asked. He shook his head without looking up. "Flora!" Marge, my manager, beckoned from behind the counter. "Your shift ended ten minutes ago. Don't you have somewhere else to be?" I glanced at the clock above the kitchen door. Crap, I thought. If I didn't hurry, I'd definitely be late for my night job. "Thanks, Marge." I untied my apron and stuffed it under the counter. "See you tomorrow." "Get some rest, honey," she called after me. "You look dead on your feet."
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 2
FLORA The office door closed behind me with a soft click that sounded like a death sentence. I stood frozen, staring at the massive desk that dominated the room. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcased the glittering city skyline, but all I could see was the reflection of a terrified woman: me. "Sit," ordered the towering bulk of a man who had dragged me in. I managed to lower myself into a leather chair without collapsing. My mind raced through escape scenarios, but each one more seemed more impossible than the last. The office had only one door, and Mountain Man stood in front of it like a boulder. "He'll be in soon," he said, crossing his arms. "Don't try anything stupid." Stupid would be sitting here waiting to be murdered. I nodded meekly, trying to look defeated while my eyes darted around the room. There had to be something, anything I could use. "I need to use the bathroom," I said. My voice was barely above a whisper. Mountain Man frowned. "Hold it." "Please," I begged, cro
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 3
FLORA The drive to Dante's home felt like a dream, or more accurately, a nightmare. I sat rigid in the back of a luxury SUV with tinted windows so dark they were practically black. Rex drove while Dante sat beside me, close enough that I could smell his cologne but not touching me. The silence stretched between us like a rubber band that had been pulled too tight. "Call your mother," Dante said finally, handing me a sleek phone I didn't recognize. "Tell her you won't be home tonight." I took it with trembling fingers. "What exactly am I supposed to say?" "That you've been offered a live-in position with better pay. Nothing about what you saw." His eyes locked with mine. "Nothing about me." I dialed Mom's number, each ring worsening my anxiety. What if she didn't answer? What if this was the last time I ever spoke to her? "Flora?" Mom's voice was thick with sleep. "Is everything okay? It's after midnight." "Hey, Mom." I fought to keep my voice steady. "Sorry to wake you. I... I h
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 4
FLORA "This is a business arrangement," he corrected. "One that benefits both parties. You get financial security and medical care for your mother. I get loyalty and discretion." "And if I refuse?" His expression hardened. "Then you become a liability rather than an asset." We both knew what that meant. I flipped to the last page, where a signature line awaited. "You're asking me to sign away my freedom." "I'm offering you a way out of poverty and your mother a way out of pain." He reached into another drawer and pulled out a syringe and a small vial. "Speaking of which..." My breath caught. "What is that?" "Your mother's new medication. A recent development from Europe. It hasn't been approved by FDA yet, but it is highly effective for stage three kidney disease. It halts progression and can even reverse some damage." I stared at the vial, while hope and suspicion took turns flaring up within me. "How do I know that's real?" "You don't." He set the vial down beside the contr
Last Updated : 2025-03-13Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 5
FLORA I woke up with a start, my heart pounding against my chest. For a moment, I couldn't remember why I felt so anxious. Then it all came crashing back—the execution I witnessed, the deal I made with Dante Romano, and my new job which was starting today. It was still dark outside. The clock on my nightstand read 4:30 AM. Sleep had been impossible at first as my mind had been racing with thoughts of what I had gotten myself into. Working for the most feared man in the city wasn't exactly on my career vision board. At least I had won the small victory of staying in my own apartment. The way that negotiation with Dante turned out had surprised even me. "You're moving into my mansion," he had stated the day before. His tone made it clear he expected no arguments. "No," I replied, crossing my arms. I don't know where I found the courage. Maybe it was the desperation of having no other option than working for him. His eyebrows shot up. Nobody said no to Dante Romano. "Excuse me?" he
Last Updated : 2025-03-23
Latest chapter
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 44
FLORA"This isn't a proposal," Dante clarified quickly. "Not yet. I'm still a man under federal supervision, rebuilding a new legacy, different from the one that was tainted by generations of blood. But it's a promise that if we survive this, I want to build something real. I want something legitimate with you, Flora."I stared at the ring in awe as its stones caught the moonlight. After everything we had been through—the fear, the betrayal, the violence—this moment of tenderness felt almost unreal."We're going to survive," I told him as I let him slip the ring onto my right hand. "And then I'm going to hold you to that promise."He pulled me against his chest, and for a moment, we were just a man and woman looking toward the future, not a crime boss and his unlikely partner planning for war.***Morning arrived too quickly. I sat at a table in the newly rebuilt Romano restaurant, drinking a cup of coffee I really couldn't taste. The space had been transformed since the bombing attac
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 43
FLORA"Absolutely not," Dante snapped immediately."Her plan actually makes sense," Salvatore said carefully, while ignoring Dante's glare. "Anthony is emotional. His hatred is quite predictable, if nothing else.""I'm not dangling Flora in front of Anthony like a worm on a hook," Dante growled. His fists had turned white because of the way he was clenching them. “She won’t be used as bait.”"At the end of the day, it’s not your decision, Dante,” I replied firmly. "I'm volunteering. And I'll be surrounded by federal agents and whatever security you arrange. This is our best chance to end this."Sofia studied me for a short moment. There were hints of respect and approval in her eyes. "She's right, Fratello. Anthony won't be able to resist.""Where should we use?" Salvatore asked. "It needs to be somewhere we can control."I didn't hesitate. "The restaurant. The original Romano family restaurant,” I suggested.Dante's head snapped up immediately. "Why there in particular?" he questione
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 42
FLORA"Absolutely not,” I said, crossing my arms as I stared down at Dante from across the penthouse living room. "I'm not going into hiding."Dante's jaw tensed visibly as he kept pacing around, and the ankle monitor blinked with each forceful step he took. The morning sunlight coming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows made his shadow appear very long across the marble floor. He hadn't slept throughout the night. The dark circles under his eyes and the rough stubble on his jaw told me that much."This isn't negotiable, Flora. Anthony's threat was explicit." His voice was low and controlled, but I could hear the edge of fear underneath it. Not for himself, because Dante Romano had never feared for himself, but for me.After discovering Anthony Ricci was alive and was now targeting me, Dante had spent the entire night either on the phone or pacing around the entire penthouse. By morning, he had arranged for a federal safe house three states away, complete with a new identity and 2
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 41
FLORAAfter I concluded my testimony for the day, I headed straight to Oakwood Care Center, which was the upscale facility where my mother now received treatment. The frozen Romano accounts had been partially released as part of Dante's cooperation agreement, and some of that money now funded experimental treatments for my mother's condition.The care center was somehow even better than Mount Sinai Medical Center, the last facility where she had been receiving treatment at. And it was quite a far cry from the rundown hospital where she had spent so many years. Here, there were beautiful gardens surrounding the modern building, and the interior looked more like a luxury hotel than a medical facility. Every time I visited, I couldn’t help but marvel at the change in our circumstances. Less than a year ago, I had been cleaning offices and scrubbing toilets to pay for basic medications. And now my mother had a team of specialists.I found her sitting in the facility's garden with an ope
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 40
FLORAMy hands couldn't stop trembling as I sat in the uncomfortable wooden chair of the federal courthouse. I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes gazing at me from all sides: prosecutors, defense attorneys, jury members, and reporters who were scribbling frantically on their notepads. The courtroom was grand and imposing with its high ceilings, dark wood paneling, and the enormous American flag hanging behind the judge's bench. Every sound echoed, be it the scratch of pens, the rustle of papers, or even when people coughed occasionally.Nervously, I kept smoothing down the fabric of the conservative navy blue dress Sofia had insisted I wear. “Never underestimate the power of appearance," she had told me this morning as she was helping me to style my hair into a modest bun. "You need to look respectable but not wealthy. You need to look like you've been victimized but not broken.""Ms. Miller, could you please state for the record what you witnessed at the Ricci estate on the ni
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 39
FLORAThe silence that followed was tense. There was no explosion. There was no sound from the timer either. Now we were completely surrounded by darkness and the sound of our rough breathing.Dante's arms found me in the dark, and he immediately pulled me against his chest tightly. I could feel his heart hammering against mine, as our pulses raced in unison. We stood there, frozen, as we waited for the world to end.But it didn't."Is it over?" I whispered after what felt like an eternity.Before Dante could answer, a shaky laughter came from the darkness surrounding the basement. "This... isn't... over," Vincent spat. "The Romano empire must die with me."Dante didn't release me, but I felt him turn toward the sound. "You've lost, Vincent. Give up. It's over.""You could have... killed me upstairs," Vincent said. His voice was already growing weaker at this point. "Your mercy... makes you weak... just like your uncle.""I'm not my father," Dante said firmly. "And I'm not going to be
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 38
FLORA"Sixty seconds."Vincent's words filled the air as time seemed to slow around me. I watched Dante's face transform from shock to determination in just an instant."Where's the main electrical panel?" I asked. My voice cut through the tension immediately.Dante's eyes quickly moved to mine. "It’s in the basement. The original system is still there."I didn't wait for further instructions. While Dante lunged toward Vincent and Agent Wilson shouted orders to his men, I l sprinted toward the back of the restaurant. The kitchen timer continued its merciless countdown, and each tick that sounded kept echoing in my ears.The door to the basement was behind the bar. I pulled it open and rushed down the narrow stairs with my heart pounding heavily in my chest as I went down. The science classes I took in high school had been brief. They had just been for a semester before I dropped them to pursue other interests, but they might be enough to save lives tonight.The basement was dimly lit.
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 37
FLORAThe lights of Romano's restaurant cast a warm glow on the sidewalk as our car hurriedly pulled up a block away. Police sirens were already wailing around in the distance as the aftermath of the assault on the Riccis penthouse spread across the city."Stay here with Sofia," I told Rex and Luis. "If I'm not out in fifteen minutes, then you should call for backup."Sofia grabbed my hand firmly. "Be careful, Flora,” she warned. “You know Vincent has nothing left to lose now.” There were tears in her eyes as she gazed at me. I nodded and slipped out of the car. Then I began to move quietly toward the restaurant. Through the windows, I could see two figures inside. It was Dante and Vincent, and they were both facing each other across the dining room. Vincent was holding something in his hand. I knew it had to be the trigger device.I was about to enter inside when a sudden movement from across the street caught my eye. There were dark vehicles with tinted windows parked. And men in t
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 36
FLORAThe night air was cool against my face as we sped through the city streets. Dante had informed me of his decision. We would save innocent lives first, then deal with Vincent after that. I couldn't help the rush of relief I felt when I knew that he had chosen people over revenge. He had done the right thing."We need to split up," Dante said. His voice was full of tension as he drove fast. "We will cover more ground that way." He had assembled what remained of his loyal crew, and now there were a dozen men or so spread across three different SUVs. The dashboard clock read 10:28 PM. It was just over an hour and a half until midnight."How many bombs are we talking about?" I asked, trying to stay calm despite the panic spreading through my chest."Based on what Anthony said, there should be at least six, or maybe even more." Dante's knuckles were white on the steering wheel. "Vincent would definitely target places that would hurt us the most.""And places with people too," I added
