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Chapter 48
Last Updated:
2025-04-29 15:33:06
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Bound 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 : 2025-03-23Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 6
FLORAI barely slept that night. Every noise made me jump as I kept wondering. Was it Dante's men watching me? Or someone else entirely? By morning, my nerves were shot, and the coffee I gulped down only made my hands shakier.Rex arrived at exactly 8 AM, and his face was expressionless as he held the car door open."Good morning," I said, trying to sound normal.He nodded in response. The whole drive was silent until his phone suddenly rang."Yes, sir," he answered before glancing at me in the rearview mirror. "I'll tell her."When he hung up, he cleared his throat. "Mr. Romano wants you in his office immediately. Not at your desk. He wants you to go directly to him when we arrive."My stomach dropped. "Did he say why?" I questioned him."It’s not my job to ask questions, Ms. Flora,” he responded.Great, I thought. Something told me this wasn't about my filing system.When we arrived, the office was eerily quiet. Vivian wasn't at her desk yet, and the lights in the outer office were
Last Updated : 2025-03-23Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 7
FLORA I stood frozen by the intercom with my heart pounding loudly in my ears. What would Vivian be doing at my apartment this late? And what was that she said about me being in danger? None of this even made sense. The knock on my door made me jump. I peered through the peephole and blinked in surprise. The woman standing there wasn't Vivian at all. She was younger, around my age, with long dark hair and olive skin. And those eyes. I recognized them immediately. They were Dante's eyes, although these ones were warmer and framed by long lashes. I kept the chain on as I cracked open the door. "You're not Vivian,” I pointed out. She smiled, and something in my chest tightened. Her smile transformed her face, making her stunning rather than merely beautiful. "No, I'm Sofia Romano. Dante's sister." "Why did you lie about who you were?" She held up a paper bag that smelled amazing. "Would you have let me in if I told you I was Dante's sister?” she replied. “I brought dinner." My sto
Last Updated : 2025-03-26Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 8
FLORA "Curiosity kills more than cats in my world," Dante said. His voice was dangerously soft as his fingers wrapped around my wrist firmly. My heart hammered against my ribs as I contemplated my situation. I had crossed a line, and we both knew it. The question was what Dante would do about it. His dark eyes studied me for a long moment, and I just stood there, holding my breath as I thought about what he would do. Then, to my surprise, he moved my hand away from the panel and pressed his own palm against it instead. There was a faint click, followed by the quiet beep of the keypad as he entered a code. "What are you doing?" I whispered, more out of shock than anything. "Satisfying your curiosity,” was all he said. The safe door swung open. "Since you're so determined to know my secrets, let's get it over with once and for all." He stepped aside, allowing me to see the contents of the safe. Stacks of cash were neatly arranged on one shelf. It was more money than I had eve
Last Updated : 2025-03-26
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Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 48
FLORA"It's not your decision, Romano. If he has some pretty good intel—""He's a Ricci," Dante replied, cutting him off immediately. "His father conspired with mine to destroy everything I've built. And you want to let him walk?"Salvatore stepped forward. "He's right, Harrison. Anthony can't be trusted. Who knows? This could be another trap,” he said."Or it could be our best lead," Harrison countered. "I'm not saying we should trust him blindly, but we need to listen to what he has to say. We have to know what he knows."Dante and Harrison stared each other down for several more seconds before Dante finally gave a small nod. "Fine. But I want to be there when you question him.""That's not how this works," Harrison told Dante firmly. "You're a witness, not an agent, Dante Romano.""Then I'm walking out that door with my sister and Flora right now," Dante said. His tone left no room for negotiation. "And I’m taking all of my cooperation with me too."Agent Harrison narrowed his eyes
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 47
FLORAPain exploded through my shoulder as the bullet tore through my flesh. The impact spun me sideways, and I screamed loudly from the pain as I stumbled against a table. Through the haze of pain I was feeling, I could see Dante launch himself at his father with a roar that didn't sound human; it sounded more like that of a wounded animal protecting its mate.They both crashed to the floor with their legs tangled together, and Dante's hands instantly wrapped around Antonio's throat. The gun rolled across the tiled floor before it disappeared under a nearby table."You don't touch her!" Dante growled. His knuckles were white as he pressed down on his father's windpipe. "You don't ever touch what's mine!"Antonio's face began turning purple, and his eyes bulged as he kept clawing at his son's grip. Something shifted in Dante's expression. Now in them, I could see a darkness I had only glimpsed before but never fully witnessed. This wasn't his normal calculated violence, the one he us
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 46
FLORAThe entire room froze. Dante’s whole body was tense beside me, and it looked as though his body was coiled like a spring."Don't," Dante warned his father. His voice was low but he sounded really deadly."Or what?" Antonio taunted. "This is how it ends, son. With you watching as I take everything you care about, piece by piece." His finger tightened on the trigger. "Starting with her.""If you touch her, I will tear you apart with my bare hands,” Dante said. Each word was sharp enough to cut glass,Antonio's smile widened. "You’re finally showing some Romano spirit, Dante. But unfortunately, it's too late." His eyes met mine. "You look just like your mother," he added. For a moment, his features turned ugly with rage. "You have the same defiant look she had. I hated that look.""You knew my mother," I said, stalling. My heart was racing."I knew everyone in Carlo's life," Antonio said. "Including the woman who tempted my brother away from his loyalty to this family. Your mother
Bound To The Mafia Don Chapter 45
FLORAThe silence that fell over the restaurant was deafening. I watched as Dante's entire body went rigid, and his entire face drained of color as though he had just seen a ghost. I guess he had, in a way."Hello, son." The older man's voice cut through the silence in the room like a knife. "Surprised to see me?"Antonio Romano stood just inside the restaurant entrance, surrounded by two large men with semi-automatic weapons. He looked like an older version of Dante. They both had the same piercing eyes, and the same strong jawline, but Antonio had silver spread through his dark hair and deep lines carved into his face. His smile was nothing like his son's; though. Dante's smile was nice enough and it could warm a room occasionally, but Antonio's was nothing but cold and cruel."This is impossible," Dante whispered. His voice was barely audible, but I could still hear him. I had never seen him like this, though. He looked so shocked, vulnerable, and almost childlike as the disbelief
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
