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Chapter 34
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2025-02-13 02:38:33
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Bound To The Mafia Chapter 35
ISADORAI felt his eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him.My skin was still burning where his hands had been, my lips still tingling from his kiss, but all of it—every ounce of heat—was drowned out by the image of Alicia standing there. The hurt in her eyes.I shouldn’t care.But I did.I pressed my palm against my chest, trying to calm the frantic beat of my heart as I stepped out of his room. I needed space. Air. Distance from him.But his voice chased me.“Isadora.”I paused, fingers curling into fists, but I didn’t turn around.“What?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, laced with everything I was trying to bury.There was a beat of silence. Then, “Don’t run from me.”His words were low, rough—almost a warning.I forced a breath. “I’m not running. I just… need to think.”It was a lie.I was running. And we both knew it.I made it back to my room before the knot in my chest finally cracked.Because the truth was, it wasn’t just Alicia that rattled me.It was what I felt wi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-14Bound To The Mafia Chapter 36
ISADORAThe next morning, I barely slept. My chest was still tight, that image of Alicia and Luca burned into my mind like a scar. But I had a final paper to write, and I wasn’t about to let my heartache ruin my degree.I showed up on campus with Rafael like always, his eyes flicking to me every few minutes like he knew something was off. I kept my head down. Gave him short answers. Pretended I was fine.I wasn’t.Laura caught me in the hallway before I went in for the paper. Her gaze swept over me, eyes narrowing. “You good?”I forced a smile that even I knew was trash. “Yeah, just tired. Finals, you know?”She didn’t buy it.“You wanna talk later?”“Maybe… I just need some space right now.”She gave me that look—you know, the best friend look, the one that says I know you’re lying, but I’ll let you get away with it for now.“Okay,” she said, but her voice was soft, worried.I nodded and slipped into the exam hall.But afterward… I couldn’t go back.Not to Rafael. Not to the house. N
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-15Bound To The Mafia Chapter 37
ISADORA I sat there by the river until the sky bled into night. The sun dipped below the skyline, and the city lights flickered on, glowing against the dark water. My chest felt heavy, my thoughts tangled—Luca, Alicia, the way he looked at me… like I was the only thing keeping him breathing. And yet, I saw him with her. Why did it hurt this much? Why did I care this deeply? I hated it. Hated that I felt like this—like I’d handed him every part of me, and he could crush it with one glance. I was stronger than this. I was supposed to be. I laughed under my breath, shaking my head. All this over a man. Me? Really? Pathetic. I leaned back against the bench, staring at the sky. What happened to the girl who swore she’d never let anyone own her heart? Who said she’d never let a man be the reason her chest felt like it was caving in? But here I was. A fool. And the worst part? I still wanted him. By the time the air cooled and the streetlights buzzed brighter, I knew I h
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Bound To The Mafia Chapter 38
LUCA “You don’t get it, Luca,” she murmured, voice cracking just slightly. “I saw you with her, and it—it messed with my head. It hurt.”That last word was so soft, but it landed heavy—straight to my chest.I cupped her face, my thumbs brushing over her cheeks, slow. “I get it more than you think. But you need to understand something—I don’t want Alicia. I haven’t wanted her since the day I met you.”Her eyes flicked up to mine—uncertain, but searching. “When… did you meet me?”I exhaled through my nose, a small, knowing smile pulling at my lips. “You really don’t remember?”She shook her head.I leaned in, letting the weight of it all sit between us. “Four years ago. Charity gala. You were twenty—wearing red. You stood out like a flame in a room full of suits. Vibrant. Defiant. Untouchable. I was done for the second I saw you.”Her breath caught, her lips parting just slightly.“I couldn’t do anything about it,” I continued, voice low, rough. “I was marrying Alicia. Her father’s a p
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-16Bound To The Mafia Chapter 39
ALICIAI paced the length of my room, the dim lighting casting sharp shadows along the walls. My fingers gripped the phone so tight my knuckles turned white. The laughter filtering through from downstairs made my teeth grind together. Her laugh. Soft, breathless—like she belonged here. Like she belonged with him.Isadora. Alive. Breathing. And worse—getting close to Luca.I thought she was supposed to be rotting in a ditch somewhere. That was the deal. That was the plan. But now she was here, under the same roof as me—like nothing had ever happened. Like she hadn’t cheated death.I snapped out of my thoughts when the voice on the other end of the call spoke again. The irritation in his tone matched mine.“We had eyes on her,” the man said, his voice low and firm. “But Rafael was there. We couldn’t make a move.”Rafael. Of course. The ever-watchful shadow. Luca’s enforcer, his blade in the dark. The man was a goddamn nightmare—loyal to a fault and damn near untouchable.I pressed my fi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Bound To The Mafia Chapter 40
ISADORAMy phone vibrated on the nightstand.Unknown number.I stared at it for a second, heart sinking. I already knew.Luca was in the shower, water running, masking the sound as I picked it up.I pressed it to my ear. “Hello?”A beat of silence, then his voice—slick with fake concern. “Isadora, sweetheart. It’s your father.”My chest tightened. That voice—the same one that had sold me lies my whole life. The same one that had nearly sold me for real.“What do you want?” I bit out, keeping my voice low.He sighed, like he was the victim here. “I need help… Financial help. I hit a rough patch, and I—”I cut him off, voice sharper than I intended. “Gambling again?”Silence. Guilt.I laughed, but it was cold. “Of course. You haven’t changed.”“Isadora, I—”“No,” I snapped, gripping the phone tighter. “Cut the crap. I know, Dad. I know you tried to sell me. Traffickers, right? How much was I worth to you? Enough to cover a few bad nights at the casino?”He went quiet—like he didn’t expe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-17Bound To The Mafia Chapter 41
LUCAThe office was low-lit, the warm glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across the dark wood. The faint hum of jazz filled the silence. Rafael leaned back in his chair across from me, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharp.I poured myself a glass of whiskey, the ice clinking softly. “Did you finish setting up the cameras and the audio in the house?”Rafael nodded, face unreadable. “Every room, including hers.”“Good. Pull up the feed.”He grabbed the tablet from the desk, fingers moving swiftly over the screen. Within seconds, the live footage flickered on. We both leaned in as Alicia’s room came into view—but she wasn’t there.“Kitchen,” Rafael muttered, switching views.There she was, sitting across from Isadora. My jaw tightened the second I saw my girl, coffee cup in hand, trying to mask the unease in her eyes.Alicia was talking, her expression soft, almost vulnerable. But I knew better. I turned up the volume.“I guess what I’m trying to say is… I hope you’re prepared. Because lovin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18Bound To The Mafia Chapter 42
ALICIA My fingers trembled slightly as I scrolled through my contacts, carefully selecting a number I knew by heart but dared not save. The message was brief, to the point:"She'll be out tomorrow. Handle it."I stared at the words for a moment, my heart thudding in my chest. Then, with a deep breath, I hit send. The confirmation appeared instantly. No reply, no questions. They knew what needed to be done.I set my phone down, feeling a rush of satisfaction. This was necessary. She was in the way. Once she was gone, everything would fall into place. No guilt. Just relief. Soon, it would all be over.______________ISADORA The next day felt like a breath of fresh air. Meeting up with Laura brought a sense of normalcy I hadn't felt in weeks. When we hugged, I clung to her a little longer than usual, needing that comfort. The sun was warm, and the city bustled around us. For a brief moment, I felt free.Our shopping trip was lighthearted, filled with laughter and playful arguments over
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-18
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Bound To The Mafia Chapter 114
LUCAShe said she was fine.But she wasn’t.I knew Isadora too damn well by now—not just her smiles, her sighs, the subtle shifts in her posture when she was tired or thinking too hard—but the way she lied.Because she was a terrible liar.And that smile she gave me? It was just that—a cover. A shield.I watched her a second longer, her eyes flicking back to the phone like it burned.He looked familiar to her.She didn’t say it out loud, but I saw it in the way her shoulders stiffened, the pause too long before her answer. Something about that face hit her memory hard, and she buried the reaction faster than she thought I’d notice.But I always noticed.Because I paid attention.Because ever since I put that ring on her finger, I’d made it my business to protect her—whether from enemies or memories she didn’t want to face.I set the phone down, leaned closer, brushing her hair away from her cheek, even though my pulse had picked up slightly. “You
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 113
ISADORAThe Next Morning“Peonies or white roses?” Laura asked, holding up the two mood boards like this decision could alter the course of history.I eyed both, pretending to care even though my head wasn’t really in it. My heart was, though—because this wedding? It meant freedom. A promise. A future. Even if the groom walked around with a loaded gun and nightmares carved into his bones.“Peonies,” I said, eventually. “They’re softer.”Laura nodded, scribbling a note. “And the dress fitting is still set for Friday. Your shoes came in yesterday, and we need to finalize the seating chart.”“Luca’s not going to care who sits where,” I muttered.She smirked. “He cares more than he lets on. He told Rafael to make sure your uncle doesn’t sit next to that one cousin you hate.”I blinked. “He knows about that?”“Girl, he knows everything.”I bit back a smile.Maybe he did.Maybe he was listening.Luca and Rafael popped in and out—checking on securi
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 112
ISADORALater That DayI didn’t go back to my room. Couldn’t. I needed clarity, not the suffocating silence of silk sheets and locked doors. So I went to the only place that ever made sense when everything else didn’t—the garden. Luca’s mother’s garden, to be exact. It was a piece of serenity tucked between the chaos, the only place in this mansion that hadn’t been touched by blood or secrets.I walked along the stone path, brushing my fingers against the petals of the roses she used to care for. It was ironic, how something so delicate could survive here, in a place built on violence and power plays. Maybe that’s why I liked it—because it reminded me of what I wanted to be. Soft when I chose to be. Sharp when I needed to be.I sat on the stone bench at the edge of the garden, pulling my knees to my chest, letting the wind carry my thoughts. I didn’t hear him approach—not at first—but I felt it. That same tension in the air. That same storm.Luca.He didn’t say anyt
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 111
ISADORAThe Next MorningI woke to the faint scent of sandalwood and fire.Luca.Even before my eyes opened, I could feel him—his presence thick in the air, like a storm had passed through and left its electricity behind. The sheets beside me were cool, but the echo of him lingered. A ghost of warmth. A shadow of protection. And danger.I sat up slowly, the silk of my nightgown whispering against my skin as I ran a hand through my hair. The mansion was too still. Like it was holding its breath.Or maybe… like he was.The last few days had been a blur of lace, tastings, flower samples, and dress fittings. Smiles that didn’t quite reach my eyes. Laughter that felt like someone else’s. I’d played the part—I always did—but I wasn’t blind.Luca had changed.There was an edge to him now, sharper than usual. Not the possessive, controlling type that gripped my waist too tightly or growled when someone looked at me too long—no, this was colder. Strategic. Distant.
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 110
EMILIO Unknown Location The ice clinked against the side of the glass as I stirred lazily, the amber liquid inside catching the light of the chandelier above. “Status?” I asked, mirroring the same word Morretti was probably spitting into his phone right now. Viktor stood across the room, arms folded, expression sharp. “She was shaken. He’s rattled. Mission accomplished.” A smile tugged at my mouth. “Good.” I rose from the armchair and crossed to the wall of screens, all still frames from different angles—streets, clubs, surveillance feeds. And right in the center, a blurry image of Isadora, caught mid-turn in that little bridal boutique. Fear in her eyes. Vulnerability in her shoulders. It was art. “She didn’t see the blade,” Viktor said. “Just the man. It was enough.” “That was the point,” I murmured. “It was never about hurting her. Not yet. It was about jarring him.” I tapped the screen slowly, the rhythm like a
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 109
LUCAAn Hour LaterI watched her disappear down the hall with a flicker of a smile on her lips. A rare one. One I hadn’t seen in too long.God, I missed that smile.The moment she turned the corner, I was already pulling my phone from my pocket.“Status?” I asked, voice low.Rafael answered on the first ring. “We tracked the van. No plates. Abandoned in Queens. Torched.”Of course it was. “Surveillance?”“Nothing clean. Either they knew the angles or they’ve got someone on the inside feeding them locations.”I let out a breath, slow and steady. My fingers clenched around the glass in my hand, tension humming just beneath my skin.“Pull every camera within a ten-block radius. I want facial recognition run on anyone near that vehicle in the past twenty-four hours.”Rafael was silent for a beat. “Luca, you should tell her what we know. She’s not stupid—”“No,” I cut him off. “She doesn’t need more reasons to lose sleep. Let her plan the damn wedding.”
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 108
LUCAThe Next MorningThe storm inside me hadn’t passed. It had simply settled into a quiet rage, one that hummed beneath my skin like a loaded gun. I stood by the window in my office, watching the sun claw its way up through the skyline, wondering how the hell it had come to this.Emilio. That name was starting to rot in my brain. I should’ve seen him coming. I should’ve anticipated the move, the breach. The moment I saw the fear in Isadora’s eyes, I knew I’d failed. And failure? That’s not something I wear lightly.She was right. She always is when it comes to the things I don’t want to admit. I’d been so obsessed with shielding her, watching her every move, preparing for every threat—except the one that slipped right past us. And she’d seen it clearer than I had: maybe she wasn’t the real target. Maybe I was.But fuck, if I’m the target, then fine. Let them come. I can take it. I’ve taken worse. What I can’t take? Watching her unravel, feeling that grief eating her
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 107
ISADORA “I mean,” I continued, my voice tightening with each word, “what if it’s not me they want? What if they’re after you? What if Emilio’s plan is bigger than just hurting me? Maybe I’m just the distraction.” I saw the shift in him, but it wasn’t shock. It was something else—an understanding. A knowing. “I thought I’d made that clear,” he said, his voice softer now, almost like he was speaking to himself. “You’re always the first to be in danger because they know what you mean to me. But I’ve never thought you were the ultimate target.” My chest tightened at the realization. I wanted to argue, but the truth was, he already knew. He’d already thought of it. He always thought of everything. “You always think about me,” I murmured, my voice cracking slightly, “but you never think about yourself. About what could happen to you.” He stepped closer, but this time there was no anger in his movement. Just an unsettling calm. “You don’t get it, Isador
Bound To The Mafia Chapter 106
ISADORAThe tension in the house was suffocating. Luca hadn’t spoken much since last night, but I could feel his presence—watchful, calculating. He was always in control, but now? Now he was something else entirely. A storm waiting to break.I sat in the library, pretending to read while my mind ran in circles. Emilio. The name had latched onto my thoughts, sinking its claws in, refusing to let go. He had sent someone to me. He had found me. I was supposed to be safe under Luca’s protection, yet a stranger had slipped past his security like it was nothing.A sharp knock at the door made me jump.Laura stepped in, eyes scanning me carefully before shutting the door behind her. “You okay?”I sighed, closing the book I wasn’t actually reading. “I don’t know.”She sat on the armrest of my chair, crossing her arms. “Luca is losing his mind over this.”I snorted. “Yeah, I gathered that much.”“Have you spoken to him?”I shook my head. “Not since last night. He ju
