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| 35 | A Family Matter
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2024-03-19 10:27:36Related chapters
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 36 | New Opportunity
[ S E R A P H I N E] Cooking and having dinner with Dominico take about an hour and a half. Once we're done eating, a sense of relief gradually replaces the worry I've been trying to hide with smiles and little laughs. Dominico sits next to me when I stretch my legs on the couch. Although he looks tired and a bit stressed, he's still on his phone. Must be checking his emails and his news feed. We sit in silence for what feels like the longest minute before I muster the courage to strike a more serious conversation. “What's that new job offer you were saying?” I stare at him, my curiosity piqued. “Is it full-time?” “No. But it pays better than your current job.” He glances at me with a smirk. I fling him a fairly dubious look. “Urgent hiring. Double your current paycheck.” Double? Wow. I'll take the offer right now if he really thinks I can do the job, and without undergoing months of training for the role. “What's it about? Is it a temp job at your company?” “No. It's got noth
Last Updated : 2024-03-20Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 37 | It Goes Both Ways
[ S E R A P H I N E] When I arrive at the country club for my shift, I interact with my coworkers but keep my distance. I don't initiate or prolong non-work-related conversations. I'm too preoccupied with thoughts of Dominico to wear my "accommodating nice girl" mask all day. The gloomy sky casts a somber haze over the trimmed grass. The muted light filters through the half-drawn curtains while I stand beside the front desk, clutching my phone with clammy fingers. I flow through my routine on auto-pilot. I busy myself with my daily tasks until the time says two o'clock. Finally.At ten past two, I log off, clock out, then grab my purse on the bottom shelf. Before I exit the lobby, I check my notifications again. My sugar daddy is still offline, but I'm surprisingly not bothered by his silence. Angelo's text isn't the message I'm eagerly waiting for today. “The guy's busy. He's one of the big bosses. Of course he's busy,” I tell myself in my head after I nearly trip on the conc
Last Updated : 2024-03-21Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 38 | First Time For Everything
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “The heart often wants what it can't have.” I know because I'm speaking from experience. This time around, it's an entirely different situation. And with a completely different guy. Yet my feelings are the same. I shouldn't get my hopes up. I still think this is a terrible idea. But, reason almost always becomes background noise whenever I'm this close to him. This brave, kind, giving, beautiful man who seems determined to solve my problems... Although he just might be my biggest problem of all. It's the first time he's kissed me like this, and while our lips touch and tease, a rush of conflicting emotions flood through me. Nervousness. Fear. Excitement. Relief. Anxiety. It's not torrid, but it's not too gentle, either. I'd say he's the best kisser on my secret, invisible list. And I'm pretty sure kissing isn't the only intimate activity he's good at. We're standing right beside his work desk, our temporary privacy just about convincing me to tak
Last Updated : 2024-03-21Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 39 | The Show Goes On
[ S E R A P H I N E ] What is his problem? He won't even look at me. Is he embarrassed? Still? It was just a kiss. Well, two, actually. But that was it. Still just a kiss. I dunno why he's acting like he never wanted it to happen. Alright. Fine. I'll pretend it didn't happen. I can act like we weren't dry humping while playing tonsil hockey in his office with the door unlocked. Talk about risqué... While I ignore the dull ache in my throat and stomach, my gaze flits between his rigid back and the Maserati. The car is waiting for us in the corner of the parking lot with his bodyguard standing beside the shiny hood. I'm five steps behind Dominico, hugging my purse to my side. I keep my mouth shut and stare at the strap of his leather bag hanging over his shoulder until everything in front of me starts to blur.Without exchanging a word, I slide into the backseat of the Maserati before Dominico joins me. The silence between us is buzzing with unresolved questions. Or perhaps I'm th
Last Updated : 2024-03-22Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 40 | Dipping Into The Pool Of Regrets
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “When did you two start talking?” “Few months ago.” “Right.” Dominico stands beside the coffee maker to get near me while the rest of my parents' modest dining room stays quiet. They're upstairs. Probably sleeping already. Our dinner with my pretend husband-to-be wasn't as eventful or awkward as I imagined. I think my parents actually bought our whole act. “We just chat. No calls.” “Ah...” Dominico makes a face and cocks his head. “How d'you know for sure he's a guy your age?” “He sent me a few photos and videos.” Does he want to know how I met Angelo online? Jeez... I hope not. My fake fiancé doesn't need another reason to convince himself that I'm not girlfriend or wife material in any way. I turn off the faucet and step away from the sink, unsure of what else to say. “Am I not allowed to ask about him?” “I didn't say that.” Feigning a neutral face, I grab my phone beside the coffee maker and internally chide myself for leaving the screen unlocked. I
Last Updated : 2024-03-24Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 41 | Witness
[ S E R A P H I N E ] This is wild. This is way above my pay grade. When I signed up for this job, I did not expect to stumble upon something this big. “Wow.” I could go to prison for this. “This is just insane.” People kill for this kind of information. For this treasure trove of secrets. I'm not sure why Dominico believes they're safe with me. Ignazio can't ever find out that I willingly participated in all this. I save the spreadsheets I've been working on all week, shoot Dominico a quick email, and then turn off my computer, not expecting an immediate response. Darn. It's almost midnight. I don't wanna call him at this hour and bother him with my anxious suspicions. I don't even wanna hear his voice. But this is something else. This is urgent. Possibly life-threatening. With clammy hands, I grab my phone and try deep, calming breaths, the fear and nagging concern I feel turning into something more sinister. Those files could get both of us killed if we don't tread carefully
Last Updated : 2024-03-26Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 42 | Escape
[ S E R A P H I N E ] We're still on the road. We've been in this car for more than two hours now. I frown at the numbers on my phone as the soft glow of dawn blankets the tinted windows, the bluish hue above us matching the accents on the dashboard. The silence makes my ears more sensitive to the steady hum of the engine and the sound of tires against asphalt. My heart starts beating faster when Fico speeds up. We're about to pass another border. I still don't know where exactly we're headed. I just know we're going to Rome. I stretch my back until I feel a subtle crack below my neck.Beside me, Dominico remains asleep with his head tilted back, his nape pressing on the headrest. The bags under his eyes tell me he hasn't been sleeping much. The apprehension keeps rattling my insides, but I sit still and try not to disturb him — he needs all the rest he can get. The urgency in his voice during our conversation in his house won't leave my head. I swallow the lump in my throat a
Last Updated : 2024-03-27Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 43 | Feeling Matrimonial
[ D O M I N I C O ] When I arrive at the hotel room Alfeo described in his last text, I'm greeted by courtside noises blaring from the flat screen TV. It's not a huge suite, but the room's big enough for a couple of people. Sprawled on the sofa, Alfeo sports brand new-looking white trainers, another expensive shirt, and loose blue pants, his eyes fixed on the screen. Like every time I see him near a TV, he's watching his favorite ballers humiliate the other team for bragging rights. Alfeo doesn't even flinch when I smack the back of his head. “Wine?” I make a face at the corkless bottle next to the couch. I take the seat to his right. “It's eight in the morning.” “Five o'clock somewhere.” He pumps his fist, then jumps off the sofa, roaring like he's the one who just shot a three-pointer just as the buzzer rang. “This place reeks of hookers. Did you just kick 'em out?” Alfeo finally tears his gaze away from the TV and flips me off. “Where's your future wife?” He glances behind
Last Updated : 2024-03-29
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Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | Epilogue | Birds Of A Feather
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “One last sheet. One last,” I sigh to myself, stretching my aching back as I recline. Looks like I'm still alone out here. I'm sitting by the pool, enjoying the gorgeous pink-orange sunset while waiting for Dominico to finish working. I stare at my laptop screen. I'm almost done with my work for the day, but my focus is split, already dwindling. Some mornings, I don't even feel like checking my emails. But I can't just quit now. I don't wanna feel like a freeloader or look for another job. Dominico can take care of me and provide our baby's needs. I know. But I don't want him to think I'm getting too comfortable. He's still upstairs, probably not done with their virtual meeting. “Emergency board meeting,” he told me an hour ago. Dom's been working from home all week. The new virus is still wreaking havoc all over the country. It's starting to scare me and Mamma, actually. Dominico agreed to stay home because he doesn't want to risk it. Our health and our b
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 137 | The Animal Is Caged
[ D O M I N I C O ] “Look, Freja. It's my own money. And this isn't a loan. You don't have to pay me back. Okay?” Do I sound like an arrogant douche? I hope not. I sit back and buckle up, dying to get home. Freja’s tear-streaked face stays on the edge of the screen. The gray skies outside her window match the somber look in her eyes. She dabs at her pinkish cheeks, trying to put the waterworks on pause. It's not that she's been blindsided by her ex-husband's death. The sudden loss and grief. She knew what she was getting into the moment she agreed to be his wife. But it's not really her fault that she can't give her child a better life right now. I can't undo any of my father's actions or rewrite the past. But I could at least make sure that she and her kid won't struggle for another couple of years. “I just wired you the money.” “Thank you,” she murmurs with weak nods. I glance at the damp road. “Should cover tuition and some bills. If you need more, just call or text
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 136 | Love Wins
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “We were gonna tell you. I-I just…” Just what? Forgot that I exist? That I have feelings, too? That I'm her best friend and they should've told me they're... Sheesh! I don't even wanna imagine what they've been up to. “Just what? It just slipped your mind?” Pierre glances at me, still can't look me in the eye. Like he knows how hurt I am. He should. This is like... It's betrayal. Right? I'm their best friend! I have the right to feel this way. “You just conveniently forgot?” My voice wavers. The odd numbness in my core spreads down my legs. Shucks. Breathing feels like a chore now. “Was it that hard to send me a text? Pick up the phone and just give me a call?”I probably sound hysterical. Overdramatic. I really don't care. I glare at Pierre, trying to dismiss the shock and hide the barely repressed anger. But I'm sure it looks like I'm failing miserably at it. Pierre sighs briefly, his hands on his hips. He's staring at the ground. Like he can't be bother
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 135 | Her Secret Lover
[ S E R A P H I N E ] “Hey. Alfeo looks more buff. Like, he looks bigger than you now.” Must be because Alfeo isn't taller and often wears clothes that flaunt his broad shoulders. I sit up on the bed, ogling my hot baby daddy as he walks out of the bathroom. “Is he taking anything? Steroids, or...” Dom snickers, glancing at me while he dries his hair with a black towel. After locking the door, he grabs a few clothes from his closet. “Why? Couldn't ask him yourself?” I scratch the back of my head. I don't know what his best friend's been up to lately. I haven't seen Alfeo in months. But I'm glad that he's not too busy to hang out with us. Maybe he's bulking up to impress a girl. Or girls? Not that it bothers me. He's always gonna be welcome here. Dominico still trusts him with his life. And no matter what his family thinks, Alfeo is still his most loyal friend. “Is he dating someone?” Dom scoffs and scrunches up his nose. It's straight, but the tip is a little bulbous, not too f
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 134 | Backdoor Parole
[ D O M I N I C O ] Are they downsizing? Or my dad's running out of payola? What even is this room? This is much smaller than the well-guarded room they let us use before. Smells like dried piss and sweat, too. Unlike the last time I was here, the prison guard stands behind the door. Just one. No weapon in sight, but I bet my left kidney he's carrying at least two. I sit down in front of the divider, surprised that the only prisoner I'm visiting agreed to see me today. I know he's still pissed that I didn't come by much sooner. That I didn't show up the last time he told me to be here. He wanted me to deliver more hush money, and of course more cash for his protection. And he's probably more pissed that I didn't help Ricchar Falco find his missing uncle. Stefano. The disgraced shipping mogul. The big-time swindler who ran off with the redhead. Daddy Dearest's former number one whore. Only because the bitch impressed him in and out of the sack. Glancing at the tall, dusty walls,
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 133 | Prayers Help
[ S E R A P H I N E ]What if Leandro found out about everything we did, all the sleuthing I tried, and the heap of evidence we contributed to the investigation, and then he got furious enough that he...Any way you look at it, my theory isn't farfetched. The guy's got motive. I don't wanna be the one to dwell on these negative thoughts. But we should consider the possibility. My privacy, my career, and my family's safety might be compromised.I'm pretty sure he's not here in Florence. Yet the feeling that he's somewhere near won't leave my head. Even now. Here in Dominico's house, a well-guarded private property in a gated neighborhood. I feel exposed. A little vulnerable. Even though I'm so much safer here with Dominico and Mamma keeping an eye on me. Plus the security staff guarding the property 24/7."Okay. I'll talk to Enzo again," Dom mumbles before reaching for my hand, giving it a light squeeze before he lets out a breath. Regrets and some frustration replace the pent-up anger
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 132 | You're Not Going Anywhere
[ S E R A P H I N E ] I step out of the bathroom, my skin still warm from the shower. I took a quick one just to help me relax. To help me fall back to sleep. I'm not sure if it will. The rain outside taps lightly against his windows, an almost soothing rhythm that contrasts the weight of my thoughts. Although I'm wearing a robe, I feel the chill in the air as I walk towards his bed, my footsteps quiet. Dom's still wide awake like I guessed. He's sitting on the wrinkled covers, his attention fixed on his phone. As I approach him, he sets his phone down, and his heavy-lidded gaze shifts to my face. I sit close to him and try to ignore the tension in the air. It's not the same awkwardness I felt right after I tried to kiss him for the first time. It's something else. Can't quite put my finger on it. But it's nothing we can't address. I'm sure. “Hey.” “Feel better?” “A little.” I put on a smile. I hold onto his forearm when he goes back to reading some emails. ”Babe, that ema
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 131 | Dissociate
[ D O M I N I C O ] Shit. I almost tore the label off. Cracked and nearly broke the cap into pieces, too. It's not clumsiness, though. I'm too distracted. Tired. Impatient. Frustrated. With caution, I press down a strip of tape over the torn label, running my thumb across it to smooth out the small creases. I can't just look up the right dosage on the internet. This label is practically the only thing helping me keep track of the proper dosage. I reach for the roll of tape again. I tear about an inch off the roll. Right after I put the bottle away, soft shuffling noises behind me interrupt me before I can get rid of the clutter on the counter. I look up and stare at my reflection in the mirror. Seraphine is standing at the bathroom door, just a couple of steps away, her eyes wide and unfocused. She's wearing the blue shirt I gave her before she went to sleep. There's some tension in her posture. Why is she out of bed? I turn to face her and put down the roll of tape near
Mafia Heir's Contract Wife [Mafia Games V] | 130 | Unfortunate Circumstances
[ D O M I N I C O ] “Cara, dico solo che...” [Dear, I’m just saying...] “Sì?” [Yes?] I tilt my wine glass, sitting back and interrupting my stepmother again. I don't have to keep my mouth shut. I already know how uncomfortable Seraphine feels. Trying to sit still beside me, she takes a small bite of bread and stares at Mamma, who's seated across from us and not really minding the food on her plate. Rain still patters on the windows. But it shouldn't turn into something worse. This should be a calm, quick, easy dinner. Unless Mamma brings up what happened last night. If that happens, Seraphine will probably... “Sephie, è più prudente se tu rimani qui ora.” [It's safer if you stay here for now.] My stepmother is talking a bit slower now, dragging her vowels. She drops her delicate smile, then sets down her fork with a soft clink. “Non preoccuparti, Mamma. Porto sempre una mascherina extra nel caso mi dimenticassi di indossarne una,” Seraphine replies with a polite smile, her vo
