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Shadows closing in
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Eye of the Hurricane
CAMILLA'S POV.I sat on a park bench feeling grateful as Anthony pushed Jasper's stroller down the path making all sorts of silly faces that kept my baby boy giggling nonstop. The sun was dipping below the horizon casting a warm golden tone over the whole park and in that moment my unease of the last few days dissipated.Anthony made all that seem normal, even as my heart deep inside knew it wasn't. From that day in the grocery store, from finding that suspicious man all the way to this day, I couldn't keep that feeling off my back that I was being watched. And with Anthony around, I felt comfort, nothing could touch us."Look at him," Anthony chuckled low in his throat, pulling me out of my reverie. He was down on his knees beside the stroller, wiggling his fingers in front of Jasper's face. "He's trying to grab everything like he owns the place."I laughed softly, my eyes fixed upon that little bundle of joy. "He does think he owns the place. That's what babies do, right?”Anthony s
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Shattered peace
CAMILLA'S POV.I was shaking, convulsing, every single fiber in my body, as I sat in the passenger's seat of the car. I cried like the only tears left in this world streamed down my face, blurring the darkened streets ahead of me as Anthony ran through the city. I couldn't stop shaking; couldn't stop playing it over and over again in my head. How could I have let that happen? How could I have let them take him?"Camilla… " The edge in Anthony's voice cut through my fog with one swipe, but I really couldn't grasp the things he said."I should've done something," I whispered, hoarse and torn. "I couldn't protect him. I couldn't—""Stop," Anthony persisted firmly, his hands firm on the wheel. "This is not your fault, Camilla. None of this is."I shook my head furiously. "It is. I should have known. I should have done more."His voice cracked with the guilt of it all. "You did everything you could. They ambushed us both. I never saw it coming either."I heard the strain in his voice, but
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS A Secret Remedy
DANTE'S POV.I entered my study and began to pace, unable to calm the tempest raging within my brain. All the minutes felt like ages that have to be suffered; scenes of Jasper torn from Camilla etched on my brain. My jaws ached; I stopped before the window and gazed out into the darkness of night. I wasn't going to let her see what was churning within, how close I had been to losing it all together and giving up control completely. I had to fix this. I had to bring my son back home.Nobody else is going to do it. It was left for me to do.I was pacing the room when that click in my head occurred, a memory, something that hadn't crossed my mind since the news of Jasper's abduction. Jasper's necklace, which I'd given him months ago, and insisted he wore it every day. It was more than any simple piece of jewelry, I'd insert a small tracking device inside, just in case something like this happened. A secret I hadn't shared with Camilla.Not one minute passed. I tore into my desk, flung up
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Miscalculation
ELLA'S POVI sprawled on the leather couch in my penthouse-the city lights visible through the wide, tall windows. It was all just so overly luxurious tonight, each sparkle a sobering reminder that this plan better work. Dante was supposed to lose Jasper and without his son, Camilla would be nothing. My phone buzzed, its shrill vibration slicing through the thick silence like a knife as I snatched it up in an instant; the caller ID was blocked, anonymous, just as it usually was. This better be good."Talk," I said, not even waiting for a greeting."There's been a problem," came the voice on the other end, the guy sounded like he hedged, which wasn't a good sign.My stomach seemed to knot up. A problem? "What kind of problem?""Somebody else took the kid before our men got there."I blinked, the cool flat surface of the phone growing slick with sweat as my fingers constricted around it. "What in the name of hell do you mean, someone else took him? Who?""We don't know," he said, his v
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Double crossed
DANTE'S POV The cool night air nipped at my skin the instant I stepped out of the car. The address from the tracker was some kilometers away: some abandoned apartment building on the outskirts of town. Dark, silent, almost too quiet for what we were about to pull. I turned and Alex was some feet away from me, his body silhouetted against the dark shadows. In quick strides, he reached me and leaned intently into my face. "They're in there," he hissed jerking his head toward the darkened building. "I counted three men. All with guns. And I heard Jasper. He's crying." ‘Jasper was crying,’ it was a blow to the solar plexus. My son. Every minute he was in their hands was a knife twisting deeper into me. I gritted my teeth, squeezing my eyes shut to clear my head. "We move now," I growled low. "We get him out, no mistakes. Understood?" Alex nodded. "The rest of the team's already in position. Just waiting for your go.
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Deadly Order
ELLA'S POV My trembling hand lifted the phone to my ear. The low hum of the line was almost a buzz in the quiet of the room. The voice on the other side was as cold and gruff as ice. My heartbeat fluttered with anxiety. "We have the boy," he said so quietly it was almost a whisper. "What are your instructions?" I slumped back in my chair, heart racing. Finally, Jasper was in their hands. It all had finally fallen into place. Now came the big part: the final act. "Kill him," I commanded, the tone shriller than I meant to. "No mistakes this time. Do it quick, before Dante can save him again." There was a pause on the line, and I could almost feel the weight of this man processing my words, the weight of what I was asking. It didn't faze me; it never had. Jasper was just collateral. A pawn in a much larger game. "Understood," he said, though I could hear the hesitance. "We'll make it clean." "You better
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS Daddy’s Here
DANTE'S POVThe tires slid to a stop on the loose gravel, sending it flying in all directions as we came to an abrupt stop near the edge of the riverbank. I was out of the car before it had completely pulled to a stop, eyes scanning the dark waters ahead. It was a low glow over the rippling surface, but it was the movement near the edge that caught my eye, the silhouette of three men, one of them holding a small figure. Jasper.My heart was pounding against my chest. They were too close to the river, too close to it."They're gonna toss him in," I snarled, already moving toward them.In an instant, Alex was beside me, gun out, eyes keen and bright. "We can't let that happen."We didn't need a plan. Instinct took over.I sprinted forward, feet pounding wet dirt, the roar of my pulse loud in my ears. The two men standing at the edge of the water never even heard us coming. When they turned, it was already too late.I launched myself at the closest one, my fist connecting with his jaw wi
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS In my arms again
CAMILLA'S POVI paced the sitting room as my heart hovered over each elapsed second. The silent mansion choked me to a suffocating degree. Every ticking of the clock seemed to mock cruelly at my helpless situation. Anthony stood close by, his eyes scanning the room, as if he could, by will, usher Jasper safely back. Yet neither of us was able to do more than wait.My baby. Jasper.Where was he? Was he all right? Has Dante found him yet?I flexed my fists into my palms, digging my nails in as a mechanism to breathe. The worst thoughts crept in, my son, alone and scared, hurt, and it was just more than I could handle. Swallowing the lump in my throat, trying to steady my voice, I turned to Anthony. "Do you think Dante found him yet?”Anthony's jaw flexed. Of course, he didn't say it, but the fear lived in his eyes. "Dante won't stop until he does," he said, his tone unyielding. "He'll bring Jasper home."I nodded, but my nerves had finally started to come undone. "I should be out there
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SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 95: UNPLEASANT WEDDING GUEST
CAMILLA'S POVBefore us was the stretched Italian countryside-endless rolling hills of vineyards bathed in shades of gold by the afternoon sun. If anything, the villa where the wedding was held wasn't less than magnificent, a true melting pot of old-world charm and modern-day elegance. Marble columns framed the entrance, while a string quartet floated its music across the open courtyard.I really should have been utterly mesmerized by the view, but Dante's tense attitude was impossible to overlook."Relax," I whispered, tugging at the hem of my silk dress as I leaned in toward him. "Why are you so tense over a wedding?"Dante's jaw clenched, his sharp features lit for a moment by a flash of annoyance. "This isn't just some random wedding.""What do you mean?" I pressed, my curiosity getting the better of me as far as letting him stew in silence went.He said nothing for a second or two, his dark eyes scouring the crowd ahead of us. "This is Rocco Cafaro's domain." he finally said; his
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 94: MIND GAMES.
TOM'S POV.I had been confined to a wheelchair for weeks, because of these symptoms. Whereas earlier I used to tower above all others because of my unbridled force, now I sat in this damned chair, legs useless weights, arms losing strength day by day. Irony indeed was bitter. People feared my dominance; now they pitied me. I hated it. Hated them.My fists knotted, my nails digging into my palms. The pain anchored me in the now. It wasn't some random event that had happened. My body hadn't betrayed me of its own volition. There'd been a puppet master yanking on strings, and I knew full well who was on the other side of them.That afternoon, My assistant wheeled me into my office, her soft footfalls barely audible over the dull roar in my head. Now she treated me as if I were glass, her voice perpetually soft, and guarded, as if some wrong word might shatter me."Anything else for you, Mr. Lockwood?" she asked, honey dripping with pity from her tone. She jerked at the blanket on my lap
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 93: TOXIC ENCOUNTERS
TOM'S POVIt had started as no more than a whispered unease, a faint haze across my sight that cleaned itself a second later, and I'd been sure I'd just imagined it. But as days slid by, that haze grew darker, creeping into my mind, weaving itself into my body like a parasite.I sat in my office, staring down at the contract I'd spent the last hour trying to read; words on the page blurring and swimming before me until they finally dissolved into nonsense. Frustration prickled along my spine, and I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers into my temples. "Mr Lockwood?" I jerked my head up, to find my assistant, standing in the doorway with a look of concern."What?" I growled, sharper than I meant to, but I didn't care. There was just something wrong, off-the-charts disturbingly wrong-and I wasn't in the mood for questions.She stepped back, her hand releasing the door as she took a second to recompose herself. "You asked for the quarterly reports by this afternoon. I wanted to check to
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 92: FAMILY'S PEACE
Camilla's POVSoft light from the chandelier bathed the sitting room in a warmth that casts a gold sheen over plush furniture and polished hardwood floors. Jasper sat center of it all, his tiny fingers digging into the edge of the coffee table for balance as his eyes locked onto Dante and me with that determined glint I was starting to recognize as pure Draven spirit. My heart swelled as I looked at him-my beautiful boy.“Come on, Jasper," I cooed, holding my hands out to him. "You can do it, baby. Just one step."Dante knelt beside me and set his gaze in the middle of our son. "Just one, little man," he said softly, filled with excitement and warmth. "One step, and your mom and I will give you the biggest cheer of your life.”Jasper wobbled, holding onto the edge of the table with chubby hands and a fierce grasp that spoke volumes to someone who was determined not to fall. His great big grey eyes, mirrors of his father's, stared at us with such concentration and excitement. He wanted
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 91: CRACKS IN ALLIANCE
ELLA'S POVI slammed my glass down, the echo slicing through the silence of my apartment. Red wine splashed onto my fingers, but I didn't bother wiping it off. All that lined my vision was Tom's face, his smug expression, as if he held the upper hand—as if I was the one failing. As if I was the problem.How dare he.My phone buzzed on the coffee table, lighting up Tom's name. A single word text: "Meet me. Now!"I rolled my eyes and took another gulp of wine, reaching for my coat, the cabernet tasted bitter like the failure. If Tom wanted to talk, he better come prepared. Because I wasn't letting him brush off his failures on me.I found him waiting in the shaded corner booth of his favorite club, fingers drumming impatiently on the table. The sound of my footsteps made his head snap up. Dark eyes locked onto mine with that far-too-familiar spark of control he seemed to think he had over everybody. But tonight, I wasn't here to play nice."Ella," he greeted without preamble, the tensio
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 90. BREAKING POINT
CAMILLA'S POVI stood at the window of the study room, watching as city lights blurred against the dark skyline, my mind calm, and precise. Tonight, Tom thought he finally outmaneuvered Dante, thought they'd caught him in a move that would bring Draven LTD to its knees. But I knew Tom better than he thought, knew exactly how he operates, thanks to my past life. His plan wasn't original, as he'd like to believe.It was en route and right on schedule, but this time it had a few subtle changes, and adjustments to make it look completely legitimate. The standard cargo with ironclad paperwork would be all the authorities could find, leaving Tom's tip hanging in the wind.A knock on the door pulled me from my reverie. "Come in," I called, and Dante stepped inside, his normal preppy, clean-cut but a little haggard, with tension tugging at the edges of his features."Camilla," he said, and there was a hint of relief tangling his voice. "It's almost midnight. What are you still doing here?""O
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 89: Double Dealing
ELLA'S POVIt wasn't really Tom's usual meeting place, but then tonight was different; the urgency was electric in the air and tingling my palms. I looked down at my phone glowing bright amongst the shadows and smirked. In three weeks' time Dante would regret the day he ever smiled in my direction, looked at me as though I did not exist, but focused on her instead, Camilla.First, I heard the echo of his footsteps draw near, and there he was: Tom, smooth as ever, stepped into the room with that glint in his eye-like a predator."Calling it close, aren't we?" he said to me, one eyebrow cocked, as he approached me."You gonna wanna hear this," I said, my voice low, words dripping with the kind of malice I knew he'd like. "It's bigger than the last info. Dante's got a whole lineup of imports coming in, and… they're not exactly legal, he's sneaking them in."A satisfied grin stretched across Tom's face. "Go on."I leaned forward, my excitement barely contained within my tone, and extended
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 88. FIRE UNDERNEATH
88. FIRE UNDERNEATH CAMILLA'S POVIt had just gone past six in the evening, and office lights at Draven LTD headquarters were still bright. I had gone off hours ago at C-Care and came to meet Dante. But Dante and I dropped deep into an unplanned brainstorming session. The new expansion plans for Draven were both thrilling and intense, and tonight, in this quiet after-hours calm, there was a rhythm 990. My cell phone buzzed, no doubt a reminder that the world was still spinning outside this room. I ignored it, choosing instead to focus on Dante."How about a launch event in March?" I suggested, tracing the plans across the table with my finger as a feeling of excitement rushed over me.Dante gave me a reflective glance, his eyes shining with that familiar intensity. "It's risky but bold. March it is."I couldn't help but smile at the triumph of it all-being here, working with him as partners feels surreal yet natural."I think this partnership suits us," I said, a thread of warmth lac
SAVING MY MAFIA BOSS 87. REAL MONSTERS
TOM'S POV.The rain was reduced to a light drizzle by the time Ella slipped into the passenger seat of my car, as poised and polished as ever. She said nothing immediately, just buckled her seatbelt and waited, like she was used to men taking the lead.I coughed into my hand and threw a sideways glance at her. "Are you always this silent?"Trace of a smirk playing on her lips, wordless dare. "You were the one who called me, Tom. So tell me-what's on your mind?”The most flickering light of amusement was standing in her eyes, but I was buying none. Ella was clever, dangerously so, and I knew she would never walk into a room or even a car without having something of a scheme already in motion; that's just the reason I knew I should know what she was really aiming for.I leaned back, my tone casual, but pointed. "I'm just curious. You say you're loyal to Dante, yet here you are scheming behind his back. Why?"She laughed softly, but devoid of even a hint of mirth in it. "Loyalty? Tom, yo
