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Chapter 43: Nowhere but Forward
Last Updated:
2025-04-01 23:01:24
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The Mafia Debt Chapter 44: New Beginnings
Six months later"Earth to Aria! Your coffee's getting cold."I blinked, dragging my attention back to the small café table where Max sat across from me, an amused expression on his face."Sorry," I murmured, wrapping my hands around the lukewarm mug. "Got lost in thought.""Must've been some pretty deep thoughts," he teased. "You were miles away."I forced a smile, taking a sip of my coffee. Six months had passed since I'd left America, and I was still adjusting to this new life.Max reached across the table, his fingers gently brushing mine. "Hey, you okay?"I nodded, genuinely touched by his concern. "Just tired.""Ah. Want to skip the movie and just go home? We could order in, watch something on Netflix instead."Home. The word still felt strange, but in a good way. Our apartment in Florence—yes, our apartment now—had become more than just a hiding place. It had become filled with small touches that made it ours. Max's books stacked neatly on the coffee table. The mismatched mugs
Last Updated : 2025-04-01The Mafia Debt Chapter 45: The Cost of Regret
CassianAria left, and I stopped calling too. The last time I reached out to her was four months ago. I hope she is happy now. I regret pushing her away every day.That was the truth of it. What else could I hold onto after pushing away the one person who saw beyond the monster everyone else feared? The reports from my men confirmed she was safe—that was all I needed to know. I'd given strict instructions: I don’t want anything personal. Just her location, her security status. I didn't need to know if she'd moved on, found someone else to share her warmth with. I wasn't a masochist.But fuck, I was a liar.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand down my face. Aria had been a temporary person in my life, yet her absence felt permanent.Sometimes her face appeared so vividly in my mind. The defiance in her eyes when she challenged me. The softness in her touch when she surrendered. The way her lips parted when I moved inside her.I never imagined missing someone's presence would feel
Last Updated : 2025-04-02The Mafia Debt Chapter 46: Every Penny She Owns
AriaThe water from the shower cascaded down my body, each drop a small comfort against my skin. I tilted my head back, letting the warm stream wash over my face, hoping it would clear my mind. Max was making dinner tonight—his famous pasta with the sauce his grandmother taught him to make. I should have been excited. Any other day, I would've been.But these last few days, something felt off.It wasn't just paranoia. Every time Max went out of town, that creeping sensation returned—the feeling of being watched, followed.I shut off the water and wrapped a towel around myself, my skin prickling with goosebumps despite the steam filling the bathroom. As I padded across our bedroom, I glanced at the framed sketch Max had done of me sleeping. He'd caught me in a rare peaceful moment, free from the nightmares that still occasionally haunted me.The sound of the front door opening pulled me from my thoughts."Aria?" Max's voice called out. "You home?""In the bedroom," I called back, quick
Last Updated : 2025-04-02The Mafia Debt Chapter 47: Lover, Liar, Stranger
AriaThere was a moment of stunned silence, then a chuckle that haunted my nightmares."Well, well. If it isn't my darling daughter."My father. Silas.My knees nearly buckled. "How—" I swallowed hard. "You're supposed to be—""Dead? Locked up?" His laugh was dry, humorless. "Sorry to disappoint you, sweetheart.""What are you doing?" I demanded. "What is Max to you?""Ah, Maxwell," my father said, his tone disturbingly pleased. "Such a useful young man. So eager to help when I told him about a certain mob boss who needed to be taught a lesson. And about his lovely little captive who needed rescuing.""You sent him? To—to what? Spy on me?""Among other things," my father replied. "The money from Cassian is quite substantial. Did you know that? Of course not. Cassian wouldn't have told you. He wanted to keep you dependent on him."My head spun. "That's not true.""Isn't it? Why do you think he kept you around? Out of the goodness of his heart?" My father's laugh was cruel. "Men like Ca
Last Updated : 2025-04-06The Mafia Debt Chapter 48: The Devil Goes to War
Cassian My mind wasn't on the job; I was distracted. I let my feelings cloud my judgment, and now LucasI is dead. All because I took my eyes off the ball. Everyone is out there looking for Silas, but the fucker has gone into hiding. He's probably burrowed himself underground. But he won't stay underground for long. The first place he would head to would be Italy. To her. To Aria. If he wants a war, he will get a war. I slammed my fist against the wall, feeling the plaster crack under the impact. The pain shooting up my arm was nothing compared to the rage boiling inside me. Lucas's blood was on my hands. His lifeless body discovered in that cell haunted me every time I closed my eyes. "VIKTOR!" I bellowed, my voice echoing through the hallway. My second-in-command appeared almost instantly. "Boss?" "Any word from our contacts in Florence?" I demanded, pacing the length of my office like a caged animal. "Nothing concrete yet. But we've got eyes at every airport, train station, an
Last Updated : 2025-04-07The Mafia Debt Chapter 49: The Stranger I Loved
Aria I woke up gasping for air, my hands flying to my throat. The memory of Max's fingers crushing my windpipe made me choke on nothing but fear. For a moment, I didn't know where I was, the unfamiliar ceiling spinning above me. I tried to sit up, but my head pounded so violently I had to lie back down. This wasn't our apartment. The room was larger with heavy curtains blocking out most of the daylight. Some kind of villa or mansion, by the looks of it. The door opened with a soft click, and Max strolled in casually, as if we were on some romantic getaway. His expression was neutral, almost bored as he assessed me. "Ah, I can see you're awake," he remarked, leaning against the doorframe. I couldn't help but roll my eyes despite the fear coursing through me. "How observant of you," I replied, my voice hoarse and raw. His face changed instantly. "I'm not in the mood for your sass," he warned, taking a step closer. "That makes two of us," I retorted, forcing myself to sit up despit
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Cassian I drove the rental car to its limits through the winding Tuscan countryside. The GPS indicated I was twenty minutes away from the address Max sent to me, but even that felt too long. Every second Aria was alone with Max increased the chance that Silas would get to her first. I couldn't let that happen. I have failed Lucas , and I was determined not to fail Aria too. "Fuck," I muttered, taking a sharp curve faster than I should have. The tires screeched in protest. I'd left my men behind, not wanting to intimidate Aria with a show of force. That decision now seemed like another potential mistake. But I had to trust Max. He'd been reliable up to this point—moving Aria to a secure location after my warning about Silas's escape was exactly what I needed him to do. My phone vibrated in the console. Viktor. "What?" I barked, putting it on speaker. "We've got a lead on Silas," Viktor's voice came through. "He was spotted at a private airstrip outside Milan six hours ago." "He
Last Updated : 2025-04-09The Mafia Debt Chapter 51: Nowhere to Run
Aria The name sent a chill down my spine. Images flashed through my mind—being dragged from my bed in Cassian's house , the dark room where I'd been held, the terror and fear I’ve felt.Max's features contorted with hatred, transforming his once-handsome face into something monstrous. "He was my brother, and you bastard killed him," he snarled at Cassian.Cassian burst into laughter. I couldn't understand his reaction. This wasn't funny; this was horrifying. It means we are dead. I raised my hand to my mouth as the pieces suddenly clicked into place. "My father and your brother kidnapped me," I whispered, the terrible truth dawning on me. "That means you lied to me about Cassian. You lied when you told me he never cared."Cassian's laughter faded, his eyes locking with mine. I could see something in them—regret? Pain? Or was I just imagining what I wanted to see?Max's expression turned even more menacing. "You think the truth changes anything?" he sneered. "Your precious Cassian s
Last Updated : 2025-04-09
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The Mafia Debt Chapter 94: Left to Die
Aria's POVWhere am I?The question came in my mind as soon as my consciousness creeps back, my eyelids heavy like lead. The room swims into focus—dim light filtering through a single dirty window. My body screams with every tiny movement, and I taste copper on my cracked lips."Hello?" I call out, my voice barely a rasp. "Is anyone there?"I try to push myself upright, biting back a cry as pain lances through my ribs.That's when I see him.He's sprawled in the corner, one hand clutching his side, dark blood seeping between his fingers. His face is ghostly pale, eyes closed, chest barely moving."Cassian!" I gasp, scrambling toward him, ignoring how my own body protests.I don't remember moving, just suddenly being there beside him, my trembling hands hovering over his wound. His shirt is soaked through with blood, the fabric torn where a blade must have entered."Cassian," His skin is cold, clammy. "Baby, can you hear me?"His eyelids flutter, a small groan escaping his lips. Relief
The Mafia Debt Chapter 93: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Smoke hung thick in the air, mingling with the sharp scent of blood and gunpowder. Viktor moved through the debris his gun raised, eyes darting for any sign of movement. The blast had left Kaiser's men scattered and broken, but Viktor knew better than to let his guard down."Marcus, status?" Viktor murmured into his mouthpiece."Zone's almost clear," Marcus replied, the crackle of static distorting his voice slightly. "But I can't reach Cassian. Something's off, Vik."Viktor's jaw tightened. "Keep looking. I'm heading deeper in.""Copy that. Watch your six."Viktor pressed on, stepping over the bodies of fallen enemies. The only sound the faint groans of the dying. Cassian never went dark during operations. Not unless something had gone terribly wrong.As he rounded a corner, Viktor caught movement out of the corner of his eye. A man, one of Kaiser's cronies, was pinned beneath a chunk of concrete, struggling to free himself. His face was bloodied, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
The Mafia Debt Chapter 92: Checkmate
Third person povBlood pounded in Cassian's ears as he crouched behind the rusted shipping container, the cold metal of his Glock pressing against his palm. The warehouse was soon to become Kaiser’s tomb. Rain slicked down Cassian's face, mingling with sweat as he checked his watch: 02:37. Three minutes to synchronize."East perimeter secured," Viktor's voice came through his earpiece. "Two down, silent.""Roof access clear," Dom confirmed, his breathing calm despite having just eliminated three guards.Cassian tapped his comm. "Hold positions. On my mark.""Moving to position alpha," The rain masked his footsteps as he approached the side entrance. Two guards huddled beneath a meager overhang, sharing a cigarette. Amateurs. They never saw him coming.The warehouse door opened to his electronic pass key—courtesy of Kaiser's late lieutenant, Chet, who had been all too eager to talk after Dom finished with him. Cassian entered the dark corridor, the acrid smell of chemicals and damp con
The Mafia Debt Chapter 91: Bait in a Cage
AriaWhen I regained consciousness, darkness enveloped me completely. My head throbbed and a dull ache pulsing behind my eyes. I tried to move, only to discover my wrists were bound above me, the metal biting into my skin painfully.I feel a surge of panic as my memory fragments returned—Shadow stepping outside to smoke, me going into the kitchen, a noise, a gloved hand over my mouth, the sickly-sweet scent of chloroform.The darkness wasn't just around me; something covered my eyes. It is a blindfold. The rough fabric scratched against my swollen eyelids as I blinked against it.I could hear footsteps somewhere nearby. I strained my ears listening to them grow closer. My breath caught in my throat as I strained more to listen, trying to gauge distance, direction—anything that might help me understand where I was.The air tasted stale and damp. Somewhere nearby, water dripped in a slow rhythm. I couldn't tell. I shivered, not just from the cold seeping through my thin clothing but fro
The Mafia Debt Chapter 90: Stolen from Under Their Noses
Cassian was a man of precision, and tonight, every move had been calculated to the last detail. Everything was set in motion.He pressed a button on his console. "Viktor, what's the status?"Viktor's voice came through the speaker. "The guys are in position, but they haven't started moving yet.""They've got ten minutes. After that, we proceed with or without them.""Understood,"Switching channels, Cassian connected to Xander. "Xander, what's your status?"Xander's response was immediate, almost eager. "I've got a clear shot, Cassian. Kaiser's right there with his goons, looks like they're sorting through shipments." A hint of excitement crept into his voice. "Been waiting all day for this. Something big is about to go down, I can feel it."Cassian's eyes narrowed as he visualized the scene. "Hold your fire. We need to time this perfectly. I'll let you know when to take the shot.""Roger that." Frustration bled into Xander's tone. "Just don't keep me waiting too long."Cassian switch
The Mafia Debt Chapter 89: Left Behind with Questions
Aria's POVA knock at the door interrupted us, and the spell was broken. He froze, his eyes narrowing in annoyance."Ignore it," I whispered, desperate to keep the moment alive, my fingers tangling in his hair.But the knock came again, more insistent this time, and Cassian sighed, his frustration evident. "Wait here," he said, and he turned to answer the door.I smoothed down my dress, trying to calm my racing heart as Cassian stalked to the door and yanked it open."This better be important," he growled, then stiffened when he saw who was standing there.It was Shadow. My heart leapt at the sight of him—It had been months since I'd last seen him."Shadow!" I exclaimed, rushing past Cassian and throwing my arms around him in a hug. "I've missed you so much! It's been ages."Shadow chuckled as he patted my back gently. "Missed you too, Aria. You look good."I pulled back to look at him, noticing the new scar along his jawline. "Where have you been hiding?""Working," he said simply, h
The Mafia Debt Chapter 88: The Beginning of Retribution
Cassian's POVI stood in the armor room, strapping on my holster and checking my weapons. The weight of my Glock felt reassuring against my ribs.Viktor entered, his face grim. Blood still caked his fingernails from the last interrogation. "Everyone's ready," he said. "The meeting room is set up."I nodded, adjusting my jacket. "Good. Let's get this done.""How's Aria?" he asked, following me into the hallway."Sleeping. Shadow's watching her." I paused, running a hand through my hair. "She doesn't know what I'm planning. Better that way."Viktor shot me a skeptical look. "You sure about that? Last time you kept her in the dark—""Don't." I cut him off. "Just... don't."As we walked through the mansion's corridors, my thoughts turned to the men I was about to meet. Each of them carried a beast inside, a dormant force that could be unleashed if provoked. It was a dangerous game, but one we were all willing to play.We entered the meeting room where Shadow, Dom, and the others were alre
The Mafia Debt Chapter 87: In the Arms of a Killer
Aria's POVCassian’s arm was draped over me protectively, but his body was rigid, muscles coiled tight like he was ready to spring into action at any moment.I turned to face him, placing a gentle hand on his chest. "Cassian, what happened tonight wasn't your fault," I whispered.He didn't respond, just stared at the ceiling with a haunted look in his eyes."Hey," I said, tapping his chest lightly. "Don't go all silent brooding on me now."That got a tiny reaction—the corner of his mouth twitched."Cassian, look at me," I urged, my hand moving to cup his cheek.Slowly, his gaze shifted to meet mine."I should've been there sooner," he said, voice gravelly. "I heard you scream and it was like... fuck, Aria, it was like someone ripped my heart out."I shook my head, my fingers tracing the stubble on his jaw. "But you came. That's what matters.""When I saw his hands on you..." His voice cracked. "I've killed men for less than breathing in your direction, and this piece of shit had his h
The Mafia Debt Chapter 86: Blood and Vows
CassianAria was still struggling in Ronald's grip when something inside me shattered.I'd been in dangerous situations before. I'd faced death more times than I cared to count. But nothing—nothing—had ever filled me with the raw, primal terror that seized me as I watched Ronald violate the woman I loved.His hands were on her throat, on her body. Her nightgown all torn up, exposing her trembling flesh to his greedy eyes. And I was fucking handcuffed, watching it happen."Look at your man now," Ronald taunted her, forcing her face toward me. "Not so powerful anymore, is he?"The metal cuffs bit into my wrists as I strained against them, blood trickling down my hands. But I didn't feel the pain. All I felt was rage—white-hot and all-consuming."I want him to see everything I'm going to do to you before I put a bullet between his eyes," he growled, his breath hot against her neck.Aria's eyes met mine—wide with terror but somehow still trusting. Still believing I would save her, even as
