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EPILOGUE • Life's Too Short For Grudges
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2023-11-18 02:54:15Related chapters
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] Notes + Preview
•••••••••••• ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2022 by M.Z. Mauve Scenes, characters, dialogues and events in this story are all invented. This story contains mature themes, profanity, graphic violence and graphic sexual content not intended for young readers. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this story or plagiarism of any kind is prohibited by the law. •••••••••••• This is the first draft of Book III of The Heir's Secret Obsession, my first crime/psych thriller/mafia romance story. Like the sequel, this is also written in 1st person narrative. If you've come this far and have read The Heir's Secret Obsession and The Alpha's Dhampirica, thanks a million ❤ Your continued support and interest in my stories is what keeps me going. Thanks for being patient! For the new readers' sake, the first few chapters (all free!) contain scenes from the first two books in this mafia romance series to provide some context and background info on the main characters' relationships.Some chapters i
Last Updated : 2022-11-13The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 1 • The Ambush
Mariangela, Umbria2 years earlier ◇ MYKAELA ◇ Answers. I needed real answers. Right now we all did. Why did these people get hurt? Not one of them seemed eager to explain. What happened to the others was even more dreadful. Just inhumane. Did the local cops find out about the ambush yet? Who wanted to murder all of them in broad daylight? The list of reasons must be lengthy. A crime this violent couldn't be just a case of mistaken identity. At times, the fine line between a horrible dream and my own reality would blur. This morning was a prime example. Bloody. Nightmarish. The total opposite of what I pictured when I said yes to Miles. Did his parents call the cops yet? They still wouldn't say who caused all of this. Maybe they all thought the secrets I shouldn't be privy to should stay that way: Well-kept secrets. Miles didn't know anything. Or did he lie to me? But why? I took a deep breath. My face mask now smelled of coffee and blood. "Shit." I leaned against the cold
Last Updated : 2022-12-23The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 2 • The Falcos
The Falco Estate◇ MYKAELA ◇ "We need to talk about your family." My family? "Do you know why, Mykaela?" Mr. Falco led me inside the old storage room in Ricchar's cold basement. One of the suit-clad guards switched on the lights. Pretty sure Mr. Falco never left his house without his security detail. The door locked with a soft click. The gun-toting bodyguard snuck out of the room without sparing us another glance.Mr. Falco turned to face me, his tone low, restrained annoyance tensing up his angular jaw. It pushed a sharp, ominous feeling deep down in my gut. The cold wall behind me somehow made my palms sweat buckets. Or it was this behind-closed-doors talk with the big boss, who, for some reason seemed eager to talk about my family. Why? Did Miles share something besides my father's recent hospitalization? Why bring up my family again? Why here and why now?"I-I'm sorry. What're we talking about?" The thumps in my chest ratcheted up. Grayish specs partly obscured his attentive
Last Updated : 2022-12-31The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 3 • Stranger Than Fiction
◇ MYKAELA ◇"How did you end up here if you're from New York?""I had to work full-time." I leaned over the bedside table and returned the bowl of warm porridge on the tray."Ah."I stared at the guy's bandaged arm, trying my best to ignore his curious tone and attentive eyes. To him, a young American med school dropout being here in the Falcos' estate on the same day he and his bodyguard almost got killed in broad daylight was rather suspicious. Well, okay. I get it. I'd definitely be questioning a bunch of people after what happened this morning. After hearing about Russian mobsters plotting against the Falcos and all, I'd be suspicious of foreigners, too. But no reason to take it personally. Perhaps Enzo just wanted to ask more personal questions to pass the time. The medical team and the jet must be half an hour away at this point. Yet it was getting more obvious that being helplessly stuck in this guest room, in someone else's mansion, was starting to irritate him. Besides his
Last Updated : 2023-04-20The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 4 • The Bloodlines
• France • A year later ◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "Been friends with Archambault a long time?" "A while." Magnus, the short-haired businessman in the collared shirt grinned at me and my cousin. The guy's smile didn't touch his pale green eyes. Or they could be gray. Bluish gray. Light green. Who gives a shit... He and Mykaela didn't share any other physical traits besides their height, slim build, and dark hair. This 40-something wealthy entrepreneur—the firstborn son of a wealthier drug lord—also looked like he could knock anyone down with a single punch. The way he talked as if we'd already met only doubled the air of confidence around him. At least a few inches taller than me and Ricchar, too. "You trust him with your life kind of friend?" Ricchar chuckled beside me. "Excuse me. Phone call." Niccolo got up from his seat and flung me a 'Fuck! It's Stefano!' look as he walked off with his phone. Pappa must be calling to chew him out. Probably growing impatient. Downright paranoid like
Last Updated : 2023-05-08The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 5 • Dumped and Heartbroken
◇ MYKAELA ◇ Barely six hours left before our next shift. Yikes. I was needed in the hospital first thing. It would be my last shift this month before our assessment next week. And I should be sleeping, not a slave to my phone, waiting for nothing significant. Another life-ending asteroid hitting Earth sounded more likely than Miles calling me up again. Unfortunately, my brain was in no mood to rest. Fixing myself a cup of coffee wouldn't do me any favors, either. Ugh. I just needed to talk. Vent to someone—anyone, really. Then maybe cry it out. Seek some post-breakup advice. Sadly everyone seemed too busy. Mommy Tilda, my sister Jill, and her baby were traveling with David, my brother-in law. They just left me on read. Barely responded to my chats all day. My bestie didn't even return my call. "Enzo," I muttered with a sigh, too lethargic to move, just melting on the covers I'd almost forgotten to change. "Distracted" would be downplaying how I felt the last couple of days.Was he
Last Updated : 2023-05-13The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 6 • To Kill A Criminal
◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ "Hey. You busy?" "Depends." I sat back after accepting the video call request from the unregistered number. A new one, but I'd already memorized the last digits before Niccolo sent me new updates on the Interpol guy's activities. He tilted his chin and eyed what my camera showed him. A white coat partly covered his black shirt. "You look busy.""You look like shit." I positioned my phone beside the greasy rag on my desk. By "shit", I meant he looked marginally better than the last time we hung out.For the first time in a while, he looked like he got a good night's sleep. Niccolo leaned closer to his phone, probably another burner. His brown eyes squinted at me. His grimace deepened as if my pastime disgusted him. "Che cazzo fai?" [What the fuck are you doing?] "Cleaning my birthday gift." "From who?" "Pappa." Niccolo shook his shaved head. The video feed on my screen lagged a bit. "What?" The smooth barrel glinted when I tilted it sideways. The other parts of
Last Updated : 2023-05-21The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 7 • A Date With The Heir
◇ MYKAELA ◇ "Hi, Miss Nielsen. Doctor Carlson wants to see you. Fifth floor." I looked up and smiled at the nursing assistant on shift. "'Kay. Thanks, Jane." My grip on the medical journal loosened. "I'll be there in a sec." "Need anything, Miss Kel?" she asked with another pleasant smile. "We got doughnuts in the pantry, and raspberry, chamomile, and ginger tea." "Oh. No. Thanks." Sugar would not help at the moment. Not with my already hyperactive brain keeping me from completing the task at hand. Mostly due to nervousness and weeks-old anxiety. I'd just applied for placement in a residency program yesterday. My inner critic wasn't too pleased, to say the least. "Not hungry right now." "Just give us a buzz if you need anything." "Yep. Thank you." I nodded and smiled back at Jane before she closed the door behind her. This 300-bed hospital had the nicest staff in all of New York, probably. I wasn't even a resident yet, but most of them had shown us medical students nothing but wa
Last Updated : 2023-06-11
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The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] EPILOGUE • Life's Too Short For Grudges
The HamptonsNew York ◇ MYKAELA ◇ Wow. Just stunning. Every inch of this property was breathtaking, every view worth every penny. The photos my brother sent me last week couldn't compare to the real thing. This place was paradise on steroids. I should send him a big, pricey Thank-You gift for this much-needed vacation...in this private, safe, luxurious, and peaceful beachfront haven many could only dream about. The views looked like life-size wallpapers. "I could get used to this," I sighed, talking to myself while my hands got busy with the pan and spatula. If I didn't have a hospital job and if Enzo could work from home forever, I would pack up our stuff and move in here first thing. Too bad we weren't insanely rich like my brother. This was the newest multimillion-dollar property on his list of assets, and on my birthday, Magnus offered to lend this vacation house all weekend. Actually he said we could "use it whenever" we felt like going here. But of course I told him Enzo a
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 96 • You'll Always Be My Little Princess
◇ MYKAELA ◇ Before I could question him about the lawyer, one of Ilya's security staff entered the room and dropped a duffel bag on the floor. Right beside Enzo. I clamped my mouth shut, my chest and stomach clenching. The guard left the room without saying anything. I glanced at Lorenzio. I could see his scowl deepen despite his mask. Before I could unzip the small duffel, he crouched and swiftly inspected the contents. My breath hitched. I gawked at the wads of hundred dollar bills staring back at me, the shock pinning my feet on the spotless floor. Thin rubber bands bundled up the fresh bills. I'd never seen this much cash up-close, with my own eyes. If I had to guess, they probably amounted to at least a million bucks. Or more? Enzo flung me a look of annoyance, then stepped away from the duffel bag. "What's this for?" He glared at Ilya. I glanced at the piles of cash. A bitter taste settled in my tongue, my feet itching for the door. Obviously the money belonged to the m
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 95 • Welcome To The Family, Sofija
Velikov, Senjak ◇ MYKAELA ◇ This was definitely luxury real estate. A filthy rich mobster's final stronghold. I winced at the thought and the cool wind sweeping across the sprawling rows of shrubs, flowering trees, and freshly cut grass. I couldn't shake the nervous flutter in my stomach as the SUV drove away from the tall iron gates. I felt as if we're entering another world. This place almost looked like a compound. A luxurious safe haven that belonged to the man I didn't expect I'd be seeing again. The mansion right ahead looked like a modern palace by the lake. Wrapped in a knee-length coat, I stayed beside Enzo after we got out of the vehicle. The gusts sounded like they whispered more secrets about my family's mostly well-kept history. The ivy-covered fence and picturesque yard sprawled like living artwork. This was a stark contrast to our modest home in Schenectady, a place where Ilya's name was never spoken. Until Daddy Jim died. "He must be excited to see you." Magnus st
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 94 • Revenge Of The Mafia Boss
◇ MYKAELA ◇ The bulletproof SUV rumbled along the narrow, rain-soaked streets as heavy clouds cast a dreary atmosphere over us. We finally reached Senjak. The Internet said this was a residential part of Belgrade. This part of the city boasted affluent neighborhoods, some prime real estate, museums, and other landmarks of Serbian modern architecture. I thought Ilya would send a few of his security personnel to fetch us. But Magnus said this SUV would take us straight to the estate. I looked out the heavily tinted windows, the tiny raindrops running across the glass. The backseat and the rest of the interior looked high-end. Obviously this was an expensive armored vehicle. My brother didn't seem the type to disregard matters of security or take his for granted. Especially whenever he was in this country. I wouldn't be surprised if he was used to having at least five bodyguards escorting him and his wife. I could already imagine my other brothers and Ilya waiting for us in his man
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 93 • Love Is Like Cocaine
◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆ The turn my life had taken in the past couple of months was nothing short of mind-blowing. "Maxim, the windshield's bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason," Mamma would say. But part of me still couldn't believe the life I was living now. I just turned 30. Married now. With a kid on the way. And like Adreana's pregnancy, the outrageous numbers on my latest bank statement still wouldn't sink in. Maybe it was just unprocessed grief. Shock. Unresolved childhood traumas. Daddy issues. Or all of the above. Maybe it was just my conscience haunting me. Or Pappa. Did he hate me for killing him? For stealing his millions? For ruining his plans? Probably. Although he was a self-serving, greedy scumbag in every sense of the word, he shouldn't have died that way. He wouldn't have died that day if I didn't show up with a dangerously armed entourage. I shot him without even flinching. Murdered him in cold blood. I deserved this unending torment. ◆ I stared at my ph
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 92 • A Deal With The Cali Alpha
◇ MYKAELA ◇The party ended roughly two hours after dinner. My family and the last of our guests just left.Except Rafa. He'd be sleeping in the guest room tonight, and most likely for the next few days, until he was due to go back to Rome.Or Florence? I forgot to ask. I wasn't sure if Alodia was allowed to leave her ex's vacation house. Or if she still wanted to hang out with Raffaele from time to time.Enzo mentioned they were no longer an item.My breaths formed light mists in the crisp air as I tidied up his dimly lit backyard. The clatter of plates, clinking glasses, and the sounds of laughter lingered in my head. But the cold breeze only emphasized the emptiness I felt now.The heavy silence made room for darker thoughts. To keep distracting myself, I went back inside the house to fix the mess in Enzo's kitchen, scowling at the remnants of the party clinging to the countertops. I was used to this, though. Cleaning at the dead of night and being alone with my thoughts. I actuall
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 91 • The New Tomassini Heir
Florence, Italy ◆ LORENZIO ◆ Rain pelted on the windows as I sat next to my brother's loveseat in the middle of his spacious living room. Gray clouds hid the mid-afternoon sun, and the house, which once held memories of private and carefree moments, now felt like a comfortable prison. To me at least. This used to be my brother's favorite vacation house: a 4000-square meter countryside property with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an expensive fireplace, a huge yard, and a wide pool Leandro actually designed himself. Now that he was behind bars for violating his house arrest, he phoned and practically begged me to take his ex and their baby here. To keep them safe and away from unwanted media attention, he said. I supposed he just wanted to make sure that Rafa wouldn't be my nephew's stepdad anytime soon. The situation felt peculiar, to say the least. But I just couldn't say no to his request. An innocent child was involved. A clueless, helpless newborn. Leandro and Alodia's baby
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 90 • Impostor Syndrome
◇ MYKAELA ◇I felt like a fraud. An inadequate and incompetent failure. A liar, basically.Maybe some people I'd met actually thought I was an impostor. Nothing but a tryhard. Some days I just felt as if I were made to understand, but not to be understood. And lately I couldn't help but feel a myriad of emotions redirecting the course of my thoughts practically every minute.Nothing new, though. These past few years had been a constant battle with this mindset. This anxious brain. All this negativity.But I knew I should feel grateful. Lucky. I should be thankful for a lot of things. Especially for this flawless human being in front of me.Like me, he didn't look too dressed up or underdressed. Despite his schedule, Lorenzio took the time to arrange this romantic dinner after he wasted his entire day at our graduation ceremonies, looking adorable and proud as he cheered me on and took pictures of me and Mommy Tilda all over the place.I sat back as the evening sun dipped below the cit
The Mafia Heir & The Secret Heiress [Mafia Games XIII] 89 • Wife Material
◆ MAXIMILIANO ◆I left Mamma's office and made my way to the parking lot after enduring ten minutes of small talk with some coworkers.The chilly weather seemed less hostile at this hour, as if it had sensed the shift in my mood. Alessio drove off after I told him I gotta check up on my wife.Wife.I winced. Not because Adreana didn't fit the role I asked her to play. I wouldn't have wifed her up that fast if I thought she wasn't emotionally mature enough, or couldn't handle the most basic household duties.The problem was me. Of course I was the issue. Even months after that rushed courthouse wedding, my brain still couldn't fully deal with the fact that I was someone's husband now. I couldn't even handle my own shit. Let alone another human being.It was sheer luck I found someone as caring and understanding as her. "She doin' okay?""Adreana? Yeah." Alei stepped on the gas. "Better than last month.""You sure Joachim's still in the hospital?""Hundred percent comatose. Just the way
