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FRACTURED CONTROL
Last Updated:
2024-08-26 23:55:52
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The Mafia's Pawn CHAINS OF CONTROL
Russo's point of viewIn the darkness of my subconsciousness, images flashed, Isabella's smiling face, Cleopatra’s fiery eyes, my grandfather’s stern, unyielding gaze. The weight of my responsibilities pressed down on me, even in sleep, like a heavy chain that refused to let go.I saw myself standing in front of my grandfather, his eyes cold and hard, as he repeated the same words over and over: “Marriage, Enzo. Without it, you are nothing.”Then the scene shifted, and I was in the mansion again, standing over Cleopatra as she looked up at me with defiance and fear in her eyes. “You think you can control me, huh?” she spat, her voice echoing in the empty halls. “You’re just as trapped as I am.”I jerked awake, my heart pounding in my chest, the remnants of the dream clinging to me like a second skin. The room was silent, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock somewhere in the distance.I ran a hand through my hair, trying to shake off the unease that had settled deep in my gut. T
Last Updated : 2024-08-27The Mafia's Pawn SEEDS OF SUSPICION
Cleo's POV“Cleopatra,” Russo said, his voice cold and measured. “The sooner you accept the reality of your situation, the better it will be for both of us. Remember, you’re here to pay the huge debt of your late father.”His words struck me like a physical blow, leaving me momentarily breathless. The reminder of the man who had always been my protector, my guide felt like a knife twisting in my chest. How could Russo speak of him so callously, reducing his memory to nothing more than a financial transaction? My father was gone, and now Russo was using his death as a weapon against me. For a moment, I could do nothing but stare at Russo, the anger and pain swirling inside me like a storm. The weariness that had settled into my bones since the accident seemed to deepen, dragging me down into a dark pit of despair. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to make him feel even a fraction of the pain I was feeling, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t care.Russo’s eyes flickered as he to
Last Updated : 2024-08-27The Mafia's Pawn CALCULATED COMPLIANCE
Cleo's POVAfter thinking for what felt like hours, I realized that my only viable option was Russo. But he wouldn’t help me for free that, I was certain. If I wanted his trust, I would have to play his game, be good to him, calm, and compliant. I needed to deceive him, to make him believe that I was slowly giving in, that I was coming around to his way of thinking. Only then could I gain enough freedom to walk out of this prison disguised as a mansion.It seemed like a perfect plan, and I was ready to execute it. But as hours turned into days, and days into weeks, Russo was nowhere to be found. At first, I thought he was simply giving me space, letting me stew in my thoughts until I was ready to do his will. But as time passed and he still didn’t show, my unease grew. It had been almost a month since our last encounter, and the door to my room only opened to deliver meals and remove the trays. Each time, I watched the guards closely, hoping for some sign of what was happening in the
Last Updated : 2024-08-27The Mafia's Pawn THE GREAT ESCAPE
Cleo's POV The days following my meeting with Russo were filled with a strange, tense calm. The mansion was as quiet as ever, but I was allowed to roam more freely, exploring the house’s dark corridors and vast, empty rooms. It was clear that Russo was testing me, giving me a taste of freedom to see if I would betray his trust. But I knew better than to act rashly. Every move I made was calculated, every glance carefully measured. I wandered the hallways, pausing to admire the art on the walls and study the intricate details of the architecture. But my mind was always elsewhere, turning over the same thoughts again and again. Aunt Lydia. The accident. The truth that lay buried beneath layers of lies and deception. It was time to find out what she was hiding. And I would do whatever it took to get those answers. I had been granted more freedom, but I knew it was a fragile thing that could be easily taken away if I made the wrong move. So, I bided my time, waiting for the
Last Updated : 2024-08-28The Mafia's Pawn BETRAYAL UNMASKED
Cleo's POV Luck was on my side, as I made it to the blind spot without incident, the shadows of the tall hedges shielding me from view. I glanced around quickly to make sure no one was watching, then reached for the gate and pulled it open just wide enough to slip through.Within the twinkle of an eye, I was out.After running a few meters away from the mansion, I stopped to catch my breath. I found a silent corner where I slid in and quickly changed out of the stolen uniform. I had worn a trouser and a crop top beneath the uniform before leaving home hoping to blend into the crowd without causing unwanted attraction to myself. “Now where do I go first?” I asked myself as I detangled my loose hair. After a few seconds of thought, I decided to see Miley first, to confront him on why he didn't look for me when he didn't hear from me for over a month and maybe we could plan to escape together. While he gets the car and other things ready, I would go over to Aunt Lydia. Chase her out of
Last Updated : 2024-08-28The Mafia's Pawn LINES OF BETRAYAL
The sound of my voice cut through the air like a blade, and the room fell deathly silent. I couldn't believe what I was seeing Miley, the man I had poured my heart into, the man I thought would stand by me no matter what was tangled up in the sheets with my cousin, Ella. Of all people. Rage boiled inside me, mixing with a deep, gut-wrenching betrayal that left me shaking. How could he? And with her of all the girls in New York City?Ella, meanwhile, showed no such shame. She rolled onto her back, stretching lazily as if she hadn’t a care in the world. Her eyes flicked to me, and a smirk curled at the corners of her mouth. “Oh, look who finally decided to show up,” she drawled, completely unfazed. “Don’t take it to heart Cleo, we were just having a bit of fun.”“A bit of fun?” I scoffed. “This looked like so much fun.”Ella tied the few strands of hair lying on her face to the bun on her head. “It is what it is, Cleo”The nonchalance, the absolute lack of remorse in her voice snapped s
Last Updated : 2024-08-29The Mafia's Pawn STORM OF BETRAYAL
Cleo's POVElla’s eyes flickered, her rebellious mask slipping for just a second as she realized how close I had come to pulling the trigger. She didn’t say anything, but the faintest hint of uncertainty crossed her face. For once, she didn’t have a snarky comeback, and the silence between us felt thick and heavy just like a storm about to break.Miley let out a shaky breath, relief flooding his features as he took another step closer. “Cleo, please… just put the gun down,” he urged softly, trying to reach out to me as if his touch could somehow fix the mess he had made. His words were gentle, but they held no real understanding, no acknowledgment of the damage that had been done. I stared at him, and all I could see was the man who had promised me the world, only to tear it apart without a second thought. There was no fixing this. No going back. Miley and Ella had made their choices, and so had I.“It's okay, Cleo,” Miley said, his voice barely a whisper now. “Let’s just end this h
Last Updated : 2024-08-30The Mafia's Pawn THE HUNTER AWAKES
Russo's POVI woke with a throbbing headache, the kind that pulsed behind my eyes and made every sound feel like a knife slicing through my skull. For a moment, I just lay there, blinking up at the ceiling as I tried to piece together why I felt like I’d been run over by a truck. The room was dim, the curtains drawn tightly shut, but the light that seeped through was enough to send a sharp jolt of pain through my temples.With a groan, I pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes and trying to shake off the fog that clung stubbornly to my mind. Something was wrong. I could feel it, an unsettling hum just beneath my skin. I glanced around, my gaze falling on the empty dishes on the table, the faint smell of something bitter lingering in the air. The memory of last night came rushing back, Cleo’s guarded compliance, her soft smiles, the meal she had insisted on preparing.I reached for the plate, sniffing the rim, and the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Drugged. She’d drugged me. And
Last Updated : 2024-08-30
Latest chapter
The Mafia's Pawn YOU'RE SUCH A SHOW-OFF
Cleo's POV He smirked slightly. “Wouldn’t be the first time neither will it be the last.”That caught me off guard. A laugh bubbled up before I could stop it, and Russo’s expression softened, like he had been waiting for that exact moment.He reached for my hand again, and this time, I let him. “Forgive me?” he murmured.I exhaled, shaking my head at him. “I hate you, Russo.”He grinned. “Is that a yes?”I rolled my eyes. “…Yes, you idiot.”He let out a relieved chuckle before getting up and pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Thank you, princess.”I sighed dramatically. “You owe me dessert for this.”He smirked. “Done.”And just like that, the tension eased again.Halfway through our meal, a notification dropped on his phone and he excused himself, and I watched him disappear inside the restaurant. I frowned slightly but didn’t overthink it, instead focusing on the city lights twinkling below.A few minutes later, I heard footsteps approaching.I turned—and my breath caught.Russo
The Mafia's Pawn AT THE RESTAURANT
Cleo's POV The tension that had hung between us for weeks had eased.I wasn’t over everything that had happened, but I couldn’t deny how good it felt to just be here, to have his full attention, to feel like I mattered to him again.Soon, the waiter returned with our meals, placing our plates down with a flourish. The food smelled divine, the steam curling into the night air.Russo glanced at my plate, his lips twitching. “You and pasta.”I shot him a look. “Pasta is elite. You wouldn’t understand.”He chuckled. “You do know there’s a whole steakhouse on the other side of this rooftop, right?”“And yet,” I said, twirling my fork into the creamy truffle pasta, “I have exactly what I want.”Russo shook his head fondly before slicing into his steak.For a while, we ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds between us being the clinking of silverware and the faint music playing in the background. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until I took my first bite, the rich, buttery flavors m
The Mafia's Pawn PRINCESD
Cleo's POV After leaving the Rage House, Russo drove us to an arcade—one of those massive, neon-lit places filled with flashing lights, loud laughter, and the sounds of games being played.I wasn’t expecting it, but the moment we stepped inside, nostalgia hit me.“You remembered,” I said, glancing at him.His lips quirked up. “How could I forget? You used to drag me here all the time.”A small smile tugged at my lips. I did, back when I couldn't seem to be at peace with myself after locking Aunt Lydia and Ella up. This was before Russo travelled here, before he became so entangled with Isabelle that he was ready to fight for her at anytime. How did everything get so messy?Russo grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the basketball hoops, jerking me out of my lost state. “Alright, let’s see if you’ve still got your magic.”I scoffed. “Please. I always beat you at this, you know that.”“That was long ago,” he challenged, grabbing a ball. “Show me what you’ve got, princess.”That was al
The Mafia's Pawn AT THE RAGE HOUSE
Cleo's POV I fought the urge to roll my eyes. “That’s all you have to say?”He stepped closer, reaching out to twirl a strand of my hair around his finger. “You look stunning, Cleo. But then again… when do you not?”I scoffed, pushing past him. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”He chuckled, following me down the stairs. “Oh, I think it’s working just fine.”I shook my head, grabbing my purse. But before I could reach the door, Russo grabbed my hand, spinning me towards him.His fingers brushed against my jaw. “You really are beautiful, you know that right?”My cheeks warmed, but I masked it with a scoff. “Are we leaving or what?”He grinned, stepping aside. “After you, Princess.”I rolled my eyes but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips as I playfully ran out to the car.The drive was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that lingered between two people who had been through too much in too little time.Russo’s hand rested on my thigh as he drove, his
The Mafia's Pawn DAMN!
The suitcase felt heavier than it should have. Or maybe it was just me, feeling the weight of everything I was about to leave behind.Russo’s grip on my wrist tightened slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to stop me in my tracks.I squeezed my eyes shut. “Russo—““I know I messed up,” he said quickly, his hold tightening. “I was blind, selfish, an idiot. I should have stood up for you. I should have never—” His voice broke slightly, and I felt his head drop against my shoulder. “I don’t want to lose you, Cleo. I can’t afford to.”I swallowed hard, hating how much my heart ached at his words. “Let me go, Russo.” I managed to say, avoiding his gaze.But he didn’t. Instead, he stepped in front of me, his expression unreadable. “I messed up,” he admitted, his voice strained. “I shouldn’t have hit you. I shouldn’t have let Isabelle treat you that way. I know I don’t deserve to ask you for anything right now, but… please. Don’t leave like this.”I closed my eyes for a brief second
The Mafia's Pawn DON'T GO
Cleo's POV The room was quiet, save for the soft rustling of fabric as I packed. Each fold, each carefully placed item, felt like a silent goodbye—a farewell to the girl who had spent far too long trying to be enough for someone who never saw her worth. I zipped up my suitcase and grabbed my bag, stuffing it with everything else I owned. I didn’t care about the things I was leaving behind, none of it mattered anymore. All that mattered was getting away from here, from them, from the toxic mess that my life had become. With my suitcase in hand, I walked out of the bedroom without a second glance. I wasn’t crying, at least thought I would be. I could feel the tears burning in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. All I felt was exhaustion, a bone-deep fatigue that settled into my muscles as I dragged my bag behind me out of the room. I heard the front door open. A part of me expected it to be Russo, but when I didn’t hear his voice calling out for me, I knew it
The Mafia's Pawn IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ISABELLE
Cleo's POV For a moment, everything stood still. The store, once filled with distant chatter and the faint hum of background music, had gone eerily silent. All eyes were on us—on me—as Isabelle lay on the floor, clutching her reddened neck like she had just been gravely wounded. Russo’s face was unreadable, but the tension in his shoulders was undeniable. His gaze flickered between me and Isabelle, taking in the broken chain dangling from my fingers, the pendant lying at our feet, and the shallow mark on her skin. “What the hell, Cleo?” His voice was sharp, laced with disbelief. I let out a shaky breath, feeling the weight of every emotion—anger, betrayal and exhaustion pressing down on my chest. “She took my necklace, Russo.” Russo ran a hand through his hair, exhaling like he was the one suffering. “God, Cleo, you didn’t have to kill her for it. It’s just a necklace!” His words hit like a slap. Just a necklace? Just like it was just a seat in the car earlier? Just
The Mafia's Pawn DO YOU LIKE IT?
Cleo's POV I pushed the cart forward, heading towards the clerk. “I’d like to see this one, please,” I told the sales clerk, pointing to the necklace in the glass. She nodded lightly, pulled it out and handed it to me. A bright smile played on my lips and I could already picture it around my neck, something small and beautiful that might remind me of who I used to be before everything became so complicated. I held the necklace between my fingers, tracing the delicate pendant as the soft store lights reflected off its polished surface. It was simple—nothing extravagant—but something about it made me feel… seen. As if, for the first time in a long while, I was looking at something meant for me, not dictated by anyone else’s needs or expectations. The sales clerk smiled. “It’s a beautiful choice. Would you like to try it on?” I turned back to the clerk and nodded. “Yes, please.” She unfastened the clasp and handed it to me. I lifted my hair and secured it around my neck, then
The Mafia's Pawn IT'S NOT WORTH THE ARGUEMENT
Cleo's POV I took my time getting ready, still weighing my decision to go shopping with Russo. My emotions were a mess, equal parts anger, hurt, and reluctant hope. I glanced at myself in the mirror, smoothing down my dress. Whatever this day brought, I’d be ready for it. When I walked downstairs, Russo was by the door, his keys in hand. I could see Isabelle standing outside by the car, leaning against it as though she didn’t have a care in the world. My stomach churned at the sight of her. Russo turned when he heard me, his expression softening. “You ready?” “Let’s just get this over with,” I said, brushing past him and heading to the car. As I approached, Isabelle straightened, her gaze locking with mine. She gave me a tight, fake smile before opening the front passenger door and sliding in. I froze, my hand tightening on the strap of my purse. Russo reached the car a moment later, looking between me and Isabelle as if he sensed the storm brewing. “Isabelle,” I said, m
