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THE BREAKING POINT
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The Mafia's Pawn FRACTURED CONTROL
Russo's point of viewI sat in my room, the weight of the day pressing down on me like an invisible shroud. The confrontation with Cleopatra had been intense, and while I had maintained control, her words had dug deeper than I cared to admit. The word “pathetic” echoed in my mind like an unwelcome guest.But as I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence and warmth of the room envelop me, my thoughts were interrupted by the sudden buzz of my phone. The number on the screen made me sigh, it was my grandfather, the Don of our family, the man whose legacy I was meant to carry forward.I knew why he was calling. The pressure had been mounting for months, and I had done everything to keep the inevitable at bay. But there was only so much I could do before the old man’s patience wore thin.With a resigned breath, I answered the call. "Nonno," I greeted him, keeping my voice respectful.“Enzo,” his voice came through the receiver, strong despite his age. There was no warmth in it, only th
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
The 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
The 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
The 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
The 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
The 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
The 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
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The Mafia's Pawn THE SET UP
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The Mafia's Pawn SHADOWS OF THE PAST
The Mafia's Pawn A GROWING BOND
The Mafia's Pawn THE MORNING AFTER
The Mafia's Pawn CROSSING THE LINE
The Mafia's Pawn THE SPARK OF SOMETHING NEW
The Mafia's Pawn SURPRISE AT THE BEACH
