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THE MORNING AFTER
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The Mafia's Pawn A GROWING BOND
Cleo’s POVThe warmth of Russo’s arms around me lingered even after he pulled away. The air between us felt different now, more open, more raw. As I looked up at him, the awkwardness from the morning began to fade, replaced by something softer, something real. There was no mask, no pretense, just the two of us standing in the quiet room, trying to make sense of whatever this was.He was still close, his hands resting lightly on my waist, his touch sending small shivers through me. The intensity in his gaze had softened, replaced with a gentleness I wasn’t used to seeing in him. Russo wasn’t the kind of man to show vulnerability or affection easily, but today... today felt different.“Are you okay?” he asked quietly, his voice low and filled with concern.I nodded, feeling the weight of my emotions begin to settle. “I think so,” I said, my voice soft but honest. “I just... I didn’t expect this.”Russo’s lips quirked into a small smile, and he reached up to tuck a loose strand of hair b
The Mafia's Pawn SHADOWS OF THE PAST
Russo’s POV We were sitting together, just enjoying the rare moment of peace. I could feel Cleo relaxing beside me, her laughter easing some of the tension I hadn’t realized was still coiled inside me. She had a way of doing that, of making things feel lighter, even if only for a moment. But that moment was shattered when Viktor walked in without knocking. His steps were quick, his face serious. Without saying anything to Cleo, he bent down and whispered into my ear. “It’s about your parents’ murder,” Viktor said, his voice low but intense. My entire body went cold. I hadn’t heard those words in years. We had called it an accident. I had tried to convince myself that was all it was. But now... murder? I couldn’t hide the shock on my face. Cleo noticed immediately. Her laughter died on her lips, her expression turning from relaxed to concerned. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice careful. I stood up, my mind racing with the weight of what Viktor had just told me. I had to go.
The Mafia's Pawn INTO THE UNDERWORLD
Russo's POV The private jet touched down in New York under a darkened sky. Cleo sat beside me, her face unreadable, though I knew her mind was racing. Mine was too. The drive from the airport was silent; Viktor had already laid out the plans while we were en route, but something about this situation felt different. It wasn’t like any of the business deals or territory disputes I’d handled before. This was personal. We arrived at one of my safehouses in the heart of the city, a place known only to those closest to me. Viktor was already at the table, going over intel, maps, and files. Cleo stood off to the side, watching everything with sharp eyes, trying to take in the new world she was stepping into. I didn’t want her involved. This was messy, bloody, and the mafia world wasn’t something you could just dip a toe into. You either dove in headfirst or stayed on the shore. And Cleo? She shouldn’t have to drown in the waters I’d been swimming in my whole life. But she was here now.
The Mafia's Pawn A DANGEROUS DEAL
Russo’s eyes bore into mine, the weight of everything we were about to do hanging in the air. I could feel his resistance crumbling, the logic of the situation winning out over his need to protect me. I knew this wasn’t what he wanted, but it was the best chance we had. He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Alright,” he finally said, his voice low and reluctant. “But we do this my way. If you’re in, you follow every order I give, no exceptions.” I nodded, swallowing hard. “Agreed.” His gaze softened, and for a moment, I saw something deeper in his eyes, something beyond the hardened exterior he always wore. “You don’t know what you’re getting into, Cleo.” “I do,” I replied, my voice firm. “And I’m ready.” Russo stared at me a moment longer, then nodded to Viktor, who had been standing silently by the door. “We’ll change the plan,” he said, addressing his second-in-command. “Cleo will go in. We’ll get the location and time from her. No moves until we’re sure he’ll
The Mafia's Pawn THE SET UP
Back at the safehouse, the tension was thick in the air. I walked into the dimly lit room, my hands still trembling slightly from the encounter with Marco. Russo was waiting, pacing near the window. The moment I stepped inside, his eyes snapped toward me, searching my face for answers. “How did it go?” he asked, his voice tight with anticipation. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to steady my nerves. “It worked. I got him to agree to meet me tomorrow. He’s suspicious, but I think he bought it.” Russo’s jaw clenched, his fists balling at his sides. “Where?” “He didn’t give me the location yet. He said he’ll text me tomorrow with the details.” Russo cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “We need to be ready. If he even senses something’s off, he’ll disappear again.” I nodded, fully aware of the danger we were walking into. If we missed this chance, it would be over. Russo had waited years to track down Marco, to finally get answers about his
The Mafia's Pawn A DAY OF JOY
“And now, shall we all rise to our feet as we present the valedictorian award to none other person than..,” the Mc instructed, and we all rose to our feet. “Who do you think it'll be?” Amelia asked.“I don't…” I started only to be cut off by the MC.“Cleo Benson,” he announced, his voice cutting through the tensed air of the hall. The crowd erupted in applause and gasps, filling the room with a vibrant energy. I looked around in shock as the sound of my name seemed to echo in the hall. My heart stopped as I stared into nothing, I staggered and sank into my chair, my hand gripping the edge of my seat. Were they cheering for me? Or was there another Cleo Benson I wasn't aware of?“Go, Cleo!” Amelia shouted, her voice rising above the others. “You've got this!”It took a while for me to accept reality, but the cheers didn't stop. I was urged to come up stage, so I confidently rose to my feet and raised my gown slightly to avoid tripping, my hands trembling as I carefully walked up t
The Mafia's Pawn A DAY OF SORROW
But it wasn’t my mother. A man’s voice came through the line, calm but with an edge that made my heart sink. “Hello, is this Cleo Benson?”“Yes, who is this?” I asked, my breath catching.“This is Dr. Stevens from St. Mary’s Hospital. Your family has been involved in an accident. You need to come to the hospital immediately.”For a moment, I couldn’t speak, my throat tightening as the world around me seemed to spin. “What do you mean?” I finally managed to say, my voice cracking. “Why would they be involved in an accident, mother clearly said there was traffic?”There was a pause on the other end, one that felt like an eternity. “Please, Miss Benson, you need to come here right away.”I didn’t wait for further explanation. Panic surged through me, and I bolted from the venue, leaving a trail of stunned onlookers in my wake. My heart pounded as I raced through the hallways, out the doors where I hailed a taxi. As the taxi sped towards the hospital, my thoughts were a chaotic whirl of
The Mafia's Pawn BLAME IT ON ME
My breath caught in my throat, the words cutting deep, but I couldn’t muster the strength to argue.How dare she talk about my mother that way? I had nothing left to give, no fight, no energy to defend my mother’s memory. Instead, I could only sob quietly as I sniffed back the anger burning within me.I knelt by the graves, my tears mixing with the rain that began to fall, and gently placed a single white lily on each tombstone. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “I’m so, so sorry,” I repeated, pressing my hand to the cold, wet earth, feeling the chill seep into my bones, and closed my eyes, silently saying goodbye to the people who had been my entire world.“You have just 2 minutes to shed your crocodile tears,” Aunt Lydia said harshly. “Meet me in the car,” she declared as she began to walk away.I stood up, wiping my tears as I tried to regain some strength to fight back. I wasn't going to stay silent anymore.“Those weren't crocodile tears, Aunty. You've just lost y
Latest chapter
The Mafia's Pawn THE SET UP
The Mafia's Pawn A DANGEROUS DEAL
The Mafia's Pawn INTO THE UNDERWORLD
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
