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Chapter 21 : Lurking Dangers
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 22 : Charismatic Criminals
Eden's POVThe logistics of fitting three people into a hospital bed is a nightmare. Thankfully, we figure it out on the day I'm supposed to be released. Dante lays beside me, my shoulders buried in his chest while he sits up, his brother Ryder laying sideways at the foot of the bed where he massages my ankles tenderly.I aim to sleep, but the nurses say my concussion from the attack isn't as bad as they originally thought. I know this means we will have to talk about what happened, who attacked me, and how, and maybe even delve into why I left the lounge in the first place.All of these topics haunt me. Dante brushes my hair back, catching my eyes in the dark room as I watch the TV with minimal interest."Come on, kitten. We need to talk about it at some point."Ryder rubs his thumb against the sole of my heel. My breath hitches in response. "Asher told us why you left the Lamont Lounge. You can talk to us about it, baby. We aren't upset with you.""And we're never going t
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 23 : It's Just Business, Baby
Eden's POVI don't mind being at the Golden family estate.Mason joins Carol and me at the breakfast table, his bare chest carved out in muscle while he rubs his tired, baggy eyes with a fist. Carol pours him a cup of coffee, but he doesn't seem too interested in it."Good morning, Eden," Mason grumbles lightly. "It's nice to see you back here.""Glad to be back," I reply. "Did the brothers tell you to find the guys who…"Even though my voice trails off, Mason answers with a knowing glare, "Yeah, I'm working on pulling the camera footage from the area where you were attacked. I'll have their names by the end of the week.""And their heads will come shortly after that," Dante mutters, walking into the kitchen with wet, freshly showered hair. "Good morning, everyone.""Morning," we all sputter out in our early, raw voices."Where's my favorite nephew?" Carol jokes.Dante pouts with his cup of coffee finding the seat beside me. I lean instinctively into his lap. "Ryder i
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 24 : Intruders
Eden's POVI turn over in bed, unable to sleep.All I've seen since Sal was shot earlier today is his face when he looked at me like he couldn't wait to kill me first. I can't comprehend such disdain; he didn't even know me!"Come on, kitten," Dante breathes, holding me to his chest. "Try to fall asleep. You need to rest."I shiver, his arms looped over my hips. Ryder brushes my cheek, his lips grazing the very tip of my nose. Neither of them has slept since we laid down a few hours ago, but they are waiting for me to give into it first. If that's the case, it's going to be a long night."I shouldn't have been there," I breathe. "It's my fault. I got upset when you were both working so much, but to actually be there—I was wrong. I'll never be upset about it again, I promise."Ryder exhales against my forehead, his lips permanently placed there. "It's not your fault. We knew Sal was going to be replaced, but when he threatened to kill us, it had to be done then. Vince is an
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 25 : Old Hits
Eden's POVI shoot up in bed, breathless and in a heavy sheen of sweat. Hands brush my back, and I scream, feeling the intruder grab at me, pull a gun, and flinch his finger against the trigger. I flinch hard, my head hitting right into Ryder's.He hisses a breath but still keeps his arms around me, Dante leaping out of bed and turning the nearest lamp on. I see them, and only them, coming to the embarrassing realization that it was only a nightmare.I bury my face in Ryder's chest and cry harder. "I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry—""Hey, it's okay, baby," Ryder mumbles against my scalp. "Relax. Did you have a bad dream?"I nod, a lump building in my throat.Dante finds my hand, squeezing it tenderly while he takes a seat beside me in bed. "It's okay, kitten. It's going to be alright. You're safe with us."I can't help but think of Sal, of the intruder, and of death being such a heavy presence in their lives.And my life now, too.Ryder's phone rings after a long, heavy pa
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 26 : Miles Away
Eden's POVRyder leaves bed first, surprisingly, and I snuggle into Dante's side for a few extra minutes of peaceful sleep. After our heated moment in the middle of the night, the last thing I want to do now is to go back to our terrifying reality.My life is worth three million dollars now.Seems like a lot, especially for a woman who was just an ordinary bank supervisor two months ago, but everything has shifted since then. I'm now a woman who turns over in bed when one of my bank-robbing lovers wakes up, hoping the other one is tired enough to stay with me.Dante disappoints me shortly after, though. He kisses my forehead and leaves bed next, my body curled up under the heavy blankets while my pajamas are in tattered scraps all over the floor.The bedroom door creaks open. Mason speaks softly into the room, "I've got the plane ready for you both to go. Are you sure you should go alone? Should I tell Felix about this?""He wants us to sell the flash drive, so we will," Da
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 27 : Croatian Adventure
Eden's POVOrange roofs, white rock buildings, and cliffside beaches.This life the Golden brothers live is so foreign to me, but I think I could get used to it. We're staying at a villa on the water, a little hut on the sand with wood plank boardwalk as it overlooks the seaside of Croatia.The weather is warm, the coffee is strong, the ocean is clear as crystal, and my favorite brothers spare no expense in fulfilling their promise to spoil me.Dante leaves early in the morning, and later that day, Ryder finds me in the pool, my arms resting on the ledge of the room that overlooks the sunrise on the cliffs. I've never even been outside of New York, let alone somewhere as gorgeous as here.Ryder slides a tray over and kneels down, meeting my lips in a brief, tender kiss. "Order room service for lunch, baby. I'm going to go meet Dante for a meeting. I think we will sell this thing off once and for all."Although thrilled with the idea of getting rid of this device, I still fe
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 28 : An Unlikely Ally
Eden's POVThe Golden brothers tie up their deal.I nurse my third drink in nervous anticipation of tonight. I've slept with them both plenty of times by now, but it never gets any less nerve-wracking knowing it's going to happen. They shake the hands of the men who finally accept the deal to buy off the software under the clause they'll never sell it again.Hopefully, we're too far away from Erik Donahue for him to ever find that software.And maybe, just maybe, the Golden brothers and I can sail off into the sunset without trouble downwind.Dante makes it to me first, throwing a large bill on the bar top while he snakes his arm around my back and pulls me from my chair. I giggle in delirium and drunkenness, only staying upright by my arms around his shoulders.He kisses me deeply, my back tipping in an arch to accommodate his towering height and thick strength. How could I be mad at them? I just want them to be safe, and hopefully now that the deal has been made, the veng
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 29 : Did You Enjoy It
Eden's POVI throw Asher back with my forearms, breaking the kiss at once.How could he show up here in Croatia and kiss me like nothing has happened!?"What are you doing?" I bark, slapping him across the face when he steps back toward me, intending to kiss me some more. "Asher! Stop! I don't want to kiss you!"He shakes his head in dismissal. "That's not what I felt. You kissed me back, Eden Smith.""I did not," I bite out, trying to push past him, but he stops me with a grip on my wrist, pulling me into his unwarranted embrace. His lips brush mine again, and I lean far back in his hold, preventing another kiss. "Stop it, dammit! The Golden brothers are right next door and—""And if I have them killed, you can bet that my father will release the bounty over you," Asher snaps.He releases me at last, and I stumble back a few paces, my heart settling in my stomach where it ultimately falls. I've chosen the Golden brothers over him time and again, but he persists in makin
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Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 50 : Ever After Sunset
Eden's POV"Come on," I plead, trying to escape both of their roaming, wandering hands. "It's going to be cold and—and what if a boat passes by and they—they will see—""They're in for a show," Dante breathes into my neck and shoulder.I melt at his many, pecking kisses there. "Agh, that's not fair. You know I love that.""I also know you love a lot of things, baby," Ryder hums, pushing my dress upwards and dragging his tongue up the inside of my thighs.I wince, overwhelmed."Come on, guys, please. Let's just go to the bedroom and—and—"My vision sparks spots as Ryder's mauling kisses have moved up my thighs. So far, in fact, that I can't help but dare to collapse as I hook a leg over his broad shoulder. Dante keeps me upright, one of his hands undoing the zipper of my dress.They can't be serious!I panic, looking around the dock and the river, concerned that someone for sure is already watching. I can only imagine the frenzy it would cause if there was a camera any
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 49 : Keep Or Sell
Eden's POVWe all stand around the kitchen island, unmoving and unspeaking, staring at the flash drive Asher had placed beneath the flowerpot before he died.It's evening now, which is nice because I feel like we do our best productive thought at this hour. We also have the most fun when everyone is asleep but it's not on our minds right now.I'm thinking of the money coming my way, the millions I can't even comprehend, while the brothers are left contemplating the flash drive Asher left behind when he saved me from his father's wine cellar.If they're anything like me, we're all thinking about how stupid we feel.It's been here all this time..."There have to be more Donahue family members," I breathe. "So that means they will come looking for it again, right? Or am I wrong?"Dante leans forward, staring through the drive like it's a foreign object they haven't spent all this time obsessing over selling and retrieving and getting rid of.Ryder hangs an arm over my sho
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 48 : An Intense Interview
Eden's POVThis police station is colder than the last one I was in. I inch back into my chair, clinging to Dante's jacket while Ryder manages to get me a cup of coffee from the break room. They hang back, pacing through the small interview room while I sit at the cold, metal table.My heels tap on the concrete floors methodically, and I hold the coffee cup just to feel the warmth of it in my palms. My head has been spinning for the last few hours.No one has come to talk to us since bringing us into this little room.I look at the mirror along the side wall, wondering who is in there, and why they are watching us. I can't imagine that this has anything to do with the bank heist, considering we're still near the estate out of Manhattan, but they could be here about the clothes on the yacht.I feel stupid for even forgetting about that stuff.I lay my head down, exhausted, feeling like this is what they want from me. It's working.The Golden brothers are less than worried,
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 47 : All Black Attire
Eden's POV"Come back here," Ryder snaps.I'd already gathered my robe and slipped inside it, but Ryder is charging through the room when he sees me doing so. I need to go outside, to breathe and process, or maybe pick up a rag and some furniture spray so I can distract my frazzled mind.Ryder loops his arms around my sides and pulls me back into his chest. I struggle to wiggle free and instead of setting me down in bed, he shoves me toward the shower and releases me, ripping my robe away."Ugh, come on," I pant, coming close to slipping on the tile and falling backward.Dante's hands wrap around me next and he pins me under the warm shower water while Ryder leans casually against the shower door."What did she do now?" Dante says in a heavy exhale."The news said the police found her clothes on the Donahue yacht," Ryder grumbles. "They are talking about her and the bank heist and being brought in for questioning again."Dante pouts slightly but manages a soft, gentle k
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 46 : Alone Together
Eden's POVI collapse into bed, still warm with both of their scents, and it swarms my mind all at once how much I love lying in bed with them both. I dare to go to sleep, a yawn pulling from my lips, but the brothers both make a growling, disapproving noise."You are not going to sleep," Dante huffs, slightly offended. "You better wake up, kitten, or I'll do it for you."Slightly tempted by such a salacious threat, I bury my face into my pillow and snuggle into the blankets. It's easy to tempt both of these affectionate men.Ryder steals the blankets from the bed, stripping it and stripping me next.I shiver, my bare back under their heavy glares, and I don't even have to turn around to know it is true. Dante climbs into bed beside me, and when I think he is going to flip me over so they can have their way with me, he instead grabs my wrists.I aim to sit up, surprised, but Dante yanks my hands behind the small of my back and ties them there. Panic sets in when I feel a ta
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 45 : From Sea to Land
Eden's POV"Trouble sleeping?"Carol perches on one of the chairs at the dining room table while I have my legs kicked up on the bench, pressed to the bay window that overlooks the river. I can see her through the reflection of the window, adjusting her silk robe and folding her well-manicured hands out before her."Yeah," I admit, though everyone knows it already. "Just got tired of lying there, I guess.""That's understandable," Carol hums. "How about I make some tea and we talk?"I sulk at the thought. She catches it."Well, I'll make tea and we won't talk. Sound good?"I blush but eventually nod long after she is already preparing water to boil over the stovetop. I sit back, eyeing the dark horizon and seeing it absent from the boat that was surrounded by police and coast guard and other boats with red and blue lights.They finally towed the Donahue yacht from hell out of the water after a fishing boat passed by and saw blood draining down the stern. It's been on ev
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 44 : Golden Bullets
Eden's POVErik Donahue yanks me out of my corner by my bruising, fractured ankle. I release a scream so loud that he snarls for me to stop, and even then, I don't abide until he drops my wounded leg in mercy.My thigh is burned from rubbing against the carpet so hard and my labored breath is causing a throbbing in my throat. The Donahue head boss looms overhead, twitching with a handgun pressed casually in his palm.He eyes me carefully, as I keep a close watch on his pistol. The room, the yacht—the world is silent."I knew you were rotten when I saw the bank robbery footage," he sneers, pacing around my shivering position on the floor. "I should have killed you then. Now, you've done nothing but stir up trouble. You turned my own damn son against me and have sent my ship into chaos."I stifle a reply, knowing if I piss him off right now, it will take nothing for him to kill me.Gunshots ring out downstairs, and I flinch on impulse, expecting one to pierce my body, but the
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 43 : Explosions
Eden's POVI lean into Asher's side, both of us curled up together in the corner of his room in the belly of the yacht. I feel safe with him, but I know that won't last forever. Eventually, with the sun going down, and there's still no sign of Dante or Ryder— Erik may grow impatient and kill me first.It's naïve to think I'm of any use anymore.Erik has the tracker, and we already managed to make a call to the Golden brothers, so they know I'm okay. If I die now, everything left unsaid will forever be the impression I leave behind."Can we call them again?" I whimper, biting back hefty sobs of defeat. "I'm scared, Asher.""I know you are, but we can't call them again, sweetheart. We don't know if they're already almost here or not. We can't blow their cover like that, Eden. We just have to wait."I turn my face into his warm, clean shirt. I still reek of tequila and blood, the welts on my arm and around my back from Erik's fury earlier broken open along the edges. This dain
Trapped Between the Mafia Brothers Chapter 42 : A Golden Girl
Dante's POVMy brother and I have gotten good at reading each other's minds over the years. Even when we've had our simple spats, we've stayed intertwined with one another. But this feels different, we are different, and being away from our favorite girl has changed everything.Ryder is laboring over his computer set up in our downtown office, trying to catch a ping off the tracker we had sewn into most of Eden's shorts.She wouldn't have appreciated us doing that, but after she ran off from us the first time, and then was taken by Erik Donahue and returned so beaten, we had to do something. So Ryder had little buttons replaced on her shorts and jeans to track her location at any time, but something is wrong.I can't tell what specifically. Ryder flexes his knuckles at the sides of the computer, working in plain, tensile silence.I take to pacing, Mason halfway across the office, his head buried in his arms. He never liked Eden to begin with, but that seemed to be changing, c
