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7. White-Hot Oblivion
Last Updated:
2025-02-14 15:06:24
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When the Mafia Lord Falls 8. Six Years Later
Elian lay sprawled next to me on the over-priced hotel bed, looking far too smug for someone who had absolutely ruined my ability to walk in a straight line today. Maybe even this week. His fingers danced lazy circles on my spine, and his lips pressed feather-light kisses against my temple.I sighed, a mix of contentment and exhaustion, and just as I was ready to doze off again, my phone began its obnoxious vibrating samba on the nightstand. Once. Twice. Three times.Clearly, whoever was calling had zero respect for post-coital bliss.“Don’t,” Elian murmured, his voice low and sinful as he buried his face in my neck.“Duty calls, Romeo,” I muttered, flailing blindly for the phone. “And unlike some people, I can’t just smirk my way out of responsibilities.”“Summers, here,” I answered crisply, hoping I sounded far more professional than I felt while half-naked and tangled in expensive sheets.‘Morning, Detective. Sorry to wake you, but we’ve got a meeting in an hour. Aaron Somerset, th
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“Do you really want me to guess?” I asked, keeping my tone light.“It’s the fallout from your article,” she hissed, her voice barely contained. “An entire correction notice for that so-called ‘investigative exposé’ you wrote, turned out to be riddled with inaccuracies. Do you have any idea how bad this makes us look?”“Okay, first of all, inaccuracies? I followed the facts,” I protested. “And second, the story needed to be told–”“Don’t.” Brenda raised a hand, cutting me off. “We’re supposed to be a beacon of credibility, Maeve. Instead, you’ve turned Compass Media into a punchline. Social media blowback has been a nightmare, and now the publisher wants your head on a platter. You’ve put us all at risk.”Her glare bore into me, sharp enough to flay skin. “Do you have any idea what kind of position you’ve put this paper in? If we can’t recover from this, we’re done. I’m done. And as for you…”She let the threat hang in the air like an axe over my neck.“Brenda, I can fix this,” I said
Last Updated : 2025-02-14When the Mafia Lord Falls 1. Mess? What Mess? I’m In First Class Now
I was one inappropriate comment away from committing a felony.Hours ago, I’d caught my boyfriend – ex-boyfriend now – making out with his gym buddy in the coat closet at his brother's wedding. His brother's wedding. Do you know how humiliating it is to hear Bruno Mars’ Marry You playing faintly in the background while your boyfriend passionately explores another man's dental records?Yeah. It's soul-crushing.But instead of creating a scene or setting fire to his tuxedo, I did what any dignified woman would do. I booked the earliest flight out of that city and vowed to emotionally process this betrayal at 30,000 feet in the air with stale pretzels and overpriced airplane Wi-Fi.Which brings me to Gate 17A, with my overstuffed carry-on, puffy eyes, and the fiery determination of a woman scorned. I had two goals: get on this plane and cry silently into my tray table.But apparently, peace wasn’t on today’s itinerary.“Ma’am, can you please control your emotional support horse?” The gat
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I tore my eyes away from the snake tattoo, but not before cataloging every coil and twist like I was preparing to give a witness statement in court.Why was it always the absurdly attractive men who had ominous tattoos?Like some kind of cosmic joke to remind women that yes, red flags can come wrapped in extremely comfortable-looking sweaters and smirks sharp enough to cut glass.“Maeve,” I introduced myself finally, shaking his hand because apparently, my mother did raise me with manners. Even if my current state screamed ‘dumpster fire in progress.’His grip was firm, warm, and lingered just a second too long. My palm felt like it was going to combust, and I had to actively remind myself not to immediately pull out the travel-sized hand sanitizer from my bag.“Pleasure,” Elian replied, still wearing that insufferably charming half-smile.I turned my head toward the window, hoping he’d take the hint that I was done interacting.Spoiler Alert: He did not.“So, Maeve,” he continued, ca
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Did I drink too much already?For the first time since boarding this plane, I felt trapped. Because if that man was dead, then someone out there had tied up a loose end.My loose end.“Everything alright?” Elian asked, his voice softer now, his blue eyes sharper. As if he noticed the change in me.I forced a nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “Yeah. Fine. Just... didn’t expect the plot twist.”But Elian’s piercing blue eyes stayed locked on me, unblinking, unrelenting. Like he was studying me under a microscope, looking for the crack in the glass. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”His words rattled something in me because, honestly? That’s exactly what it felt like.I cleared my throat, gripping my phone with white-knuckled fingers. “It’s nothing. Just… the news. You know how it is.”But Elian wasn’t buying it. His head tilted slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was about to say something sharp, something clever.Thankfully, he didn’t. Instead, he ju
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Two hours into the flight, I slumped back into my seat, my panda neck pillow crooked and digging into my jaw.The whiskey I’d nursed earlier still lingered on my tongue, but it hadn’t done much to settle the tight coil of tension in my chest. I was still rattled by the fact that the perpetrator of the mafia murder back home happened to be in Harlen, too.The place I was at a mere hours before.Trying to lose myself in the boring movie playing in front of me, I felt Elian was still watching me. Not the polite kind of watching either, but the kind that made me hyper-aware of every awkward movement I made, every twitch of my fingers against the armrest."You know, for someone who just dropped a bombshell like that, you’re surprisingly composed," Elian’s voice was low, smooth, and, ugh… almost teasing.Why did he sound like that?I shot him a look. "Composed? My entire spine feels like it’s been replaced with pool noodles, Elian."He smirked, the corner of his mouth curling in a way that
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Elian let out a low whistle and didn’t answer my question. "Alright, Sherlock, color me impressed."“But I wasn’t done.” I gestured subtly toward his tattoo. "And the snake? That’s not just a trendy ink job. The way it coils on the back of your hand, if it’s ready to strike anyone in front of you? It’s not for show. People who get tattoos like that usually have a deeper meaning attached. Protection, maybe. A warning. Or a mark of affiliation."His grin faltered slightly, his sharp edges reappearing as if I’d pressed too close to something real.I leaned back triumphantly. "Got you, didn’t I?"He let out a soft chuckle, his voice dipping low. "Impressive. And here I thought I was the one holding the cards."I swirled the whiskey in my glass, eyeing Elian with a smirk that barely masked my suspicion. "If I had to guess your job, I’d say… disgraced ex-spy, charismatic arms dealer, or, wait for it… tech billionaire who pretends to care about endangered tree frogs for tax write-offs."Elia
Last Updated : 2025-02-14When the Mafia Lord Falls 6. Whiskey, Betrayal, and Revenge
The hotel room was ridiculously fancy. We’re talking gold-threaded curtains, silk sheets, and pillows so fluffy they could probably file taxes as dependents. Somewhere in the chaos of landing, catching a ride, and being buzzed off overpriced cocktails, I’d managed to follow Elian into this temple of overpriced elegance.Now, here I was, back pressed against a very expensive-looking door, staring at a man who casually tossed his sweater onto an armchair, only to reveal a black T-shirt that clung to his torso like it was scared of heights.How did I get here? Oh yeah. Whiskey. Betrayal. The undeniable urge to spite my ex and his community-sharing… assets.“You don’t have to do this, Maeve.” Elian’s voice was soft, but that goddamn smirk told me he was hoping I’d do exactly this.My responsible brain screamed at me to leave. To be sensible. To not let a man with the bone structure of a Marvel villain and a voice like melted chocolate ruin what little dignity I had left.But my body?Oh,
Last Updated : 2025-02-14
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When the Mafia Lord Falls 9. Aurelian Morgenstein
“Do you really want me to guess?” I asked, keeping my tone light.“It’s the fallout from your article,” she hissed, her voice barely contained. “An entire correction notice for that so-called ‘investigative exposé’ you wrote, turned out to be riddled with inaccuracies. Do you have any idea how bad this makes us look?”“Okay, first of all, inaccuracies? I followed the facts,” I protested. “And second, the story needed to be told–”“Don’t.” Brenda raised a hand, cutting me off. “We’re supposed to be a beacon of credibility, Maeve. Instead, you’ve turned Compass Media into a punchline. Social media blowback has been a nightmare, and now the publisher wants your head on a platter. You’ve put us all at risk.”Her glare bore into me, sharp enough to flay skin. “Do you have any idea what kind of position you’ve put this paper in? If we can’t recover from this, we’re done. I’m done. And as for you…”She let the threat hang in the air like an axe over my neck.“Brenda, I can fix this,” I said
When the Mafia Lord Falls 8. Six Years Later
Elian lay sprawled next to me on the over-priced hotel bed, looking far too smug for someone who had absolutely ruined my ability to walk in a straight line today. Maybe even this week. His fingers danced lazy circles on my spine, and his lips pressed feather-light kisses against my temple.I sighed, a mix of contentment and exhaustion, and just as I was ready to doze off again, my phone began its obnoxious vibrating samba on the nightstand. Once. Twice. Three times.Clearly, whoever was calling had zero respect for post-coital bliss.“Don’t,” Elian murmured, his voice low and sinful as he buried his face in my neck.“Duty calls, Romeo,” I muttered, flailing blindly for the phone. “And unlike some people, I can’t just smirk my way out of responsibilities.”“Summers, here,” I answered crisply, hoping I sounded far more professional than I felt while half-naked and tangled in expensive sheets.‘Morning, Detective. Sorry to wake you, but we’ve got a meeting in an hour. Aaron Somerset, th
When the Mafia Lord Falls 7. White-Hot Oblivion
The smirk he gave me could’ve been weaponized.“I just wanted to admire the view,” he said smoothly, eyes absolutely devouring me.Admire the view?Oh, I’ll give you more views.I spread my legs wider, an invitation, a neon sign, an entire billboard screaming, ‘Go forth and prosper.’The corner of Elian’s mouth twitched upward, and oh, he was enjoying this. He was enjoying this way too much.“You know what I like about you?” Elian murmured against my jaw, his voice all velvet and sin.I smirked. “Everything.”He laughed, low and husky, and yep, that sound went straight into the save for later folder in my brain. “That right there. You know exactly how sexy you are.”And then his mouth latched onto my pulse point with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for limited-time sales at luxury stores. His hand glided over my thigh, teasing higher and higher until I had to physically grab onto the silky sheet under me so I didn’t do something desperate.Like crying out in heat.His lips bru
When the Mafia Lord Falls 6. Whiskey, Betrayal, and Revenge
The hotel room was ridiculously fancy. We’re talking gold-threaded curtains, silk sheets, and pillows so fluffy they could probably file taxes as dependents. Somewhere in the chaos of landing, catching a ride, and being buzzed off overpriced cocktails, I’d managed to follow Elian into this temple of overpriced elegance.Now, here I was, back pressed against a very expensive-looking door, staring at a man who casually tossed his sweater onto an armchair, only to reveal a black T-shirt that clung to his torso like it was scared of heights.How did I get here? Oh yeah. Whiskey. Betrayal. The undeniable urge to spite my ex and his community-sharing… assets.“You don’t have to do this, Maeve.” Elian’s voice was soft, but that goddamn smirk told me he was hoping I’d do exactly this.My responsible brain screamed at me to leave. To be sensible. To not let a man with the bone structure of a Marvel villain and a voice like melted chocolate ruin what little dignity I had left.But my body?Oh,
When the Mafia Lord Falls 5. Sharing My Boyfriend's ...
Elian let out a low whistle and didn’t answer my question. "Alright, Sherlock, color me impressed."“But I wasn’t done.” I gestured subtly toward his tattoo. "And the snake? That’s not just a trendy ink job. The way it coils on the back of your hand, if it’s ready to strike anyone in front of you? It’s not for show. People who get tattoos like that usually have a deeper meaning attached. Protection, maybe. A warning. Or a mark of affiliation."His grin faltered slightly, his sharp edges reappearing as if I’d pressed too close to something real.I leaned back triumphantly. "Got you, didn’t I?"He let out a soft chuckle, his voice dipping low. "Impressive. And here I thought I was the one holding the cards."I swirled the whiskey in my glass, eyeing Elian with a smirk that barely masked my suspicion. "If I had to guess your job, I’d say… disgraced ex-spy, charismatic arms dealer, or, wait for it… tech billionaire who pretends to care about endangered tree frogs for tax write-offs."Elia
When the Mafia Lord Falls 4. The Man Named Elian
Two hours into the flight, I slumped back into my seat, my panda neck pillow crooked and digging into my jaw.The whiskey I’d nursed earlier still lingered on my tongue, but it hadn’t done much to settle the tight coil of tension in my chest. I was still rattled by the fact that the perpetrator of the mafia murder back home happened to be in Harlen, too.The place I was at a mere hours before.Trying to lose myself in the boring movie playing in front of me, I felt Elian was still watching me. Not the polite kind of watching either, but the kind that made me hyper-aware of every awkward movement I made, every twitch of my fingers against the armrest."You know, for someone who just dropped a bombshell like that, you’re surprisingly composed," Elian’s voice was low, smooth, and, ugh… almost teasing.Why did he sound like that?I shot him a look. "Composed? My entire spine feels like it’s been replaced with pool noodles, Elian."He smirked, the corner of his mouth curling in a way that
When the Mafia Lord Falls 3. Terrible Liar
Did I drink too much already?For the first time since boarding this plane, I felt trapped. Because if that man was dead, then someone out there had tied up a loose end.My loose end.“Everything alright?” Elian asked, his voice softer now, his blue eyes sharper. As if he noticed the change in me.I forced a nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “Yeah. Fine. Just... didn’t expect the plot twist.”But Elian’s piercing blue eyes stayed locked on me, unblinking, unrelenting. Like he was studying me under a microscope, looking for the crack in the glass. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”His words rattled something in me because, honestly? That’s exactly what it felt like.I cleared my throat, gripping my phone with white-knuckled fingers. “It’s nothing. Just… the news. You know how it is.”But Elian wasn’t buying it. His head tilted slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching like he was about to say something sharp, something clever.Thankfully, he didn’t. Instead, he ju
When the Mafia Lord Falls 2. The Frustrated Detective
I tore my eyes away from the snake tattoo, but not before cataloging every coil and twist like I was preparing to give a witness statement in court.Why was it always the absurdly attractive men who had ominous tattoos?Like some kind of cosmic joke to remind women that yes, red flags can come wrapped in extremely comfortable-looking sweaters and smirks sharp enough to cut glass.“Maeve,” I introduced myself finally, shaking his hand because apparently, my mother did raise me with manners. Even if my current state screamed ‘dumpster fire in progress.’His grip was firm, warm, and lingered just a second too long. My palm felt like it was going to combust, and I had to actively remind myself not to immediately pull out the travel-sized hand sanitizer from my bag.“Pleasure,” Elian replied, still wearing that insufferably charming half-smile.I turned my head toward the window, hoping he’d take the hint that I was done interacting.Spoiler Alert: He did not.“So, Maeve,” he continued, ca
When the Mafia Lord Falls 1. Mess? What Mess? I’m In First Class Now
I was one inappropriate comment away from committing a felony.Hours ago, I’d caught my boyfriend – ex-boyfriend now – making out with his gym buddy in the coat closet at his brother's wedding. His brother's wedding. Do you know how humiliating it is to hear Bruno Mars’ Marry You playing faintly in the background while your boyfriend passionately explores another man's dental records?Yeah. It's soul-crushing.But instead of creating a scene or setting fire to his tuxedo, I did what any dignified woman would do. I booked the earliest flight out of that city and vowed to emotionally process this betrayal at 30,000 feet in the air with stale pretzels and overpriced airplane Wi-Fi.Which brings me to Gate 17A, with my overstuffed carry-on, puffy eyes, and the fiery determination of a woman scorned. I had two goals: get on this plane and cry silently into my tray table.But apparently, peace wasn’t on today’s itinerary.“Ma’am, can you please control your emotional support horse?” The gat
