All Chapters of The Mafia Debt: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

As we moved to the kitchen, I kept the gun with me, unwilling to relinquish my only leverage. The black cat followed, weaving between our legs as if completely oblivious to the tension in the air.Dom set about making coffee while Shadow pulled out three mugs from a cabinet."So, what exactly are you proposing?" I asked, settling into a chair at the small kitchen table, positioning myself with a clear view of both exits.Dom slid a mug of steaming coffee in front of me before taking his own seat. "First things first—Cassian will be looking for you. His men are probably already combing the streets."The thought sent a chill down my spine. "How long do we have before they find me?""Not long," Shadow admitted grimly. "Cassian has eyes everywhere, and your description has probably been circulated to all his people by now.""Great," I muttered, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. "So I'm a walking target.""For now," Dom agreed. "But we might be able to get you out of the city if we mo

I stood under the hot spray, letting it pummel my skin as I tried to make sense of everything.Shadow and Dom worked for Cassian. The man who'd kidnapped me, tortured me, and threatened my father—they were on his payroll. And now I was trusting them with my life.Was I insane? Desperate? Both?I shut off the water and wrapped myself in a towel, wiping condensation from the small bathroom mirror. The face that looked back at me was barely recognizable—dark circles under haunted eyes, a split lip still healing, and a deep bruise yellowing along my jawline. Battle scars from my escape.I dressed in borrowed clothes.When I opened the door, Shadow was leaning against the wall opposite, arms crossed over his chest. His eyes held mine for a long moment, searching. Something in his expression made my stomach tighten."We need to talk," he said, glancing down the hallway. "Not here."I followed him to the small bedroom where I'd been staying. He closed the door behind us and turned the lock w

AriaI stood frozen, the duffel bag suddenly heavy on my shoulder, as Cassian stepped through the wreckage of the doorway, flanked by his men.His eyes found mine immediately. The slight upturn of his lips wasn't a smile—it was the satisfied look of a predator who'd cornered its prey."Well," he said, his cultured voice at odds with the violence of their entry, "isn't this cozy?"Nobody moved. The team had their weapons trained on all of us. I gripped my gun tighter, though I knew it was useless against so many."Aria," Cassian said, his gaze never leaving mine. "Put the gun down before someone gets hurt."My hand trembled, but I kept the weapon pointed at him. "Stay back."His expression didn't change, but something dangerous flickered in his eyes. "I won't ask again."I glanced quickly at Shadow and Dom. Shadow looked tense and confused, his eyes darting between Cassian and Dom. Dom's face was carefully blank, giving nothing away, but something about his posture seemed almost... rel

I became acutely aware of how close we were—him standing between my knees as I perched on the counter, his hands still resting lightly on my bandaged foot. The kitchen felt suddenly smaller, the air between us heavier.With a gentle step, I descended from the counter, closing the distance between us as I took a few steps towards Cassian. My hands instinctively moved towards his chest, feeling the rapid thud of his heart beneath my touch. Our eyes locked, and I felt myself getting lost again in the intensity of his gaze."Your heart's racing," I observed, surprised by my own boldness."Adrenaline," he replied, but his voice had dropped an octave, taking on a rough quality that sent a shiver down my spine.As I leaned in, closing the gap between us, I could sense his eyes drifting towards my lips. I hesitated for a moment, waiting for a sign from him, a permission to bridge the final space with a kiss.Time seemed to suspend itself. I could feel his breath, warm against my lips, could s

Aria I made a show of getting comfortable in the armchair, crossing my legs and taking another sip of whiskey. "I was here first. Well, technically, you were, but I live here now, so I think that gives me priority." Cassian's patience visibly snapped. He strode over to the sound system and turned off the music with a forceful jab. "This is not the time for this nonsense Aria. Can't you see I'm busy?" he snapped, his voice icy with controlled rage. With a nonchalant shrug, I retorted, "I heard voices and I felt lonely, so here I am. The prisoner seeks company, especially when it sounds like someone's having a good time." Cassian responded with a dismissive wave, "As you can see, I'm with someone, so get lost." Veronica, curious, glanced between us. "Who is she, Cassian?" she asked, her voice dripping with affected sweetness that barely masked her irritation. Cassian's gaze went to me momentarily before he coolly replied, "Nobody." The word stung more than it should have. Raising