All Chapters of The Mafia Debt: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

But even through the thick wood, I could hear his heavy footsteps coming up the stairs and down the hallway. Each step felt like a countdown to my doom. "Shit, shit, shit," I muttered under my breath, frantically looking around the room for something—anything—to barricade the door. The dresser was too heavy to move alone. The chair would barely slow him down.The footsteps stopped outside my door. The silence that followed was somehow worse than the approaching thunder of his stride.Three sharp knocks broke the quiet."Aria." I could hear the underlying current of rage. "Open the door."I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain calm. "Go away, Cassian. I think we've both said enough for one night.""I disagree," he replied. "We've only just begun this conversation. Open the door.""The conversation is over," I called back, edging away from the door and toward the bed. "Go back to your evening. I'm sure you can find another...companion...on short notice."I heard a sharp intake of

AriaI slam the bedroom door shut, or at least try to—the damaged door barely closes after Cassian's broke it down. My hands are shaking with rage and humiliation. How dare he kiss me like that, like I meant something, only to pull away with such cruelty?"I’m such a fool." I mutter again, pacing the length of my room. The worst part isn't even his rejection—it's how easily I fell into his arms, how readily I responded. How my body betrayed me completely.I press my fingers to my lips, still feeling the tingling sensation of his kiss, and immediately drop my hand. I should have bit him. Hard. I should have made those perfect lips bleed. I should have kneed him between his legs until he screamed. That would've taught him not to toy with me. Instead, I melted like some lovesick teenager at his first touch.A sudden burst of laughter coming from downstairs freezes me mid-step. A woman's voice, high and breathy, followed by Cassian's deeper tones hushing her. My stomach drops as realizati

CassianI immediately dialed Viktor. He answered on the first ring."Boss?""Gather everyone. Aria has been taken from the house. I'm on my way," I commanded without preamble. "And find out whoever the fuck Riccardo Lion is before I arrive. I want everything about the motherfucker—his operations, his hideouts, his weaknesses.""On it," Viktor replied, his voice already shifting into action mode. "I ended the call and reached the garage, a lot was on my mind. Why hadn't my security systems caught the intruders? How had they known which room was Aria's? Someone had inside information, and heads would roll for that breach.Although I have no intention of keeping her locked up with me forever, I refuse to send her back to her useless sperm donor of a father. "I will fucking kill that Riccardo," I muttered as I reach to open the door to my Aston Martin.I spotted the head of security—Roland—standing by, his expression grim. Without breaking stride, I delivered a swift punch to his face,

Aria's POVI spent the night drifting in and out of consciousness, the uncomfortable position and constant fear making real sleep impossible. The dripping water somewhere in the distance had become a torturous sound, marking the endless seconds of my captivity. My limbs ached from being bound to the chair, my wrists raw and burning from where the ropes cut into my skin.Morning arrived with no natural light to mark its passage—just the harsh bulb that never turned off. I had no way to track time, but my parched throat and growling stomach told me many hours had passed since I'd last been given water.The metal door swung open, and Riccardo Lion strode in with casual confidence, as if he were entering a boardroom rather than a makeshift prison. He carried a bottle of water and what looked like a protein bar."Good morning, sunshine," he said, his voice dripping with false cheer. "Did you sleep well in your five-star accommodations?"I refused to look at him, keeping my eyes fixed on a

Cassian's POVI checked my watch for the third time in five minutes. Lion's text had come through with coordinates to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. Typical. These fuckers always picked the most cliché locations for their dramatics."Boss," Viktor's voice came through my earpiece. "We've got eyes on all exits. No sign of her yet, but we've identified at least seven of Lion's men positioned around the perimeter.""Keep them in your sights," I ordered. "No one moves until I give the signal."I adjusted the bulletproof vest under my jacket. The black duffel bag in my hand is filled with just enough cash."Remember," I added, "Aria's safety is the priority. If things go south, get her out first. We can deal with Lion and his men after.""Understood," Viktor confirmed.I ended the call and stepped out of the car, scanning the area.The main entrance was left ajar, just as Lion's text had indicated. I pushed it open with my foot, the metal door creaking."Come in, Roma