All Chapters of The Mafia Debt: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

AriaCassian drove in silence as I stared out the window. The coastal road curved upward, climbing a steep cliff that overlooked the ocean. Eventually, he pulled over at a lookout point where the entire coastline stretched out below us."Come on," he said, getting out of the car.The wind whipped my hair around my face as I followed him to the guardrail. The view was breathtaking—endless blue water meeting the horizon, city lights looking just like stars.We stood there, not speaking. The crash of waves against rocks hundreds of feet below was all I could hear."If you could go anywhere in this world, where would you go?" Cassian asked suddenly.I glanced at him, caught off guard. "Why are you asking?""I want to know." His eyes stayed on the ocean.I turned back to the view, thinking. "I’ve always been drawn to the ocean," I finally said. "A bit quieter than this. A little house where I could wake up and see the water every morning."He nodded. "Sounds like a place of peace.""Yeah."

CassianHer soft hands reached out, tentative at first, as if unsure of their place. Her touch against my arm sent a current through my body, her thumb tracing patterns that felt like whispers against my skin.As she climbed onto the bed, a fragrance of rosewood and vanilla enveloped me, a scent that felt like coming home after years in exile. At first, she tried to maintain a respectable distance. But when I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer, she didn't resist.She shifted in my arms, turning to face me. In the dim light, her eyes were luminous, searching mine. "Kiss me," she breathed, barely audible.Everything in me went still. Did I hear her right?"Aria...""Please," she whispered. "I need to know what it's like... when it's my choice."Those words shattered my resolve. After everything she'd been through—being taken against her will, being used as leverage, being beaten by Lion—she was asking for something on her terms. How could I deny her that?Slowly, giving her

AriaI woke up the next morning reaching for Cassian who wasn't there. My hand stretched across cool sheets, finding nothing but emptiness where Cassian's body should have been. For a moment, I wondered if last night had been a dream—the way his hands had moved over my skin, how he'd whispered my name against my neck, the feeling of completeness when our bodies joined.But the pleasant ache between my thighs confirmed it had been very real.The bedroom was silent except for the distant sound of waves crashing outside. I slipped out of bed, wrapping one of the sheets around my naked body. The hardwood floor was cold against my bare feet as I padded toward the bathroom.In the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My hair was a wild mess, lips slightly swollen and red from Cassian's kisses. Fading bruises from Lion's attack contrasted with fresh love marks Cassian had left. The sight made heat rise to my cheeks.After a quick shower, I borrowed one of Cassian's t-shirts again. I inhaled d

AriaMy cheeks burned with humiliation. What had I expected? That he'd be pining away for me? That last night had meant to him what it had meant to me?Only after what felt like an eternity did he mutter something that made Chloe pout, and he shoved her off his lap with casual indifference.I turned on my heels, nearly tripping in my haste to escape. I pushed through the crowd, ignoring the protests of people I shoved past. I just needed to get out, to get away from the sight of him with those women, to forget how stupid I'd been to come here."Aria!" His voice cut through the noise of the club. "Aria, wait!"I didn't stop, didn't look back. I was almost at the exit when a hand wrapped around my wrist, pulling me to a stop."What the hell are you doing here?" Cassian demanded, spinning me around to face him.Up close, I could see the flush on his face, lipstick marks on his neck, the slight glaze in his eyes that told me he'd had more than a few drinks. His hair was disheveled, like s

Dante lit a cigarette, his eyes trained on the massive estate as he paced the perimeter. The night air was cool against his skin, a welcome relief after the stuffy interior of the mansion. He'd been on guard duty for sixteen hours straight, watching over Aria as Cassian had ordered.Just a few more hours, he thought, checking his watch. The boss had been acting strange lately, more volatile than usual. And it all seemed to center around the girl.Movement caught his eye—asomething white swings from the second floor. Dante squinted, moving closer to get a better look. His heart stopped."Fuck," he muttered, dropping his cigarette and sprinting toward the house.A makeshift rope of bedsheets and clothing dangled from Aria's window, swaying gently in the breeze. He scanned the grounds frantically, but there was no sign of her.Inside, he took the stairs two at a time, bursting into Aria's room. The place was a disaster—drawers pulled open, clothes scattered, the window wide open with cur