The Mafia Boss Who Captivated Me

ONE MONTH LATER

My fingers glide over the keys of the piano, playing the final notes of the song. It only took me a week to master, and now I can play it from memory. I guess Van Morrison isn't as difficult to learn as Tchaikovsky-or maybe that damn melody is just permanently etched in my mind. Her sunshine song, she called it. She hummed it all the goddamn time, and after she left, I couldn't get the fucking tune out of my brain. Who the fuck has a sunshine song anyway? With a heavy heart, I close the lid. I should have learned this while Mia was still here and played it for her. I should have done a lot of things while she was here. Like never let her fucking leave.

I take my phone out of my pocket and, like I do every single day, check it, hoping for a message or a call from her. And just like every day that's passed, there's nothing. Of course there isn't. She's living her life and moving on without me. She hasn't met a guy yet. I know that because I keep tabs on her via her cell phone and the security guard who works near her job. I don't know what I'll do when she does. Probably have him taken out by a sniper so nobody knows who's responsible. And then I won't be forced to admit that the idea of Mia being with anyone else fills me with jealousy that burns me from the inside out.

I scroll through my contacts and bring up her number. My heart races in my chest at the thought of pressing that green circle on the screen and hearing her voice. As it turns out, I still have a heart after all. It seems Mia Stone put it back together so quietly and carefully that I didn't even notice until I felt it break all over again.

I lock the screen and slip it back into my pocket. She made it clear when I saw her last that she didn't want to hear from me. Not that I blame her. I went there to tell her how much I missed her and that I wanted her to return to Chicago, but once again I let my doubts-guilt over Anya and fear of fucking Mia's life up more than I already have-stop me from saying any of that.

I need to delete her number. Need to stop checking up on her, other than to make sure she's safe from her prick of an ex-husband. I need to let Mia Stone go. She was never mine to begin with. THREE MONTHS LATER

The sound of my cell phone vibrating on the nightstand rouses me from a fitful sleep.

"What the fuck?" I grumble, fumbling in the dark for the offending item. Whoever's waking me up at buttfuck o'clock in the morning better have a great fucking excuse.

Every ounce of anger in my body is replaced with dread when I see her name on the screen. If she's calling me, especially this early, something's wrong. I've imagined this moment at least a million times, all the things I'd say to her to make her come back to me, but now I'm only filled with panic.

"Mia? What's wrong?"

A loud, guttural sob echoes in my ear, and every muscle in my body tenses. I fist my free hand in the sheets but keep my voice calm. "What is it, sunshine?"Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

"I-I..." She sobs again. "I k-killed him."

Adrenaline courses through my body. "Brad?"

"Y-yeah," she stammers.

He's not even supposed to be in the country. I'll kill Lionel when I get my damn hands on him. I take a deep breath. "Are you hurt?"

"I-I don't th-think so."

I throw back the covers and jump out of bed, putting her on speaker so I can keep talking to her while I get dressed. "Where are you, Mia?" "H-home."

"Is anyone else there with you?"

"N-No. I..." She cries louder, and my heart seizes in my chest.

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Don't leave the house. Don't call anyone. You wait for me, okay?"

Her gut-wrenching sobs are her only response. Fuck!

"I have to make some calls. Then I'll call you back and keep you on speaker till I get to you, okay?"

After several seconds of silence, she sniffs loudly. "Y-yeah. Okay."

"I'm going to hang up now, tesoro. I'll call you back as soon as I can."

She doesn't reply, and I reluctantly end the call. I throw on a pair of sweats, my sneakers, and a clean T-shirt as fast I can. As soon as I get to my car, I dial Max's number. He answers on the sixth ring, his voice thick and heavy with sleep. "What's wrong, Loz?"

"I need you to pay attention, Max."

Just a heads up: is the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "I'm here, buddy. What is it?" he asks, his tone laced with concern.

This man never fails to have my back, and that's why I couldn't stay mad at him for keeping Anya's letter from me. It took me a few days to get my head out of my ass, but once I did, I realized that he was right. I wasn't ready until I met Mia. Until I fell for her. And now she needs me and-fuck!

I quickly explain what happened while I head to my car. In the background, I hear him telling Joey to go back to sleep, then the sound of clothing rustling over the receiver.

"What do you need?" Max asks.

"I need you to get four of our best men and a removals truck over to her place in Iowa."

"I'm on it." He sighs. "She okay?"

"She will be. I'm on my way there now. I need you and the guys there as soon as you can."

"I'll make the calls now. We'll be there an hour after you. Tops."

"Can you call Dante too? I know they're on vacation, but he and Kat will want to know. If you'd heard her... she was ..." An image of Mia, broken and alone, makes anger and terror burn through my veins. I press my foot down on the gas. I need to get to her.

"I'll call him. You focus on getting where you need to be. I got it all covered."

I keep my eyes on the road and take a deep breath. "Thanks, compagno."