Conquered by the Mafia Boss

“You wouldn’t understand,” he spits.

“I do. You’re just a dumb redneck-”

He shakes his head, laughing, and then something strange shines in his eyes. Something that almost looks like pity. “You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Italians have been ruining our lives for decades-controlling our drugs, extorting local businesses, making this city’s infrastructure a shit-hole. At least we don’t fuck with civilians. They kill people and they don’t give a damn. That’s what you’ve chosen, little Maya. You chose a rotten man-”

Even though my heart pounds so fast, I can still hear myself barely whisper, “He’s been good to me.”

“He killed his own father to become boss. Did he tell you that?” All the blood pools to my feet as Dad smiles humorlessly. “No, of course not.”

“Dad, I-”

“I would have set you up with a nice life. Any one of the guys in the MC would’ve treated you well, but instead you chose this piece-of-shit man who will throw you out the moment you’re used up.”

Then his eyes glance behind me and I turn instinctively, right into someone’s chest. He grabs my arms and I try to jump away, but it’s only Johnny, whose face is stony.

“Carlos, I’d appreciate it if you stopped sending your guys after my men. Things could get a bit-hot.”

Jesus.

“You fucking cocksucker!”

One of his men slams Dad’s chest as he drags my father, who only has eyes for Johnny.

“Take it easy,” he hisses in my dad’s ear.

Johnny watches him and mutters under his breath. “Yeah, take it easy, criss de tabarnak.”

I barely feel his arm curling over my shoulder, and I don’t fight back when he turns me around. I feel Johnny’s burning heat right through my skin. His anger pounds through his feet. His fingers scratch me through the thin t-shirt I’m wearing.

He’s fucking pissed that I came here. Well so the fuck am I. He lied to me.

“How did you know I was here?”

“I keep tabs on you.” His voice is tight.

“Oh, so now you don’t trust me?” I yank my arm out of his grip and Johnny’s eyebrows rise.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“You’re a lying, cold bastard.”

He lunges at me, and I’m so surprised at the pain crushing my arm that tears spring to my eyes. We’re standing in the middle of a busy hallway, but he doesn’t give a shit.

“I don’t want to hear this shit right now. You came here when I told you not to-I told you it was dangerous.”

“She’s my mother! What did you expect me to do?”

“I expect you to be smart.”

The vicious burn seethes in my chest as he pulls me down the hall, and I’m bursting to scream at him. How dare he admonish me?

He stops suddenly when we go outside and I bump into his back, swearing. Johnny gives me an icy look.

“I don’t want to hear a goddamn word from you while we’re in the car. I’m serious. It could be bugged.”

This time he leads me to his car, hardly sparing me a backward glance as he walks across the parking lot. My head still pounds with everything my dad said, and he opens the car door for me. I pause and think of what a mess I’ve made with my life.

“Get in.”

The car ride is tense and my fists clench whenever he takes a sharp turn, or puts his foot on the gas, flooring it. I dare to glance at him and immediately regret it. His whole face burns red, but he stares straight ahead.

“I can’t fucking wait-”

“Maya, don’t-”

“You lied to me about everything.”

I feel so fucking stupid. The things my father said chilled me to the bone, and I can’t pretend that I’m not really fucking worried that he’s exactly what Dad said he was.

Julien is gone, and they actually strapped his body to the windshield and lit it on fire. God. I can’t even imagine.

“Wait ’til we get home.”

“No. Let’s talk about this now.”

“Fuck!”

He slams the brakes in the middle of the street and the car grinds to a halt. I feel my insides lurch as he stops the car, smoke billowing around the tires. My hands slip against the leather, chest pulsing as I realize we’ve come to a full stop.

“Maya, please fucking wait until we get home.”

I’ll wait ’til we get home, and then the gloves are coming off.

He parks the car and slams the door, but I get out before he can reach my side. Fuck him.

I march past him, hardly giving him a glance, and he catches my arm, pulling me to his side effortlessly.

“What the hell?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Don’t treat me like a jerk-off, Maya. I don’t care how pissed you are with me.”

And then that bastard plants a soft kiss over my lips, and it’s so sweet that it almost distracts me from my anger. It makes me cling to him a little bit longer when I just want to smack the smile off his fucking face. Then I remember how pissed I’m supposed to be, and I rip away from his side. His chuckle raises my hackles and I stalk into the elevator, pounding the button so I don’t have to look at his face.

As soon as the door closes, Johnny tries to pull me in his arms. “Hey.”

“Don’t fucking touch me!”

I slap his hands away and stare into the mirror, watching his deepening frown.