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Chapter 13: Price of Failure
Last Updated:
2025-03-08 01:49:18
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The Mafia Debt Chapter 14: Change of Plans
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-08The Mafia Debt Chapter 15: Change of Plans
I had just finished gathering my things when I heard low voices coming from the living room. Shadow and Dom. I couldn't make out the words, but the tone was tense. Moving silently to the door, I pressed my ear against it."—can't just change the plan now," Dom was saying, his voice tight with anger."It's too risky," Shadow responded. "Aria's a liability we can't afford."My heart sank. Was this all an act? Had Shadow been playing me this whole time?"So what's your brilliant solution?" Dom demanded."She leaves tonight," Shadow said. "We do the job tomorrow as planned. Nothing changes for us."There was a long pause before Dom spoke again. "And you trust her not to bring this all down on our heads?""She has no reason to," Shadow replied. "Her interest is in getting as far away from here as possible."Another pause. "Fine. But if this goes sideways—""It won't," Shadow cut him off.Footsteps approached, and I backed away from the door quickly, my mind racing. Shadow had told Dom abou
Last Updated : 2025-03-08The Mafia Debt Chapter 16: Betrayed and Back
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-09The Mafia Debt Chapter 17: Midnight Confessions
AriaI couldn't sleep. Thirst gripped me, leaving my mouth dry and longing for water. The digital clock on the nightstand glowed 2:17 AM in harsh red numbers that seemed to make fun of my restlessness. I tossed the sheets aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my bare feet meeting the cool hardwood floor.I ventured out of my room then paused at the top of the grand staircase, listening for any signs of movement. Nothing. Just the distant ticking of an antique clock."Kitchen," I murmured to myself. "Downstairs and... left? Right?"Quietly, I descended the stairs, wincing each time a step creaked. The last thing I wanted was to alert anyone to my midnight wandering. As I reached the bottom, I hesitated, trying to orient myself in the floor plan.A faint gleam of stainless steel caught my eye from a doorway to the left. I headed toward it.The kitchen was massive—all gleaming countertops and professional-grade appliances. It looked barely used, like a showroom rather than a
Last Updated : 2025-03-11The Mafia Debt Chapter 18: The Cage You Can’t See
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-11The Mafia Debt Chapter 19: A Game of Power and Pettiness
AriaThe next day, I woke up feeling utterly foolish for my failed attempt at kissing Cassian. I stared at the ceiling, replaying the humiliating scene in my mind—his hands pushing me away, the shock in his eyes, the coldness of his rejection. The bandage on my foot was another physical reminder of my stupidity."What were you thinking?" I muttered to myself as I dragged my body out of bed. "Stockholm syndrome? Really, Aria?"I dressed carefully, selecting a plain white blouse and dark jeans—nothing that could be seen as trying to attract attention. My reflection in the mirror looked tired, shadows under my eyes testifying to my restless night.As I descended the stairs, my bandaged foot still tender, I heard Cassian's voice drifting from the study. He was engrossed in a phone call, his back to me as I hesitated in the doorway."Babe, you can come around tonight," he said to the person on the other end of the line. "Wear that little outfit we talked about. I've got everything ready."
Last Updated : 2025-03-11The Mafia Debt Chapter 20: The Night I Pushed Him Too Far
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-11The Mafia Debt Chapter 21: Provocations
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
Last Updated : 2025-03-12
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The Mafia Debt Chapter 102: Siblings from Hell
Aria's POV"I was beginning to lose my patience," Dom says, his eyes narrowing as he glares at the woman who just entered. She strides in with a confidence that makes my skin crawl, her bright orange hair cascading down her shoulders like liquid fire. The leather mini-skirt she's wearing barely covers anything, and her top—if you could call that scrap of fabric a top—leaves nothing to the imagination. Her breasts strain against the thin material, and I notice Cassian deliberately averting his gaze.Charlie walks directly to Dom and plants a kiss on his lips that's anything but familial. Her tongue visibly slides against his, her hand gripping his hair as she moans into his mouth. My stomach churns at the display."Did I miss anything fun, brother?" Charlie asks when she finally pulls away, a string of saliva still connecting their lips. Her eyes gleam with perverse enjoyment as she catches my horrified expression."Brother?" The word escapes my lips before I can stop it.Charlie's la
The Mafia Debt Chapter 101: The Traitor’s Game
Cassian's POVThe hot water pounded against my skin, washing away the sweat from my workout but doing nothing for the tension knotting my shoulders. Viktor was awake. The relief I felt was so overwhelming I had to brace myself against the shower wall for a moment.And Aria—Christ, the way she looked at me when she told me. There was something there, beneath the anger. A crack in her armor that gave me hope, even if I didn't deserve it.I turned off the water and stepped out, reaching for a towel when a strange smell hit me. My vision blurred instantly, and alarm bells screamed in my head. Gas. Someone had pumped gas into the bathroom."Aria!" I shouted, lunging for the door. My legs gave out before I could reach it, my body betraying me as consciousness slipped away. The last thought that raced through my mind was her name, a prayer and a curse rolled into one.*****The cold metal chains bite into my wrists, but the pain is nothing compared to the fury boiling inside me. Aria stirs b
The Mafia Debt Chapter 100: Love Like a Loaded Gun
AriaI know what you're thinking. Trust me, I do. But you don't live my life. You don't know what it's like to love a man like Cassian—complicated, dangerous, infuriating—a man who can break me and heal me in the same breath. I love him, and I hate that I love him, because it's never just simple with us. Every touch feels like salvation and damnation rolled into one.It's the way he makes me feel that keeps me tethered. His touch... God, it's not just skin-deep. It's as if he's caressing every scar I've ever tried to hide, touching the parts of me that no one else sees, not even me sometimes. When his hands glide over my skin, it's like he's mapping out my heart, piece by shattered piece. He makes me feel alive, like I'm burning from the inside out. And maybe that's why I'm still here, even when my mind is screaming at me to run.I can't explain it, but when he looks at me, it's like the world stops, and there's only us. He knows exactly how to pull me apart and put me back together a
The Mafia Debt Chapter 99: Used, Hurt, Wanted
Cassian's POVI stared at the glass of whiskey in my hand, the temptation swirling inside the amber liquid like a dark, comforting promise. But after a moment, I shook my head, tipping the glass over the sink, watching as it splashed down the drain. It would've been so easy to drown everything in that glass—the guilt, the regret, the endless spiral of what-ifs—but easy had never been my way.The burn in my side was a constant reminder of how close I'd come to losing everything—my life, my brother, and now, possibly Aria. I gritted my teeth against the pain as I made my way down the hallway to her room. Each step was a struggle, both physically and mentally, but I pushed forward.I stood outside her door for what felt like an eternity, my hand raised to knock but frozen in place. The fear of her rejection was almost paralyzing. Finally, I let my knuckles rap against the wood.Silence.I knocked again, harder this time. "Aria," I called out. "Please."More silence.Fuck this.I twisted
The Mafia Debt Chapter 98: Scars He Couldn’t See
Aria's POV"I want to sleep alone tonight," I told him.Cassian didn't argue. He just nodded, that unreadable mask sliding over his face. The one I'd seen more times than I cared to admit. He walked me to the door of my old room, his steps slow. When we reached the door, his hand found mine."Aria, please don't do this," he said, his voice low, full of an urgency that made my chest tighten. "We need to talk. Please, babe. Ask me anything, and I'll tell you. I promise."I took a deep breath, the words I had been holding back for too long finally rising to the surface. "Cassian, I already know you didn’t trust or like Shadow," I said, forcing the words out. "I could tell from the beginning. So why did you want him to stay with me?"His eyes darkened,—regret, maybe?—crossing his face. But he stayed quiet, waiting for me to continue.I pressed on, needing to get the words out before I lost my nerve."I love you, Cassian. I do. You know that," I went on, my voice trembling. "I'd do anythin
The Mafia Debt Chapter 97: If I Could Trade My Pain
Cassian's POVThe antiseptic smell of Nikolai's private clinic clung to the air, sterile and suffocating. I couldn't help but feel the weight of it as I sat in the small, office, waiting for the doctor to finish his report. Nikolai, a man in his late forties with salt-and-pepper hair and a Russian accent, flipped through my chart, his brow furrowed in concentration. His expression was professional, but I could see the strain behind his eyes. This wasn't his first time patching me up, and it definitely wouldn't be the last."You're lucky with your shoulder," he finally said, closing the file and setting it on the desk between us. "The bullet went clean through, missing anything vital. The knife wound in your side, however—that's going to need close monitoring. You'll need to take it easy for a while, but with your stubbornness, I know you'll make a full recovery.""Thanks, Nikolai," I muttered, more out of habit than gratitude. My mind was elsewhere. "What about Aria? How is she?"Nik
The Mafia Debt Chapter 96: Enemies Among Us
AriaWe were standing at the outskirts of the warehouse, waiting for the car that Dom was supposed to bring.I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold in the unease that had settled deep in my bones. The night air was cold against my skin, making the dried blood on my temple feel tight and uncomfortable."Where the fuck is he?" Cassian muttered, pressing his phone to his ear. "Viktor, Dom's not answering. Get your ass here now."Cassian was barking orders with the urgency of a man who had never been fatally injured. It was hard to believe that only hours ago he had been on the brink of death, blood pooling beneath him as I desperately tried to keep him alive. Now, there was no trace of the vulnerability that had gripped him earlier—except for the way he occasionally winced when he moved too quickly, his hand instinctively going to his bandaged side.After ending the call, he turned to me. His expression softened, the hard lines of his face easing just a fraction. "You okay, babe
The Mafia Debt Chapter 95: Brother Against Brother
Viktor's POV"Shadow?"There he stood—the man we'd trusted with our secrets, with Aria's safety—smiling at me like we were meeting for the first time. A cold, calculating smile that had no place on the face of a brother-in-arms."Surprise," he said, spreading his arms in a mocking gesture. "Not who you expected, huh?"I kept my gun trained on his chest, struggling to make sense of what I was seeing. "What the fuck is this? Why would you—?""Turn on the almighty Romanos?" Shadow finished, his tone dripping with contempt. "Maybe I got tired of being the lapdog. Maybe I wanted more.""More what?" I growled, taking a cautious step forward, making sure to keep myself between him and Cassian's bleeding body. "Money? Power? We gave you everything."Shadow laughed. "You gave me scraps, Viktor. Scraps from your table while you and Cassian lived like kings."I stared at him, trying to reconcile this stranger with the man who'd fought beside us for years. "We trusted you. Cassian trusted you wit
The Mafia Debt Chapter 94: Left to Die
Aria's POVWhere am I?The question came in my mind as soon as my consciousness creeps back, my eyelids heavy like lead. The room swims into focus—dim light filtering through a single dirty window. My body screams with every tiny movement, and I taste copper on my cracked lips."Hello?" I call out, my voice barely a rasp. "Is anyone there?"I try to push myself upright, biting back a cry as pain lances through my ribs.That's when I see him.He's sprawled in the corner, one hand clutching his side, dark blood seeping between his fingers. His face is ghostly pale, eyes closed, chest barely moving."Cassian!" I gasp, scrambling toward him, ignoring how my own body protests.I don't remember moving, just suddenly being there beside him, my trembling hands hovering over his wound. His shirt is soaked through with blood, the fabric torn where a blade must have entered."Cassian," His skin is cold, clammy. "Baby, can you hear me?"His eyelids flutter, a small groan escaping his lips. Relief
