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Chapter 37: A Lesson in Indifference
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๋ฐ์ดํธ:
2025-03-19 23:05:52
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The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 38: Crossing Lines
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
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-20The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 39: Walls Between Us
CassianI watched her walk away, each step she took twisting the knife deeper into my chest. The hurt in her eyesโthat flash of betrayalโwas like a physical blow. But I had to do it. I had to push her away."What are you doing to me, Aria?" I muttered, running a hand through my hair.I pulled out my phone and dialed Lucas. "Come around with the car. I'm leaving.""Boss, what aboutโ""Just do it," I snapped, ending the call.I glanced back at the VIP section. Chloe was watching me, her perfectly painted lips curved in a possessive smile. She'd been in my bed more times than I could count, called herself my girlfriend to anyone who would listen. Right now, I couldn't stand the sight of herโor any of them. The way she had draped herself over me earlier, her hands roaming places they shouldn't in public, her lips pressing against my neck while the other girls giggled and touched my arms, my chest... It all felt empty. Meaningless. And then I'd looked up and seen Aria standing thereโher ey
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-20The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 40: The Great Escape
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 eyeโasomething 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 disasterโdrawers pulled open, clothes scattered, the window wide open with cur
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-22The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 41: Running Out of Time
AriaThe house I'd grown up in looked like a crime scene. Furniture tipped over, drawers yanked out and emptied onto the floor, picture frames smashed against the walls. I stepped carefully around a broken lamp, my heart pounding against my ribs."Jesus," I muttered, taking in the destruction. Was this Cassian's doing? Or Riccardo's men? Did it even matter anymore?I picked my way through the chaos of the living room toward my bedroom, stepping over scattered books and clothes. My fingers trembled as I pushed open my bedroom door, dreading what I might find inside.It wasn't much better. My mattress had been slashed open, stuffing spilling out like guts. My closet door hung off its hinges, and someone had dumped all my clothes in a heap on the floor.But I wasn't here to cry over my destroyed possessions. I was here for one thing.I dropped to my knees beside my bed and felt along the floorboards until I found the loose one. Prying it up with my fingernails, I reached into the small
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-22The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 42: Gone
CassianParking the car in a rush, I bolted out, my steps quick and purposeful. The crowds at the airport were a blur as I scanned for any sign of Aria. The thought of her slipping away sent a jolt of panic through me that I wasn't used to feeling.I spotted Viktor waiting at a spot near the entrance and hurried over. "Any updates?" I asked, my voice urgent.Viktor nodded, his expression grim. "We've tracked her movements to Terminal C. She's bought a one-way ticket, but we don't know where to yet.""Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "How long ago?""About twenty minutes."My jaw clenched, frustration boiling inside. "Find out where she's headed. I don't care what you have to do."Viktor nodded again, already reaching for his phone to relay the instructions. I scanned the terminal directory overhead, my heart pounding with a strange mix of worry and determination."Call airport security," I ordered. "Tell themโ""Already tried, boss," Viktor interrupted. "They won't h
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-03-23The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 43: Nowhere but Forward
AriaThe wind whipped my hair as I stepped out of the terminal, clutching my backpack like a shield. Boston's late afternoon air hit my face with a chill I wasn't prepared for. I'd escapedโactually escapedโbut the relief I'd expected to feel was nowhere to be found.His voice still echoed in my ears. "Aria!" The desperation in Cassian's tone had stopped me in my tracks. For a split second, I'd almost thought of going back.But I couldn't. Not after everything.I flagged down a taxi, sliding into the backseat with shaky hands. "South Station, please," I told the driver."You got it," he replied, pulling away from the curb.As the airport disappeared behind us, I leaned my head against the window, watching the unfamiliar city. I wasn't staying in Bostonโit was just another stop on my escape route. I couldn't risk Cassian tracking me here.My phone was still in my pocket, still powered off. I knew the second I turned it on, they'd find me. Part of me wanted to throw it out the window, wa
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-01The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 44: New Beginnings
Six months later"Earth to Aria! Your coffee's getting cold."I blinked, dragging my attention back to the small cafรฉ table where Max sat across from me, an amused expression on his face."Sorry," I murmured, wrapping my hands around the lukewarm mug. "Got lost in thought.""Must've been some pretty deep thoughts," he teased. "You were miles away."I forced a smile, taking a sip of my coffee. Six months had passed since I'd left America, and I was still adjusting to this new life.Max reached across the table, his fingers gently brushing mine. "Hey, you okay?"I nodded, genuinely touched by his concern. "Just tired.""Ah. Want to skip the movie and just go home? We could order in, watch something on Netflix instead."Home. The word still felt strange, but in a good way. Our apartment in Florenceโyes, our apartment nowโhad become more than just a hiding place. It had become filled with small touches that made it ours. Max's books stacked neatly on the coffee table. The mismatched mugs
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-01The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 45: The Cost of Regret
CassianAria left, and I stopped calling too. The last time I reached out to her was four months ago. I hope she is happy now. I regret pushing her away every day.That was the truth of it. What else could I hold onto after pushing away the one person who saw beyond the monster everyone else feared? The reports from my men confirmed she was safeโthat was all I needed to know. I'd given strict instructions: I donโt want anything personal. Just her location, her security status. I didn't need to know if she'd moved on, found someone else to share her warmth with. I wasn't a masochist.But fuck, I was a liar.I leaned back in my chair, running a hand down my face. Aria had been a temporary person in my life, yet her absence felt permanent.Sometimes her face appeared so vividly in my mind. The defiance in her eyes when she challenged me. The softness in her touch when she surrendered. The way her lips parted when I moved inside her.I never imagined missing someone's presence would feel
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2025-04-02
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The Mafia Debtย ย ย 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 Cassianโcomplicated, dangerous, infuriatingโa 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 Debtย ย ย 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 glassโthe guilt, the regret, the endless spiral of what-ifsโbut easy had never been my way.The burn in my side was a constant reminder of how close I'd come to losing everythingโmy 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 Debtย ย ย Chapter 98: Scars He Couldnโt 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 didnโt 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,โregret, maybe?โcrossing 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 Debtย ย ย 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, howeverโthat'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 Debtย ย ย 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 earlierโexcept 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 Debtย ย ย Chapter 95: Brother Against Brother
Viktor's POV"Shadow?"There he stoodโthe man we'd trusted with our secrets, with Aria's safetyโsmiling 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 youโ?""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 Debtย ย ย 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 focusโdim 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
The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 93: Dead Men Tell No Tales
Smoke hung thick in the air, mingling with the sharp scent of blood and gunpowder. Viktor moved through the debris his gun raised, eyes darting for any sign of movement. The blast had left Kaiser's men scattered and broken, but Viktor knew better than to let his guard down."Marcus, status?" Viktor murmured into his mouthpiece."Zone's almost clear," Marcus replied, the crackle of static distorting his voice slightly. "But I can't reach Cassian. Something's off, Vik."Viktor's jaw tightened. "Keep looking. I'm heading deeper in.""Copy that. Watch your six."Viktor pressed on, stepping over the bodies of fallen enemies. The only sound the faint groans of the dying. Cassian never went dark during operations. Not unless something had gone terribly wrong.As he rounded a corner, Viktor caught movement out of the corner of his eye. A man, one of Kaiser's cronies, was pinned beneath a chunk of concrete, struggling to free himself. His face was bloodied, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
The Mafia Debtย ย ย Chapter 92: Checkmate
Third person povBlood pounded in Cassian's ears as he crouched behind the rusted shipping container, the cold metal of his Glock pressing against his palm. The warehouse was soon to become Kaiserโs tomb. Rain slicked down Cassian's face, mingling with sweat as he checked his watch: 02:37. Three minutes to synchronize."East perimeter secured," Viktor's voice came through his earpiece. "Two down, silent.""Roof access clear," Dom confirmed, his breathing calm despite having just eliminated three guards.Cassian tapped his comm. "Hold positions. On my mark.""Moving to position alpha," The rain masked his footsteps as he approached the side entrance. Two guards huddled beneath a meager overhang, sharing a cigarette. Amateurs. They never saw him coming.The warehouse door opened to his electronic pass keyโcourtesy of Kaiser's late lieutenant, Chet, who had been all too eager to talk after Dom finished with him. Cassian entered the dark corridor, the acrid smell of chemicals and damp con
