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Chapter 69: The Fallout of Wanting You
Last Updated:
2025-04-16 22:52:50
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The Mafia Debt Chapter 70: Fever Dreams and Stubborn Hearts
I'd never been good at rock bottom. You'd think I'd have developed a talent for it by now.Three days after the Elysium disaster, I sat cross-legged on my apartment floor surrounded by a sea of ads, red circles marking potential jobs. The list was depressingly short.My phone buzzed for the twentieth time that day. Cassian. Again.I ignored it. Again."Bartender," I muttered, circling another ad with a red pen that was running out of ink. "I can do that. Pour drinks, smile pretty, tell drunk guys to go to hell when they get handsy."Actually, my experience at Elysium might work in my favor there.My phone lit up again. This time with a text:We need to talk."We need for you to lose my number," I told my silent apartment. My voice sounded rough, scratchy. I'd been feeling like garbage since yesterday—probably from stress, lack of sleep, and the diet of ramen and spite I'd been living on.The phone buzzed again.I scrolled through the latest batch of messages, my thumb hovering over th
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I woke to the sound of Cassian swearing.Cracking one eye open, I found him standing in the doorway of my bedroom, looking at his phone with a thunderous expression."Problem?" His head snapped up. "How are you feeling?"I took a moment to assess. My head still ached, but the room wasn't spinning anymore. My body felt heavy, but not like it was being crushed under a ton of bricks. Progress."Less like I'm dying, more like I was hit by a small car instead of a truck," I reported. "What's wrong? Did someone steal your favorite yacht?"He ignored my attempt at sarcasm. "I need to go."Of course. Now that I wasn't at death's door, he was ready to bail again. Classic Cassian—coming to the rescue and then disappearing when the real work of relationships began."Don't let me keep you," I said, turning my face away.The bed dipped as he sat beside me. "It's not what you think.""You don't know what I think.""I can see it on your face." His fingers caught my chin, gently turning me back to f
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Seven in the morning and sunlight was already slicing through my cheap blinds, turning my eyelids red. I groaned, trying to roll away from the light—only to hit a solid wall of muscle.My eyes flew open. Cassian lay beside me, still fully clothed on top of my covers, one arm draped across my waist. His face in sleep was different, the hard lines of tension erased, making him look younger. Almost innocent.Which was a joke. Cassian Romano and innocent had never existed in the same universe.I studied him, taking advantage of this rare unguarded moment. The dark sweep of his lashes against his cheeks. The shadow of stubble that had appeared overnight. The slight part of his lips as he breathed deeply.For weeks I'd dreamed about him, waking up aching and angry. And now here he was, in my bed, nursed me through a fever, and bought a damn strip club just to get to me.It was insane. He was insane.And I was even more insane for considering letting him back into my life.Moving carefully,
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It’s funny how you can go from hate to love in a short period of time. My life has been upside down. Meeting Cassian has been a difficult journey. Being taken and my father trying to sell me to pay off his debts—it was all too much. If it were not for Cassian, I’m sure my father would have killed me or traded my life. I would most likely have ended up six feet below the ground.Three days later, a package arrived at my door with a note: Wear this tonight. Car arrives at 7. Trust me.Inside was a dress that probably cost more than my rent and a delicate blindfold made of silk.I stared at the package for a few moments, my heart pounding. We had been making slow progress, but this felt like a significant step. Dinner with him felt intimate and potentially risky. But something in me wanted to go. I spent the rest of the day trying to calm my nerves. It felt like a first date all over again. As the clock inched closer to seven, I found myself second-guessing everything. Was this the righ
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Cassian led me back toward the canopy bed. The promise ring caught the flickering flames, sending prisms of light across my skin."I've never seen anything so beautiful," I whispered, looking out at the beach, the infinite stars above us mirrored in the dark water below."I have," Cassian replied, his gaze never leaving my face.My heart stuttered as his fingertips traced the curve of my cheek. This moment felt suspended, dreamlike—the gentle crash of waves against the shore, the sweet scent of jasmine, and Cassian's eyes holding mine with such intensity I could barely breathe.When his lips finally met mine, it wasn't the desperate, hungry kiss I expected."You don't have to be so careful with me," I murmured against his mouth. "I'm not going to break.""I know," he said, his voice rough. "But I want to remember every second of this."His hands moved to my shoulders, sliding the delicate straps of my dress down my arms."You're trembling," he observed."Because this feels different,"
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Emma, Beth, and I were lounging on plush chairs in a rooftop bar. After everything that had happened between Cassian and me, making an effort to build a normal social life felt strange but necessary.Emma and I reconnected a month ago—and Emma had insisted we stay friends."Hold up, Aria," Beth exclaimed, suddenly grabbing my hand with enough force to make me jolt. Beth was Emma's roommate, a pediatric nurse who'd instantly clicked with me when Emma introduced us last week. Her eyes widened as she stared at my finger. "Is that what I think it is?"Emma leaned in so fast she nearly toppled her cosmopolitan. "Holy shit, that's not just any ring! Did Cassian propose?"I couldn't suppress the smile that spread across my face, my cheeks warming not just from the alcohol. "He did, two weeks ago.""Details!" Emma demanded, setting her drink down. "I want every single moment. Don't leave anything out."I twisted the diamond on my finger, still not quite believing it was there. "It wasn't plan
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I'd been seated at the secluded corner table for almost an hour now. The maître d' had given me sympathetic glances the first three times he refilled my water glass. By the fourth time, he couldn't quite meet my eyes.The gown I'd chosen—one Cassian had bought for me last week but I hadn't worn yet—felt ridiculous now. What was the point when there was no one to appreciate it? I should have worn something warmer, I thought bitterly as another blast of air conditioning hit my exposed shoulders and legs.I checked my phone for what must have been the hundredth time. No missed calls. No texts. Nothing.With trembling fingers, I dialed his number again."The person you are calling is on another call," the automated voice informed me, as it had the last six times."Bullshit," I muttered, drawing a startled look from a passing server. I forced a smile and set my phone down with exaggerated care, resisting the urge to fling it across the restaurant.An untouched glass of champagne sparkled u
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CassianI tried to stifle a yawn as I glanced at my watch for the fifth time in an hour. The exhaustion was bone-deep, settling into my muscles like cement. I'd been planning this date night with Aria for the past week—dinner at her favorite restaurant, followed by a surprise I knew would make her eyes light up in that way that still knocked the breath from my lungs.I knew I'd been neglecting her lately. Hell, I'd been neglecting myself, and my need was her. She understood the demands of my position—at least, she tried to—but understanding didn't erase the hurt I saw in her eyes each time I canceled plans or came home long after she'd fallen asleep."Viktor," I called out."Yeah?" His face remained impassive, though I knew he was cataloging my disheveled appearance—the loosened tie, the shadows under my eyes."I'll be leaving in thirty minutes. Nothing short of a declaration of war should interrupt me tonight. Understood?"Viktor nodded once. "Of course." He hesitated, which was unli
Last Updated : 2025-04-20
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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
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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
The Mafia Debt 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 Debt 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 Kaiser’s 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 key—courtesy 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
