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Chapter Eight: Into the Night I
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-07 01:35:53
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The Mafia Debt Chapter Nine: Into the Night II
My hand moved instantly to the gun at my back. I rose to my feet, drawing it out and pointing it at him with far more confidence than I felt."Stay back," I warned. "Who are you? Don't move, or I will shoot."He raised his hands slowly, his expression more surprised than frightened. "Whoa, calm down. I'm not going to hurt you.""What are you doing here?" I demanded, adjusting my grip on the gun."I'm just taking a shortcut on my way home," he replied, keeping his voice level. Despite the gun pointed at his chest, he seemed remarkably composed. "The real question is what are ‘you’ doing here, soaking wet and armed.""How do I know you're not working for him?" I asked, eyes darting past him to check if anyone else was approaching. The rain continued to fall, plastering my hair to my face. I wiped it away with my free hand, never taking my eyes off him.His brow furrowed in confusion. "Working? For who?" He studied my face more carefully. "Miss, what are you talking about?"I didn't answ
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07The Mafia Debt Chapter Ten: Revelations
Shadow emerged from the kitchen, a tight smile on his face. Dom lingered in the doorway behind him, arms crossed, studying me with undisguised suspicion."Sorry about that," Shadow said. "I see you've met Jinx."I nodded, absently stroking the cat's glossy fur. It purred loudly, leaning into my touch. "Yeah, she found me.""He," Shadow corrected with a small smile. "And he doesn't usually take to strangers. You must be special."Dom made a noise that sounded like a stifled snort, then disappeared back into his room without another word."Don't mind him," Shadow said, moving to sit in an armchair across from me. "He's always grumpy when his sleep gets interrupted."I nodded, not entirely convinced that was the only reason for Dom's attitude. "Is this going to be a problem? Me being here?""No," Shadow replied, perhaps a bit too quickly. "Like I said, you can stay the night, get some rest. You look like you need it."His kindness made me uneasy. No one did something for nothing, especia
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07The Mafia Debt Chapter Eleven: Shocked
The words hit me like a physical blow. I scrambled away from him, my back hitting the headboard as my hand shot under the pillow, grasping the gun."You work for him? Was this a setup?" My voice shook with fury and fear as I pointed the weapon at his chest. "Did you know who I was when you found me in that alley?"Shadow raised his hands, eyes fixed on the gun. "Aria, listen to me. I had no idea who you were until just now. I swear.""Bullshit!" I spat, tightening my grip on the gun, finger hovering near the trigger. "What do you do for him? Are you one of his thugs? His enforcers?""No, nothing like that," he said quickly. "Dom and I do odd jobs. Deliveries mostly.""Drugs?" I demanded, trying to keep my hand from shaking."Sometimes," he admitted. "But also money, messages. We're just couriers, Aria. Low-level. We don't hurt people."I laughed bitterly. "Right. And I'm supposed to believe that?"The bedroom door burst open, and Dom stood in the doorway, his own gun drawn and pointed
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07The Mafia Debt Chapter Twelve: The Plan
As we moved to the kitchen, I kept the gun with me, unwilling to relinquish my only leverage. The black cat followed, weaving between our legs as if completely oblivious to the tension in the air.Dom set about making coffee while Shadow pulled out three mugs from a cabinet."So, what exactly are you proposing?" I asked, settling into a chair at the small kitchen table, positioning myself with a clear view of both exits.Dom slid a mug of steaming coffee in front of me before taking his own seat. "First things first—Cassian will be looking for you. His men are probably already combing the streets."The thought sent a chill down my spine. "How long do we have before they find me?""Not long," Shadow admitted grimly. "Cassian has eyes everywhere, and your description has probably been circulated to all his people by now.""Great," I muttered, wrapping my hands around the warm mug. "So I'm a walking target.""For now," Dom agreed. "But we might be able to get you out of the city if we mo
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-07The Mafia Debt Chapter 13: Price of Failure
I wasn't supposed to be back at the safe house until tomorrow, but plans changed.Walking through the door, I scanned the communal area where my men had gathered. I caught Lucas's eyes immediately—the fear that flashed across his face told me everything I needed to know before he even opened his mouth."What the fuck is with that face?" I kept my voice even. The sign of true power isn't in shouting; it's in the quiet that makes others hold their breath.Lucas shifted his weight, unable to meet my gaze. "We weren't expecting you until tomorrow, boss."I moved toward him slowly. The room fell silent except for the sound of my Italian leather shoes against the hardwood floor."What is going on?" I asked, my voice dropping an octave. I could practically smell the anxiety rolling off him in waves."Th-there is nothing, boss," Lucas stammered, the words coming out in a pathetic stutter that set my teeth on edge.I stopped directly in front of him, close enough to see the sweat beading at hi
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-08The 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-09
Bab terbaru
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
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
