All Chapters of SOLD TO THE MAFIA QUEEN : Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Ashley’s POVI was looking out the window of the cab, the city of Rome unfolding like a painting in motion. Xander’s head rested against my shoulder, his arm wrapped comfortably around my waist. Every few seconds, he would sniff my hair or press soft kisses to my neck, and I couldn’t even bring myself to tell him to stop. He was so freaking clingy and I kind of liked it.I had always thought clingy men weren’t my type. I was always buried in work, too busy for romance, too guarded to let anyone in. But Xander was rewriting all my rules, teaching me things about myself I didn’t know existed. And I liked this version of me. I liked him.Outside, the streets of Rome were overwhelming in the best way. People filled the sidewalks, talking, laughing, eating at open-air restaurants. It reminded me of Paris, but Italy had its own heartbeat.The monuments, the architecture, the blend of ancient and modern, it was all a masterpiece. Kids played football along the road, and our driver slowed to

Ashley’s POVThe hot roman sun was merciless, beating down on all of us like it had a personal vendetta. Jake, of course, hadn’t stopped cursing Dave and his new girlfriend since we left the street. Every chance he got, he threw a jab, and for once, I was grateful it wasn’t me and Xander still on his radar. Small blessings.We finally arrived in front of the mansion. It stood alone in the middle of the city, separated from other houses like it didn’t want to be associated with anything ordinary.It was massive, intimidating even. And the bodyguards? All dressed in black, guns strapped to their sides, eyes piercing and cold. I snorted. Of course. Even without meeting this man, I could already tell he was my father’s kind of friend.Xander was carrying me in his arms, bridal style, my hand resting on his neck. I had gotten tired of walking, and even though I protested, he didn’t ask for permission, he just picked me up. And I fucking liked that. I didn’t want a man who asked to take car

Ashley’s POVI don’t know what the hell just happened to me.One second, I was sitting at that ridiculously long dining table, fork in my hand, trying to convince myself that the spaghetti in front of me wasn’t going to kill me. Everyone else was already halfway through their plates, Xander, Dave, even Jake, who never shut up about how much he hated “fancy food.” But me? I was still staring at the plate like it had personally offended me.I have never been the adventurous type when it comes to food. Back in the States, I barely touched anything that wasn’t American. Italian cuisine? Looked like art, smelled like confusion. I found the one plate that looked semi-normal, spaghetti with some weird-ass sauce and leaves I couldn’t name and decided to give it a shot.Xander must have noticed me hesitating, because his hand slid under the table and landed on my knee. “Tiger,” he whispered, “You good? Don’t like the food? I’m sure Chris can give you something American, he brought a few dishes

Author’s POVMason grabbed Melody’s right hand and pinned it against the vault, his gaze locked onto her blue eyes, lingering on the flush of her rosy cheeks. They had been standing there for a while now, ever since she returned from calling Brett. He had gone off to get keys made to open the vault, but he was taking too long, and the wait was starting to wear them down.Melody was breathing heavily, still reeling from the kiss Mason had just given her. Mason, exhausted and restless, stroked her upper lip with his thumb, his voice hush and teasing. “I never thought making out against the vault that could make us filthy rich in a second would be so hot.”Melody giggled, her voice light. “Wait until you see inside. Why do you think I was able to steal about a hundred thousand dollars? I think it was more than that, it was too much to count.”He bit his lower lip, eyes narrowing with curiosity. “But if the money was uncountable, how was she able to find out you stole from her?”Her smile

Ashley’s POVI was lying in bed with Xander, my back pressed against his chest, his arm wrapped around my waist like he was afraid I would vanish in the night. The sheets were tangled around us, and the only light in the room came from the moon spilling through the window, painting everything in silver. His body was warm and solid behind me, and every inch of him was pressed against me like he belonged there.I should have been asleep. I wanted to be asleep. But my mind wouldn’t shut up.Chris had said he had sent Dave to get the pregnancy kit, but Dave hadn’t come. Not a knock. Not a whisper. And now I was starting to doubt if he even remembered. Maybe he got distracted by his new girlfriend. Maybe he didn’t think it was urgent. Maybe he didn’t care.I grunted softly, frustration bubbling in my chest. I wasn’t ready for a child. Hell, I wasn’t even ready to admit I might be pregnant. I had this gnawing feeling that I had turn out to be a terrible mother, worse than my own. And that w