All Chapters of The Mafia Debt: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

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

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

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

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

AriaI could hear the sound of the door opening and closing. Is this what I've become? Will I be the lady who waits at home at night, uncertain whether he will come home to me? I've spent too many hours staring at the ceiling, my phone clutched in my hand, waiting for a call or text that never comes.The mattress dipped as Cassian sat beside me. I kept my eyes shut, feigning sleep, though my heart hammered in my chest. His cologne mixed with whiskey as he leaned over me, his breath warm against my skin."Aria, I'm so sorry."I fought the urge to open my eyes, to confront him about standing me up. To ask him where the hell he'd been when I was sitting alone at that restaurant, checking my phone every two minutes while the waitstaff gave me pitying looks. But I remained motionless, breathing evenly as tears threatened behind my closed lids.He sighed before the mattress lifted as he stood. I heard the soft rustle of his clothes as he undressed, the clink of his belt buckle hitting the f