All Chapters of I Found My Mafia Mom, A Cop Husband: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Everyone in position, Rafael?""Yes, Godmother."Ava Reed adjusted her black gloves as the dim city lights cast sharp shadows on her face. Dressed in all black with her long coat fluttering in the cool night air, she looked like a spy, an assassin, or even a ghost. Her dark-tinted glasses shielded her bright green eyes, but her cold, stiff posture left no doubt about who she was.She was The Godmother.From her vantage point on the rooftop of an adjacent building, she gazed down at the brightly lit minister’s office. The luxury suite on the top floor screamed power and wealth—evidence of the corruption she had come to cleanse.She flexed her fingers inside her gloves. Time to begin.With a single nod, she signaled Rafael. Within seconds, the plan was in motion.Ava watched as her men slipped inside the building. The security cameras blinked out and went offline. The power inside the minister’s suite was cut off remotely, forcing his guards to switch to backup generators. By the tim

Ava gripped the steering wheel, exhaling sharply. The car ride home had been quiet for the first five minutes, but she could feel Pearl glancing at her every few seconds.Finally, Pearl spoke. "So… what do you think about Mr. Ramos?"Ava didn’t take her eyes off the road. "I think you need to stop meddling in my life."Pearl huffed. "I had to. You weren’t doing anything about it."Ava shot her a look. "Because I don’t want to do anything about it.""But you should." Pearl leaned forward in her seat with a serious expression. "Mom, don’t you ever get lonely?"Ava’s fingers tightened around the wheel. "I have you. That’s all I need."Pearl sighed dramatically. "But I want you to be happy, too. And I think Mr. Alex is perfect."“Switching to first names already?” Ava rolled her eyes. "You barely know him, Pearl.""I know enough," Pearl said smugly. "I know he’s brave and smart, and he didn’t run away screaming when I asked him to be my dad."Ava pressed her lips together. "Yet."Pearl gi

“Do you want me to get rid of him, boss?”Ava was lost in her thoughts when a deep, familiar voice broke through. She turned to see Rafael Torres standing there, his dark suit making him look even more imposing in the dim light of the dining room. He filled the doorway with his broad shoulders, and his expression was as neutral as always. The scar on his jaw reminded everyone of the trouble that came with crossing him.Ava sighed, pressing her fingers to her temple. "Rafael, no. I don’t need you ‘getting rid’ of anyone."Rafael stepped closer, his boots clicking softly against the wooden floor. He stopped just a few feet away, crossing his arms. "I don’t like him. He’s a cop. A detective.""You don’t like anyone," Ava replied dryly, moving to pour herself another glass of wine.Rafael didn’t smile. He never did. "This one’s different."Ava sipped her wine, turning to face him fully. "Alex Ramos isn’t a threat. He’s nosy, sure, but Pearl likes him, and he hasn’t crossed any lines. Yet

“Confirm your engagement.”Ava blinked. “To who?”Her mom’s lips curled up as she replied. “Detective Ramos.”Ava stared at her. “That’s— Are you serious?”“As cancer.”“You want me to fake a relationship. Publicly. And not to anyone, but to a detective.”“Why fake it?” she shrugged. “The man is attractive. And you’re clearly… interested.”“Interested in finding out if he’s a risk to my daughter, yes.”“Isn’t that what all relationships are?” she mused. “Risk assessments in pretty packaging?”Ava got to her feet. “This is insane.”“No, darling. They are. The board. The donors. The gossip hounds. They’re insane if they think they can back you into a corner. You’ve always been at your best when they underestimate you.”Ava paced, dragging a hand through her hair. “Even if I wanted to pull something like that—which I don’t—I barely know the man. We’ve spoken twice. This isn’t a game.”“And yet the world’s already playing it,” she said. “You’re trending. They’ve already written the love st

“Ready to start the night?” he asked, flashing that too-easy smile of his.Ava gave him a slow blink and lifted her wine glass. “You’re late.”“Traffic,” he said smoothly. “You’d be amazed how many people think rush hour’s over by eight.”Ava hummed. “How tragic.”The waiter approached with a bottle of red. Ava nodded absently, barely listening to what he said after that. Her arm throbbed beneath the sleeve of her dress, right where the bullet had grazed it.She shifted slightly, trying not to wince as she leaned forward. Alex didn’t seem to notice. Good.The wine helped. A little.The waiter returned to take their order. Ava went with something small—nothing too messy, nothing too heavy. She didn’t trust her hurried stitches to hold through a full course, not with the pulsing burn along her side.Still, she forced herself to sit straight, mask perfect.Dinner began with awkward silence, followed by the safe topics.“So,” he said as the first course arrived, “it’s kind of cooler than i