Share
⊰ 15 ⊱ A Heartbeat Away
I eye my fork as I absently push the scrambled eggs around my plate, the sound of the clinking mixing with the sound of my breathing as I sit at the dining table alone.
It’s been two days since Marcel shut down my idea of going back to school—two days of us not saying a word to each other. We’re like parallel lines, destined never to meet, stretching further apart with each passing moment.
But as much as I’d like to cling to my righteous indignation, I know today is not the day to be stubborn. Today is the day I face the reality of the life growing inside me, the day I take the first step in my journey to motherhood.
I push back from the table, my chair scraping against the floor as a sigh parts my lips. The sound is unsettling in the stillness of the morning, and for a moment, I pause, half-expecting Marcel to appear in the doorway.
He doesn’t.
It dawns on me with a twinge of sadness that he’s probably holed up in his office, dealing with the
Related chapters
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 16 ⊱ Between the Lines
The black and white image on the ultrasound printout is seared into my mind as I stare out the window of Marcel’s truck. Eight weeks. That tiny flickering heartbeat, ourlittle bean, has been growing inside me for eight weeks. It’s surreal, knowing that a new life is blossoming within me, a perfect blend of Marcel and myself. A small smile tugs at my lips despite the lingering tension between us, a flicker of warmth spreading across my chest as I absently rub my thumb over the glossy paper. The doctor’s reassurances still echo in my ears—everything looks good, right on track. I’m pulled out of my thoughts as Marcel suddenly flicks on the turn signal, pulling into the drive-thru of a smoothie shop. I shoot him a questioning glance, and before I can mutter a sound, he says matter-of-factly, “You hardly ate this morning. You need to eat something, especially now.” How did he… … Mauricio. I can’t ev
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 16.5 ⊱ Gathering Clouds
⊰ Marcel ⊱ The house is quiet, the kind of quiet that settles like a heavy blanket—smothering and unsettling. Too damn quiet. It’s been weeks since Luciano took the reins of his brother’s cartel, weeks since hevowedvengeance against me for killing Rafael. Weeks… and not a single threat, not a bullet fired in our direction. It’s the stillness before the storm, the type of calm that makes my men jumpy and my own skin itch with an uneasiness. They’re planning something, I can feel it in my bones. The question is: what? And more importantly, how do I keep my family safe? “We can’t let them have the advantage,” Levi mutters, his eyes narrowing as he studies the maps spread across the pool table of the parlor. “I know,” I grunt lowly, tracing a line along the border of our territory with my finger. “We tighten up security, deploy more men—” “No good,” Rick, ever the cautious strategist,
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 17 ⊱ When the Door Locks
The shopping bags rustle at my feet as I settle into the plush leather seat of Alessandra’s sleek black Mercedes. My feet are still aching from all the walking we’ve done over the past few hours—store after store, rack after rack of designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. It’s a world I’m still not entirely used to, a level of luxury that feels straight out of a movie. Alessandra slides into the driver’s seat, a satisfied smile on her face as she tosses her own collection of shopping bags into the back. “I think we did some serious damage today,” she says with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. You don’t say… I can’t help but chuckle, shaking my head. “I don’t think I’ve ever owned this many clothes in my entire life,” I admit, glancing down at the sea of bags at my feet. “Marcel’s gonna think I’ve lost my mind.” She scoffs, waving her hand dismissively. “Please, my brother loves spoiling you. And besides…” her gaze drifts to my sti
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 18 ⊱ The Taste of Loss
Content Advisory: This chapter contains graphic violence, including physical assault. Reader discretion is strongly advised. Fear gnaws at my insides as Alessandra and I glance at each other, slowly lowering ourselves back into our seats. My hand drifts protectively to my stomach, an instinctual desire to shield my unborn child. Luciano grabs a chair, the metal scraping harshly against the linoleum floor as he drags it to our table sinisterly. He sits down, leaning back with a casual air. I watch as Catalina moves, taking the empty seat next to Alessandra, directly across from me. Her gaze is fixed on me, her eyes glinting with a cold hatred that sends a shiver down my spine. We’re gonna die here… “I don’t think I need to introduce myself,” Luciano begins, his accented voice smooth and even. “You already know who I am.” He’s right. We do. He’s thenew headof the Reyes cartel—the man whovo
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 19 ⊱ Burden of Silence
Content Advisory: Emotional distress. Reader discretion is advised.The sterile white walls of the hospital room close in around me as I lay on the narrow bed, my body aching and my heart heavy. The papery gown scratches against my skin, a constant reminder of where I am and why I’m here.Please, let the baby be okay… Please…I stare up at the ceiling, trying to focus on the steady beep of the heart monitor, but my mind keeps drifting back to the events that landed me here.Alessandra half-carried, half-dragged me to her car, my legs barely able to support my weight. Each step sent a jolt of pain through my battered body, and I couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped my lips.“Hospital,” she said firmly, her quavering voice leaving no room for argument.But even through the gaze of pain and fear, I knew I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t let anyone find out about this, least of all Marcel.“No,” I rasped,
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20 ⊱ A Room Full of Lies
The world feels hazy as Alessandra and I step into the mansion, the warm glow of lights and the sound of laughter washing over me like a distant dream. It’s surreal, being back here, surrounded by the trappings of a life that feels like it belongs to someone else now—someone who still had hope, who still believed inhappily ever afters. As we approach the front steps, my eyes land on the familiar men—Amado and Miguel—standing guard. From behind them, Frank emerges, making his way to Alessandra’s car to retrieve the shopping bags. He walks past us, his eyes briefly meeting mine as he asks, “Everything okay, ma’am?” I force a smile, the muscles of my face feeling stiff and unnatural. “Everything’s fine, Frank. Thank you.” He nods, but I can see the flicker of doubt in his eyes as we continue our way past Amado and Miguel, into the main entrance hall. Marcel is waiting for us, his dark eyes immediately locking onto me. For a moment, I’m ter
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 ⊱ In the Wake of a Monster
Content Advisory: Graphic depicts of violence. Reader discretion is advised. ⊰ Marcel ⊱ I sit on the edge of the bed, my heart heavy as I watch Mercy curl into herself. Her body looks so small and fragile in the oversized t-shirt I helped her into. The sight of her battered skin, the bruises marring her delicate frame, it’s almost more than I can stand. How could I let this happen? … How could I have failed to protect her, again? The questions torment me, guilt and rage warring within my chest. I want to break something, to unleash the anger that’s simmering just beneath the surface. But I can’t. Not here. Not now. Not when she needs me to be strong, to be her rock. “Are you mad at me?” Her voice is small, barely above a whisper, but it cuts through the silence like a knife. I don’t respond, my jaw clenching as I try to find the right words. The truth
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 21 ⊱ Fragments of Us
The familiar scent of Marcel’s cologne fills my senses as my eyes flutter open, mingling with the sharp tang of alcohol lingering in the air. Despite its disruptive presence, it’s a smell I’ve gotten used to, a smell that’s oddly comforting. Blinking against the soft light filtering through the curtains, I turn my head to find him sitting on the sofa across the room, a glass of scotch in his hand and a dark look on his face. His gun rests on the coffee table beside the half-empty decanter, a silent reminder of the violence that’s become our new normal. The sleeves of his button-up shirt are rolled up, exposing the taut muscles and tattoos of his forearms. He hasn’t slept. … He’s been out all night again, doing God knows what. It’s been two days since theincident, two days since my world shattered into a million jagged pieces. Marcel’s hardly left my side, only stepping out to deal with the fallout of L
Latest chapter
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 3 ⊱ My Salvation: Part 3
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 2 ⊱ Blood Debt: Part 2
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 1 ⊱ Heart of Fear: Part 1
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20 ⊱ When Worlds Collide
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 19 ⊱ A Promise for Tomorrow
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 18 ⊱ When Love Hurts
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 17.5 ⊱ Playing With Fire
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 17 ⊱ My Refuge: Part 2
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 16 ⊱ Love Tainted by Violence: Part 1
