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⊰ 18 ⊱ When Love Hurts
I step into the lab, my heart pounding in my chest as I take in the familiar surroundings. The sleek metal table, the whirring machines, the soft glow of the computer screens—it all feels like a lifetime ago, like an entirely different world.
As my gaze lands on Ben and Pablo, hunched over their workstations, the reality of the situation comes crashing back. These men, my supposed colleagues, are not my friends. Their gazes flicker to me, a tense silence hanging heavy in the air as I make eye contact with them.
Suddenly, my heart is at my throat, an anxious spell overcoming me. I feel a presence at my back, and I glance over my shoulder to see Frank, his wide frame filling the doorway. He gives me a small nod, a silent reassurance that he’s here, that Marcel sent him as a watchdog to ensure that I’m safe from Ben and Pablo.
They’re not allowed to talk to me about anything other than work.
The thought sends a pang through my
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The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 19 ⊱ A Promise for Tomorrow
I sit at the dinner table, my gaze fixed on the shimmering surface of the lake visible through the large windows of Santiago’s and Alessandra’s lake house. It’s the same place where Marcel and I exchanged our vows, where we promised to love and cherish each other through every obstacle. Now, as I sit here, Marcel beside me, I can’t help but feel a hollow ache in my chest. We’ve barely spoken a word to each other since our heated confrontation last night. Alessandra’s laughter rings out, drawing my attention to the head of the table. She’s glowing, her hand resting on Santiago’s arm as she leans in to whisper something in his ear. They look so happy, so in love, and for a moment, I envy them. I long for the easy intimacy they share. Why am I so fucking miserable..? As the meal progresses, the conversation flows round me, but I feel myself drifting, my mind wandering to the dark places I’ve been trying so hard to escape. I push the food around
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20 ⊱ When Worlds Collide
I sit in the back of the sleek black SUV, my heart pounding in my chest as we speed down the winding country road. Beside me, Ben fiddles with the controls of the nano-drone, his brow furrowed in concentration. In the front seat, Pablo drives, his eyes scanning the road ahead, while Frank sits in the passenger seat, his hand on the gun on his lap. We’re on our way to a remote location, a vast expanse of land owned by Marcel’s family, to conduct a field test of the nano-drones. The same place where we tested the first set of bombs I built almost a year ago. The anticipation hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the undercurrent of tension that’s been lingering since we left the estate. As we turn off the main road onto a dirt path, the SUV bounces and jostles, kicking up a cloud of dust behind us. I grip the edge of my seat, my stomach churning with a mix of excitement and nerves. Another SUV follows closely behind, carrying a few more of Marcel’s men for added securi
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 1 ⊱ Heart of Fear: Part 1
⊰ Marcel ⊱ I pace the length of the foyer, my heart pounding in my chest, my blood pulsating in my ears. Every second feels like an eternity, every moment stretching out into a lifetime of fear and uncertainty. Where the hell are they? What’s taking so long? I did the best I could to stay calm, but the second I saw the call come in from Mercy’s phone, I knew something was wrong. The thought of her out there, in danger, while I was stuck here, helpless…it’s maddening. This is why this needs to end. She can’t live like this. I can’t live like this. The sound of tires screeching outside snaps me out of my thoughts, and I’m moving before I even realize it, my feet carrying me towards the front door. I yank it open just as the familiar black SUV comes to a halt, my eyes scanning the vehicle for any sign of Mercy. In the next second, the back door flies open, and there she is, her face pale and streaked wit
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 2 ⊱ Blood Debt: Part 2
Content Advisory: Graphic descriptions of injury and death. Reader discretion is advised. ⊰ Marcel ⊱ Six hours. It’s been six hours since the ambush, six hours since the love of my life was in harm's way and I lost one of my most loyal men. I feel like I’ve aged a decade in the span of a few hours, and even as Mercy lays upstairs, safely tucked in our bed, I can’t get past this sickening feeling in my gut that something else is going on. That the attack on Mercy is only a fraction of the worst to come. I make my way through the quiet halls of the house, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor. The silence is eerie—unsettling. It’s as if the very walls are holding their breath, waiting for the next blow to fall. I pause outside of the guest room where Ben is recovering, my hand resting on the doorknob. With a deep breath, I steel myself for the conversation I know needs to happen. These men, these CIA agents…
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 20.5 | 3 ⊱ My Salvation: Part 3
Content Advisory: Graphic depictions of violence, psychological trauma, and unhealthy coping mechanisms that may be triggering. Reader discretion is strongly advised. ⊰ Marcel ⊱ I sit on the sofa, the room spinning around me, the crystal glass clutched in my hand, the rich amber liquid sloshing against the sides as I bring it to my lips. The alcohol burns as it slides down my throat, but it’s a welcome pain, a distraction from the all-consuming torment that threatens to tear me apart. They’re gone. My parents…they’re really gone. The thought is a relentless hammer, pounding against the inside of my skull. Every time I close my eyes, I see it. The box, the blood, the heads… I see their faces—my mother’s once warm, loving eyes now blank and lifeless; my father’s strong, proud features twisted in agony. It plays over and over in my mind, a sickening loop that I can’t escape, a nightmare made flesh. A
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 21 ⊱ Love That Endures
The days following the devastating news of Marcel’s parents’ murder blur together, a haze of sorrow, worry and helplessness. I watch as Marcel tries to carry on, to maintain a semblance of normalcy, but I can see the cracks in his facade, the dark shadows that linger in his eyes. He’s trying to hide it, to bury his pain beneath a veneer of cold detachment, but I know him too well. I see the way his jaw clenches when he thinks no one is looking, the way his hands tremble slightly before he curls them into fists. He’s hurting, deeply and profoundly, and my heart aches with the need to comfort him. But he won’t let me. Every time I try to approach him, to offer a gentle word or a comforting touch, he pulls away, his gaze shuttering, his body stiffening. He’s distant, closed off in a way I’ve never seen before, and it scares me. I know he’s not ready to be vulnerable again. He’s not ready to let himselffullyfeel the weight of his loss
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 22 ⊱ Fractured Family Portrait
As I make my way through the hallways of the mansion, I can’t help but dwell on how much has changed. The once lively and vibrant walls of our home now feel somber and heavy, weighed down by the grief and anger that permeate every corner.It’s been three weeks since the brutal murder of Guillermo and Valentina. Three weeks of watching the man I love grapple with a pain and rage so profound, it’s slowly but surely consuming him. Just last week, Marcel decided it would be best to keep the family together until Luciano has been dealt with. Now, our home is a full house, with Santiago, Alessandra, Levi, his girlfriend Eboni, and their one-year-old daughter Isabelle all under our roof.Just one big happy family…I pause outside the media room, taking a moment to collect my thoughts. The door is slightly ajar, and I can hear the soft murmur of voices from within, playing from the TV. Gently, I push it open, stepping into the dimly lit space.Alessandra
The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 23 ⊱ Happy, Happy Birthday
As I sit in my study, nestled on the plush couch with my favorite book in hand, I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. It’s my birthday, and yet, the day has passed like any other. I had hoped that at least today, I would have been woken by Marcel pulling me into his arms. But instead, his side of the bed was cold and empty, the sheets rumpled from where he slipped out early.Why did I expect anything different?I’ve been trying to shake it off, telling myself it’s just another day. After all, for the past 6 birthdays, that’s exactly what it was. But there’s some deeper, perhaps childish part of me that’s taken this as much more: Marcel’s been absent for weeks and the day of my 25th birthday is no different.I sigh, trying to lose myself in the well-worn pages of my copy of Laisha Gardner’s ‘I Am Mustafin’, a story I’ve read countless times before. It’s a favorite of mine, a dark romance dystopian novel of love, loss, and survival se
Latest chapter
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 24 ⊱ Whispers of Doubt
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 23 ⊱ Happy, Happy Birthday
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 22 ⊱ Fractured Family Portrait
- The Mafia's Mercy ⊰ 21 ⊱ Love That Endures
- 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
