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I should be scared. Let it go. Forget about Damien. Instead, I feel the rage inside me surfacing, like a flame is about to ignite and char the only patience I have left inside of me. “This isn’t your life, Dad. It’s my life to live. To make mistakes. I choose who I fall in and out of love with.” Tick. Tick. Boom.
“Love?! You call this love? Falling in love with a fucking criminal? You have to be joking!” He rubs his temples, taking a deep breath as if trying to compose his anger but in vain. “For fuck’s sake, Avalyne, killing people is his bread and butter! And you know why?” Again, it’s not a question. “Because he is a mafia heir! To the most dangerous mafia in Florida! So, while you sleep in his arms, most likely mere hours before he used a quill pen to stab someone’s hand because they weren’t cooperating!”
“What did you say?!” Suddenly, the room falls silent.
He shakes his head, hiding his face behind his hands, “Dammit!” His gaze drops to the ground. “I wasn’t supposed to disclose that kind of information to anyone.”
“I’m not just anyone, Dad,” I whisper, still shaken after what I’ve just learned.Damien is a mafia heir?What does that even mean for him? I’ve always known the mafia exists. Considering my father’s profession, I know quite a lot about the crime world. But to be consciously aware that they actually co-exist with us in everyday life is mind-blowing.
My dad says something, but it’s all just a blur. I can’t catch his words. Thousands of questions run through my head. But one sentence is enough to wake me up from that state of shock like a sobering bucket of iced water.
“I’m afraid he just wants to use you since I’m the prosecutor in his case, and there’s a trial soon.” His words are like a sharp knife stabbing my heart. “The evidence we have is enough to put him behind bars for life. So, he might be trying to get closer to me by using you. He’s an unscrupulous, ruthless man, Ava. That’s why I was so overprotective.” Now it all makes sense.
“I’m sorry, Dad…,” I mumble, struggling to catch a breath. I feel dizzy. Sick to my stomach. “I need to… I… I’ll go to my room.”
“Avalyne–” He says apologetically, but I turn on my heels and run upstairs, straight to my room. I lock the door and, leaning against it, and fall to my knees. Crying.
I’m snuggled in my bed, unable to sleep. Mr. Grumpy, my cat, climbs onto the bed and makes himself comfortable beside me. I rub him behind his ear, and he purrs.At least he’s having a good night.I check the time on my phone. 2:17 A.M. It took me a couple of hours to calm my nerves. How the hell are you supposed to take the news that the man you are falling for is in the mafia, let alone a mafia heir? I shake my head, inhaling deeply.An heir to the mafia.It sounds ridiculous. Surreal.
“I can’t!” I hiss, frustrated. There’s no way I can fall asleep. I get out of bed and sit on the white window sill. My eyes are glued to the moon while I’m restlessly playing with my phone in my hands. I desperately want to call Lilac. She would know what to say. She would know how to keep me sane. But I can’t. My father has already breached confidentiality by disclosing this information to me. It can’t leak outside of this house.
Oh, screw it!I have to see Damien. I take a deep breath and unlock my phone, ready to message the mafia heir. Just as I do, my phone vibrates, and his name shows up on the screen.
Damien:
How did it go with your father?
Sorry I keep getting you into trouble.
You don’t keep getting me into trouble.You’re the trouble.My heart starts beating faster. Adrenaline rushes through my veins. A few hours ago, I had no idea who Damien Alarie really was. A few hours ago, he was just a guy. A smoking hot, irresistible guy whom I was craving like a madwoman. A man with whom I was ready to surrender to my deepest desires. But now… I’m not sure if I can trust him.
Me:
We need to meet. Now.
I type faster than I can think. My body starts shaking uncontrollably. I’m not sure if it’s fear caused by knowing Damien’s real identity or anxiety that my father’s word might be true and he’s been just using me. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. A single tear makes its way down my cheek—yea, definitely the latter. I’m scared… frightened that Damien has only been using me.
Damien:
What? Now?
I don’t have to wait long for his reply. The moment his name pops on my phone screen, my heart skips a beat. It’s funny that after everything I’ve learned about him, he still affects me. It’s weird how I’m not scared of him, but I’m fucking terrified of losing him.
Damien:
It’s 2 am. Are u sure u wanna sneak out now?
Me:
I don’t care. We have to talk
That’s the truth. I don’t care about the consequences anymore. I might even die tonight. But, I’m hell-bent on finding out the real reason why Damien Alarie showed up in my life.
