Page 66 of Mafia Princess

Our name was splashed across every fucking news channel, the headlines telling New York that their crime rates should lessen, now that the crime lord and his family were locked up.

I was wallowing in self-pity, and eating my weight in deep-fried chicken tenders, washing them down with whatever I could find in the wine cellar underneath the house.

Amber was reporting back to Luca daily. It was his condition of not coming to my estate and murdering everyone in his path to get to me. I told Amber she could text him once a day, and that was it.

Milan went radio silent. He ghosted the limelight too. Laying low to get his affairs together, now that he was the Mob Boss of New Jersey. I’m not sure where he disappeared to right after his father’s murder, but he didn’t follow Luca and me out of that fucking building. A building that suspiciously burnt to the ground the very day of my fake wedding.

Three Months Later

“Midnight, Storm,” I call out and hear their playful whines as they run across the grass and race back to me. “Where’s the ball?” I say in a baby voice.

I spend every afternoon outside basking in the sunset, watching the sun’s rays slowly set over the tall trees that border our estate. Each day is filled with appointments and meetings. I hired the best defense attorney money can buy to work on freeing Papa, Mason, and my two cousins. I hate that they’re stuck in fucking prison and I’m out here, free, living my life.

The past three months have been hard, to say the least. My uncles come to visit from Sicily, happy to help me out when I need it and to visit their boys in prison. Papa’s men have all stepped up and treat me with respect while acting like I’m their daughter.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket and I slide it out to see who texted me.

Summer: BABES! We need to organize a play date. I fucking miss you and my babies.

Me: I miss you too! Bring Raven over for a girly slumber party tonight. Get Amber and Vada on your way!!

Summer: On our way. LOVES YOU!

Me: LOVES YOU!

After babysitting my two girls, Summer decided she needed a puppy of her own and bought herself, and Amber, a Doberman each from the same breeder as Midnight and Storm were bought from. Now our movie nights have turned into dog slumber parties so our babies can play together. The guys are not impressed, but they know we’re safe with the dogs here with us.

After the whole kidnap, murder, and prison shit that went down, I deferred my classes for a while. My concentration is non-existent and I have bigger shit to deal with. There are so many revelations to sift through and my brain can barely keep up as it is.

I sweep my gaze across the front yard when I spot a car I don’t recognize pulling up at the gates. Our security guard still apologizes profusely for letting the psycho, Emma, in that fateful day. He thought she was my friend and could be trusted. No one could predict what was coming and that she would turn out to be a liar and a traitor.

After Summer and Amber were filled in on what went down, and after the initial shock to all of us, we pinkie swore to never let another person into our group. We don’t speak Emma’s name anymore, it’s as though she never existed. Null and void.

The car eases up the driveway and stops in line with where I’m standing. Out of the passenger side climbs Milan, in his signature black Armani suit and black shiny shoes. There’s still enough light to see the wicked glint in his eyes, even from this far away.

“Motherfucker.” I can’t believe my eyes.

The fucker disappeared and I’ve not heard a peep from him since that day. Not a fucking word. I have no idea why I’m jaded about it. My fingers instinctively press against his brand on my skin, eliciting long lost desires and temptations too enticing to ignore.

Storm and Midnight are at my sides at once, they still aren’t comfortable around anyone, and I completely understand in this instance. Milan is an enigma, all sharp edges and dangerous, with riddles no one can decipher.

“It’s okay, girls.” I head toward him, wondering what bullshit he has come to spin.

The car he was chauffeured in, turns around the circular drive and exits through the gates, leaving him on the driveway. I stare after it and suddenly put two-and-two together. He’s here for his fucking car, not me.

“I’m here to collect what’s mine.” He slices his gaze over me, chewing me up and spitting me out with that one statement.

“The keys are on the driver’s seat.” I jut my chin out as I stop a few feet away from him.

He studies me, his dark eyes lapping up my small booty shorts, making me almost squirm under his scrutiny. “I’m not here for the fucking car, Maya.” He spits his words like fireworks.

My mind backflips. “What the fuck do you want?” I say, exasperated.

He strides toward me, halting when my two girls stand between us, blocking his path and baring their teeth.

“What’s rightfully mine.” He places his hands in his pockets and stares me down.

Oh.

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