Page 1 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Heir

CHAPTER 1

Rosa

The doors to my dorm room burst open as a shadow fills the hallway. Band posters from my absent roommate’s side of the room flicker as the shadow moves closer. I hold my breath as my nostrils sting from expensive cologne.

“Who’s there?” I manage to croak. The shadow, who I can now identify as a man, laughs. His laughter fills the room with an echo so loud, I wonder if he’s real.

“That piece of shit sure does know how to pick his battles,” he replies. A shiver ripples down my spine. My eyes search the room for any kind of weapon. By now, I know how this game goes. This isn’t the first time strangers have burst into my home with the intent of making me pay for my parents’ crimes. It’s just my luck that my scheming parents fell in love and merged their love for each other with excessive gambling. My life has consisted of never-ending anxiety and working overtime since I was twelve.

This time is different, though. I’m not twelve and this isn’t Crimson Heights. I am finally living my dream in college and the last three months have been bliss until now.

I sit up in bed. “Whatever issues you have with my parents have nothing to do with me,” I reply. The shadow moves closeenough for the moonlight to illuminate his face. I suck in my breath. Chiseled features, striking blue eyes, dark, curly hair swept to the back. If he hadn’t broken into my dorm, I would’ve thought he was hot.

Focus Rosa. This one might actually have something other than a blunt knife,I think to myself. The man sits on the edge of my bed, clasping long, tattooed hands together.

“I always wonder why idiots get strapped with such beautiful daughters,” he says as his eyes take me in.

I instinctively touch the top of my head.No baseball cap in bed, Rosa.Shit. I may actually be desirable at this moment.

“How much do you need?” I ask.

He snickers. “Well, aren’t you considerate?”

I reach under my pillow to pull out a nine-millimeter, immediately taking off the safety. “Not really in the mood to be taunted. I have an exam tomorrow.”

He doesn’t seem to be moved by the gun inches from his face. “Don’t make this harder for me. I have all night, princess.”

Rage rushes through me. It’s always princess, angel, or sweetheart. I ram the gun against the side of his face. “My name is Rosa!” I roar. He groans loudly and falls to the side. Taking him out is not an option, the ruthless mafia will be relentless in their pursuit, hunting me down like a wild animal, so I make my escape for the open door. All I need is to reach the top of the hallway and call for campus police. It’s an easy run. I’ll tell the police everything I know about my parents’ illegal activity. I’ll finally be free to live a normal life.

The plan seems feasible until I’m snatched back into the darkness of my room. A girl can dream. Strong arms throw me to the ground and I come face to face with the enraged grimace of my kidnapper. I know how this thing goes. Without another word, he flips me onto my stomach to zip-tie my hands and feet.A single tear slides down the side of my face but thankfully the darkness hides it.

“The RA has cameras,” I say as he tosses me over his shoulder with impressive ease.

“Not for $6,000,” he replies. Of course. Broke college kids are easy targets for drug dealers. The hallways whip past me as I’m carried towards the back door. I catch a glimpse of the RA — Carmen — who claimed to be a devout campus Christian against violence. Her passion for keeping students safe is what made me feel safe to stay in the dorm. She hides behind the closet door as the back door swings open. A large, black SUV waits for us.

“So much for higher education,”I think bitterly to myself as I’m tossed in the trunk. A black bag is placed over my head and the trunk door slams.

I lost track of how long the car ride is. Judging from the bumps, beeping taxis, and near-death collisions that send me rolling across the trunk, I can tell we are out of the city. Quiet takes over and there are long stretches of smooth driving. Maybe we are going upstate or perhaps we are completely out of New York and I’ll be stowed on a boat. There’s a high chance he’ll kill me if my parents don’t cough up whatever cash they owe. I’m not new to their fumbling. I’d once been kidnapped at ten when my mom gambled our rent. The casino owner held me hostage in his living room with five other snotty-nosed kids. But I just figured my mom had to run an errand and would be right back.

This is different. The circumstances feel more dire by the second. It could be my parent’s way of punishing me for leaving them behind. I begged them for freedom. I wanted a life thatdidn’t call for me to look over my shoulder. I was an idiot to think I could actually have that.

The car suddenly stops. My heart starts to pound. I like to pretend I’m a hard ass who isn’t scared of death, but my skin is prickling with cold sweat. The truck opens and the man grabs me, tossing me over his shoulder. His steps are measured and deliberate, each foot landing softly on the ground as he makes his way up. He appears cautious, almost as if he is navigating a minefield, but there is no sense of urgency in his movements. He pauses then continues.

He needs this to go well,I determine. A door opens and he throws me into the air. Thankfully, I land on something soft. I feel him unzip my hands and feet and he finally takes the bag from over my head. We’re in a house.

“Where am I?” I ask immediately.

My kidnapper doesn’t seem interested in providing more details. “It’s Vinny.”

“What?”

He sits across from me on a small, lazy couch. “My name is Vinny.”

“Great. I didn’t ask,” I reply.

Vinny holds his hand out. “We can at least be on polite speaking terms.”

I roll my eyes. I’ve seen plenty of criminals like him — well-polished with sensual voices that make you feel at ease despite the fact that your life is falling apart. Vinny wants me to relax enough to forget that he’s a danger.

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