Page 2 of Dark Mafia Bride

The leader steps closer, his eyes glinting with something darker. “Maybe we don’t gotta take it that far,” he muses, his voice low and suggestive. “Maybe there’s another way. Something...a little more in my favor.”

I know exactly what he means, and my stomach churns. Bile rises in my throat as I instinctively back up, only for my foot to slip in a puddle. I stumble against the cold, wet brick wall of the alley.Trapped.

They close in on me, their laughter low and menacing.This is bad. Really bad.

“I-I’ll get the money. I swear...”

“Of course you will,” the second guy cuts in, smirking. “We just want a little payment for making us come all the way here to look for you.”

My body shakes with fear, and I hate it. I hate how helpless I feel. How a desperate move to save my mother’s life has led me straight into this nightmare.

The leader steps even closer, his cronies flanking him on either side, cutting off any escape. He reaches out, his fingers grazing my cheek. “Don’t you worry, it’ll be quick and painless,” he whispers.

I clench my jaw, summoning whatever scraps of courage I can find. “You think I’m just going to let you?”

Their cruel laughter fills the narrow alley, echoing off the walls. “What’re you gonna do, princess? Take us all on?” the leader taunts. “I’d love to see you try. May even make this a little more fun.”

My hand tightens around the strap of my bag like it’s some kind of shield, though it feels utterly useless. My mind races, searching for a plan, anything, but all I feel is the crushing weight of fear closing in.

And then, through the relentless pounding of the rain, I hear it—the low, unmistakable hum of an engine. The three men snap their heads toward the sound, and I know this is my only chance. My only way out.

Before they can react, I slam my knee into the leader’s groin with every ounce of strength I have.

A groan escapes his lips as I tear myself from the wall, sprinting toward the alley’s entrance. At least, I try to. Before I can take three steps, his large hand clamps down on my arm, yanking me back.

“You fucking bitch! Now you’ve gone and made a real big mistake,” he snarls, slamming me hard against the wet brick wall.

The force knocks the wind out of me, and panic surges through my veins. I know in this moment there’s no escape. He’s mad now, and I’m completely trapped.

I bite back a sob as I feel his hand tighten around my arm as the other drifts downward, grazing my thigh. I want to scream, to fight back, but all that comes is a choked gasp. His hand creeps higher, brushing the hem of my dress just as the glare of headlights slices through the darkness.

“Who the fuck is that?” the leader snaps, his eyes narrowing.

I blink, focusing on the sleek black car now parked at the alley’s mouth. The door swings open, and a man steps out. He’s tall, broad-shouldered, and his perfectly tailored coat is immaculate despite the rain that has soaked through everything else.

There’s something almost unnatural about how untouched he looks by the weather.

I can’t properly make out his face as he steps in front of the car. All I can see is the silhouette of a tall man with long, curly hair that stops at his shoulders.

His face is hidden, swallowed by the light behind him. He moves with easy confidence, not caring about the rain soaking his pristine state. Every step deliberate and unhurried, as if he owns the very ground beneath his feet.

A chill slithers down my spine as I wait, unsure of what’s coming next.

The second guy’s face drains of color as soon as he spots him. And I don’t know if that’s a good or bad thing.

“Shit, Elia,” he breathes. “It’s The Reaper.”

The Reaper? Who the hell is that?

The leader—Elia scowls, but even he can’t hide the flicker of fear in his eyes. “What the fuck is he doin’ here?”

I don’t know who this man is, but the way they react tells me everything I need to know. This is no rescue, no guardian angel. He’s here for something else, something darker.

The Reaper—or whatever ridiculous name they’ve given him—stalks toward us, his footsteps echoing on the wet pavement. His eyes, dark and unreadable, flick over me for the briefest of moments, but it’s enough to make my skin prickle. His attention shifts to the men surrounding me, and the air in the alley thickens.

A sick silence falls. No one moves, no one speaks, but I can feel the weight of a decision hanging in the balance.

And then, without warning, he reaches inside his coat.

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