Page 69 of Mafia King's Forbidden Vows

The room is spacious, dominated by a large oak desk littered with neatly arranged papers and pens. My feet move in quick strides, closing the gap between the desk and I.

My eyes dart across each file until I find the one Samantha has come for. My fingers reach tentatively for the doorknob, pulling it closed behind me before making my way to the desk. The sudden brightness of the computer before me stops me from rummaging through the other files. And to my surprise, it is unlocked, too. So either someone was using it until just now and they’d be back any minute, or they actually forgot to lock it or turn it off. Either way, it’s my lucky day because I believe Mario’s file should be in here somewhere.

My ears turn toward the hallway, listening for any sign of her or anyone else’s return. For now, there’s nothing but the muffled hum of office chatter.

The swivel chair creaks slightly as I lower myself into it, my fingers brushing the keyboard instantly. The screen springs to life, displaying a cluttered desktop filled with folders.

I click on search and input the words: Mario Abruzzi. When a file pops up, I nearly scream with joy.

My throat tightens. This is it.

Click.

The file opens, filling the screen with text. My heart drops when I do a quick skim and I see that the document is heavily redacted. Of course, the DA wouldn’t leave sensitive information lying around on his computer. My eyes hurriedly scan the words, my heart thundering in my chest. If I can just find-–

I’m so close. I just need a minute to make out the words.

Footsteps.

My stomach lurches.

I jab frantically at the keyboard, opening file explorer and navigating my way to clear my recent activity. The screen returns to its home page just as the doorknob twists.

“Aria?”

Samantha’s voice is sharp, suspicious. I snatch up the physical file she asked for and stand, forcing a casual smile as she steps into the room. She looks less pale but her eyes narrow as she takes in the scene.

“You got it?”

My head moves in a nod, holding up the folder. “Right here.”

Her gaze flicks to the computer, then back to me. For a moment, I think she’s going to say something, but she just sighs. “Let’s go. I don’t want to stay here any longer than we have to.”

As she walks out, I follow suit, my legs steady, though my hands feel clammy. My mind races as we walk back down the corridor and inside the elevator. Samantha leans against the wall. I risk a glance at her, guilt reaching up to my throat again, but I shove it down.

Something other than guilt is gnawing at me relentlessly. The document was redacted, yes, but I could have still seen motion information, filing dates…anything; but I got nothing. Fuck.

I was this close, yet I walked away with nothing. My fingers tremble as the scene replays in my head. It seems that if I want to see everything…all the information—I indeed would have to gain access to, and search, the internal docket system. Everything feels like a failure, weighing heavily on my chest. Mario must be so disappointed in me right now.

The corners of my lips rise in a fake smile as we both walk out of the elevator and Samantha heads straight out of the office building, hailing a cab to the courthouse.

The feeling of hurrying back to the DA’s office seizes me immensely, but I fight it off. If anyone catches me, that could be the end of my career.

As I make my way back to my office, tears pool in my eyes, blinding me momentarily. My feet pause in their tracks as my chest rises, filling my lungs with air to calm me down.

“...we are live at one of New York’s biggest hotels known as The Grand Empire, where a shooting has taken place at their casino…”

The words suddenly float to my ears from a big TV screen in the lobby.

My eyes fling open.

Shooting at The Grand Empire? That was the hotel where Elio proposed to me… that’shishotel!

Without thinking, I rush out of the building and hail the first cab before me, heading straight for the Donatelli mansion.

***

The familiar scent of cedarwood and musk hits me as I step into the mansion. He has to be in here, somewhere.

---