I am The Property Of The Mafia Boss

Olivia Maine I let out a long, slow sigh as I stepped out of my bedroom, my bare feet sinking slightly into the plush hallway carpet. That room had been my refuge for as long as I could remember , my sanctuary against the storm that was the Maine household. My safe little cave where no one could poke, prod, or pick apart every little thing I did. Leaving it was something I rarely did willingly unless there was a solid reason. Mealtimes usually qualified. But right now, it wasn’t mealtime. Still, I found myself out here, one hand shoved deep inside the pocket of my worn grey sweatpants, the soft cotton bunching beneath my fingers. My phone was clutched tightly in my palm, its smooth, cool surface grounding me. I took a steadying breath, feeling my chest expand and my shoulders tense with anticipation. Before moving, I did what I always did , I checked. My gaze swept the hallway, darting left and right to make sure no one was in sight. I couldn’t stand unexpected encounters. Not here. Not with them. When the coast looked clear, I descended the staircase slowly, my hand sliding down the polished wooden banister. Each step creaked faintly under my weight. I was hoping, praying even, that I could make it all the way to the front door without a single interaction. That was my goal , to slip out like a shadow, unnoticed. But fate clearly had other ideas. Because the second my foot left the last step, I collided with someone. Hard. Adrienne. She shrieked at the sudden contact, a high-pitched, sharp sound that seemed to slice through the air like glass shattering. Her hands shot out instinctively, shoving me away from her like I was something dirty she’d stepped in. My back hit the edge of the staircase, and I went down hard, my body sliding against the steps before coming to a jarring stop. Pain shot through me in a hot, sharp wave, and I bit down hard on my lip to stop the whimper that almost escaped. My spine ached, and I knew with certainty I’d be seeing bruises later. “Watch where the f**k you’re going, bitch.” Adrienne’s voice cracked like a whip. Heat crawled up my neck and flushed my cheeks, my humiliation burning almost as much as the pain in my back. I could never understand how my siblings could curse so freely in front of each other , in front of anyone , without a second thought. “I’m sorry,” I murmured quickly, eyes lowered. I didn’t even bother to get up right away; I knew her well enough to know she’d just push me again if I tried. She didn’t stop to wait for a reply. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her expression twisting into something even colder. “Next time,” she said in a voice that was almost too calm, “I’ll put a bullet between your eyes.” The disgust in her gaze was something I’d grown used to, but it still stung. She didn’t give me a chance to respond. She simply turned and stalked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, heading off to whatever destination her perfectly polished life required. Only when she disappeared from view did I push myself to my feet, ignoring the sharp protest from my back. My eyes darted toward the front door, relief starting to build in my chest , until another voice stopped me cold. “Little mouse, where do you think you’re going?” I froze, my hand hovering just inches from the doorknob. Slowly, I turned to face the source. Adin. My older brother. The oldest of us all. Thirty years old, perfectly put together, and smug in the knowledge that he was the heir to my father’s empire. He still lived here, in the sprawling Maine family house, because he would be taking over soon. He looked exactly as he always did , clad in an immaculately pressed business suit, the expensive fabric catching the light. His blonde hair was slicked back with so much gel it probably wouldn’t move in a hurricane. His piercing blue eyes were fixed on me, calculating. Watching. Waiting for me to trip over my own words. I hated how nosey he could be. “Uh…” I cleared my throat, scrambling for a believable excuse. “I’m just going to get a cup of coffee.” “We have coffee at home,” he pointed out flatly. “Yeah, so?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. His eyebrow arched, sharp as a blade, and I immediately muttered an apology under my breath. Adin wasn’t like Adrienne , he didn’t actively torment me , but that didn’t mean he liked me. I knew better than to push him. “You know everyone can tell when you’re lying, right?” he said, his tone almost bored. I stayed quiet, avoiding his gaze. He sighed and finally stepped aside. “Go. Be back before it’s dark.” Relief washed over me, and I rushed to pull open the door. Just as I stepped outside, I heard my mother’s voice drift from somewhere deeper in the house , cold, dismissive. “I don’t care if she comes back or not.” I didn’t let myself react. Not outwardly. Not when she might still be watching. Instead, I pushed her words aside and focused on the reason I was leaving. My dad was on a business trip, but he’d texted me earlier, telling me to meet him at a bookshop before he came home. I didn’t know what he wanted, but the fact that he wanted to see me first filled me with a small, fragile bubble of excitement. As I walked down toward the gate, I felt eyes following me , the same watchful stares I always felt. My father’s men were stationed around the property at all times, silent and unmoving. They never spoke to me unless absolutely necessary, and I never spoke to them either. My anxiety wouldn’t let me. Just the idea of trying to hold a conversation with them made my chest feel tight. One of them stepped forward to open the gate for me without a word, and I slipped out, grateful for the lack of small talk. I didn’t own a car , I didn’t know how to drive , and I wasn’t about to let some stranger chauffeur me around. Luckily, the bookshop wasn’t far. Just a short walk down the street. Pulling my headphones over my ears, I scrolled to a playlist and hit play, letting the music drown out the remnants of my mother’s voice in my head. My sweatshirt was faded, my sweatpants loose, and I knew my father wouldn’t approve if he saw me dressed like this. But my wardrobe didn’t offer much choice. As I strolled along the quiet street, I let my thoughts wander. What surprise could my father possibly have for me? He was unpredictable , one moment treating me like I was the most important person in his life, the next making it painfully clear I was an inconvenience. I was the youngest of four. My siblings , Adin, Adam, and Adrienne , all had names beginning with A, and then there was me: Olivia. I’d always felt like an outsider, the odd piece that didn’t fit into the Maine family puzzle. They went to events, parties, vacations, without me. I told myself it was fine. My anxiety made me bad company anyway. The quiet street ended, and the noise of traffic reached my ears. I turned left, heading for the alley that would cut the walk in half. The moment I stepped into the narrow passageway, I felt it, the prickling sensation of being watched. I didn’t run. Not yet. Maybe it was one of my father’s men. Maybe they were following me for protection. I turned off my music, letting the silence sharpen my senses. The footsteps were there. Behind me. Steady. My heart started to pound. My father had enemies, and this was not the place for me to freeze up. But fear still licked at the edges of my mind. Unlike my siblings, I’d never had much training. My father didn’t think it would be worth the effort. I walked faster, almost at the mouth of the alley, when another figure stepped into view, blocking the exit. I stopped. My way out was gone. I turned , the path behind me was cut off too. Panic clawed up my throat. I could scream. That was my only option. “Hey, calm down,” the man in front said quickly. “Are you Olivia Maine?” My eyes narrowed. “Who’s asking?” He didn’t answer me. Instead, he glanced over my shoulder at the man behind me. Before I could make sense of what was happening, a hand clamped over my face from behind, pressing a cloth to my nose and mouth. The sharp, chemical scent burned my nostrils. My knees buckled. The world tilted, colors bleeding together. My limbs felt heavy, useless. And then I was falling, slipping into the black, swallowed whole by the darkness.