The Mafia Boss Next Door

The Way He Doesn’t Look At Me

Clara ~

Curiosity has a way of ruining lives. Mine just happened to start with him I should've stayed inside.

That's the first thought that hit me the moment I stepped into the hallway and saw him again.

Adrian Volkov.

Leaning casually against the wall like he had nowhere else to be. One hand in his pocket, the other loosely holding his phone he wasn't doing anything and that was the problem.

Men like Adrian Volkov always looked like they were doing nothing… when in reality, they were watching everything.

And men like him? They didn't just watch. They end things quietly.

Something about him always feel off. Like standing too close to something you didn't fully understand... but knew could burn you.

My cheeks turn pink.

My n*****s noticed him anyway.

My eyes lingered longer than they should have tracing not obvious just enough to take him in. The way his shirt sat against his frame... slightly loose, but not enough to hide anything.

The sleeves pushed up just enough to expose his waist… his hands.

Strong hands the kind that didn't fidget didn't hesitate. My skin flushed.

And between my thighs my wetness deepened, and my folds parted as if it was welcoming him I exhaled softly shifting my weight.

Why am I even looking? He wasn't looking back not at me or at anyone just standing there like had nothing to prove. And somehow that even made it worse.

Because men who knew their effect they don't need to show it my thighs clenched together unconsciously before I caught myself.

“Seriously?”

I muttered under my breath, dragging my gaze away this was getting ridiculous he's your neighbor nothing more.

But my body didn’t seem to care about logic, because the closer I got as I walked past him the more I wanted him his presence subtle.

Heavy.

Like standing too close to heat without touching the flame I slowed just slightly that was my mistake, even without looking I felt it that shift.

The awareness like he knew how ruined I was he could feel it too my breath hitched, just for second then I turned carefully and this time he looked directly at me.

No surprise.

Just calm.

Intentional.

Like this moment had already happened in his head. A cold shiver ran through my spine, for a second I forgot how to move there was something in his eyes not softness not interest.

Something quieter. Something that made my p***y warm in a way I didn't want to think about too deeply, his gaze dropped brief controlled but not meaningless.

Just enough then back at my face like he'd taken what he wanted... without even touching me without asking.

My mouth dried up.

Damn him.

I held his gaze, refusing to be the first to look away but my body betrayed. A slow inhale a subtle shift that same heat is creeping up again.

Low.

Uninvited.

He had me already. He saw it I knew he did the hint of a smile tugged at his lips again small barely noticeable but knowing.

Like he understood something about me... I hadn't even admitted to myself yet,then he looked away just like that dismissive, unbothered like I wasn't worth more than a few seconds of his time.

That hit harder than anything else. I stood there for a moment longer than I should've breathing slower, steadier trying to ignore the way my body hadn't quite settled yet.

My n*****s were hard.

“This is such a bad idea,” I murmured.

Even as I turned away one thought lingered sharp, uncomfortable and entirely too honest I didn't just notice him my whole body reacted to him.

And the worst part I had a feeling he knew what he was doing.

Jesus.

A shadow moved behind him. Just for a second I blinked he didn't see it or did he? I swallowed hard my pulse jumped, he followed the shadow immediately.

I didn't know what was happening but one thing for sure is the way Adrian ran after the shadow, something was off about it.

My curiosity got hold me. I tiptoed to the direction he ran off to.

Then...

A man on his knees shaking, begging.

"Please... please I can explain."

For the sake of my pregnant wife let me go. I will disappear from the city if you want me to but please don't kill me, my wife my unborn child still needs me please Boss.

Adrian stood in front of him, another man stood beside him holding a gun.

The man kneeling cried harder. "I was loyal! I swear."

A gun was raised, the man with the gun didn't move for a second everything went silent the he turned slowly like he knew someone was watching my heart stopped.

Their eyes met mine. Dark. Cold. Empty sharp enough to slice through my soul.

Boss what should we do? He asked Adrian.

I will handle her later he replied.

"Run."

I didn't wait to hear the word twice ran to my room immediately, locked my door tightly.

Bang.

A sharp sound cut through the silence. In that moment I thought I knew Adrian but I didn't, mercy wasn't his thing.

My hands covered my mouth to stop a scream. My whole body trembled, vision blurring as the man's body hit the ground with a loud bang.

That was the moment everything changed. The moment I stepped into his world... and there was no way out.