In bed with the Mafia

Old habits

Aiden

Her eyes, a soft, muted green, flared with anger. It was an unusual look on her face. A look I had never seen before; one that made my chest tighten. In all our five years together, I had never seen her look at me with such angry eyes. Angry, yet broken and hurt. Tears laced the corners of her eyes, waiting to fall out at any moment; and it was my fault, I did this. She had always been the strong one and I had pretended to be just another regular guy, a weakling. But this time, I was scared that seeing the real me had broken her.

Or had it?

I let out a soft sigh. I hadn't wanted her to find out this way. Damn, I hadn't wanted her to find out at all. But she was also getting engaged to Gabriel. Did she ever plan on telling me that? The whole break-in on her birthday and the kidnap, was it all a ruse to make her disappear? Was all this a well-thought-out plan or just tough luck—fate playing its hands at dark humor?

I didn't know what to believe. She was the daughter of Jacob McClain, a man who was known to be brutal, even with his children. For all I knew our relationship could have been a hoax, perhaps a means to get close to a competitor and pry out information. I shook my head, it didn't make sense. Our five years together couldn't have been a lie, could it? I clenched my fist and sucked in air.

“The ring…” I muttered, breaking out of my conundrum of thoughts.

For a moment, she looked startled, then her gaze steeled.

“f**k you, Aiden. I don't ever want to see you again!” she snapped.

She turned on her heels, her hair flipping behind her as a soft whiff of her scent reached my nose. She didn't hesitate, she didn't look back. She stormed off—just like that. A part of me wanted to tell her to stay. To make her stay if I had to and by any means necessary. But I couldn't, she had seen who I really was. She had seen my family, not many people would stay afterwards. And to make matters worse, she now belonged to Gabriel.

Or did she? Could I even bring myself to accept that?

The car door opened up before she reached it and she entered. The car reversed and they zoomed off. I waved off the dust that rose to the air as I watched the black Chevrolet zoom off. I walked back to my car, took out a cigarette and lit it, as I settled into the seat. I leaned back and drew on the cigarette, letting the smoke escape slowly, and with it my thoughts. After a couple of minutes, my phone rang. It was Gabriel, the devil and my supposed big brother. He liked to think of himself as the Don and of me as his second, but we both knew he couldn't really do much without mother's approval.

I picked up, even though he was the last person I wanted to speak with.

“Brother…” his raspy voice blared through the phone. “Where are you? Antonio said you just zoomed off.” His voice was almost always calm, but never calm enough to mask the condescending tone.

“I'm on my way back home,’’ I replied, evading his question. Telling him I had chased after his betrothed—my fiancee—would have been a terrible idea.

“That won't be necessary,” he said dismissively. “There's something I need you to personally take care of.”

I oversaw our men, and ensured that they did their task, but Gabriel knew I no longer got my hands dirty. I haven't, not in five long years. “What do you need?”

He paused. He didn't expect me to willingly agree to get my hands dirty, nor did he know why. After the brief pause he continued. “One of our men was seen talking to Marcus. He's a spy.”

“Who?” I asked, feeling anger bubble up within me.

“Luke. You know what happens to spies. Handle it.”

The line went dead. It was strange that the men would report to Gabriel and not to me. But it wasn't unexpected, it's been five years of me barking endless commands at them, whilst doing everything possible to distance myself from all the violence. I had grown weak. Anna had made me weak. She had made me want to be normal.

No one left the Mafia, at least not alive. But Anna; she madee want to risk it all. I scoffed, ridding my mind of the thought. I dialed a few numbers and within a few minutes I got a text. I didn't have Luke's location, but I knew where he'd be at exactly 8pm. He'd be at one of our clubs. I dialed Viktor's number. He was my most reliable man and had overseen most of our missions in my absence, all I needed to do was give the command.

“Boss,’’ he said, as he picked up.

“I'm sending you a location. Gather a few men.” I heard his phone beep, it was probably the message that I sent. “Luke, he's a spy. We're paying him a visit.”

“We?” he asked, sounding surprised. “You're coming with us?”

“Yes.”

***

I walked into the club, blocking out the blaring music. I hated crowded spaces and the thick smell of sweat that usually came with it. I wriggled my way through the crowd, earning some glances my way. Luke wasn't that difficult to find, he was seated at the VIP section, with a couple of our men and some hookers. As I moved closer, Luke's phone came on. He picked it and looked at the screen, then looked upwards immediately.

The moment he looked up, our eyes collided and he, immediately, bolted for the back exit. Someone tipped him off. Fool. He just confirmed his guilt and signed his death. I followed after him, tearing through the crowd to the almost empty corridor that led to the back exit. Luke slammed through the door, and almost immediately, I heard a loud groan. I slowed my pace as I edged towards the door. As I exited the club, I found Viktor standing over Luke. Luke must have been stupid to think that we wouldn't cover the back entrance.

He grunted, pushing himself upwards. Viktor yanked him up and shoved him against the wall, as I loosened the button of my shirt and rolled up my sleeve. Viktor had his eyes on me. I hadn't gotten my hands dirty in five years because I wanted to be better for her. But that restraint was now gone. I landed a punch on Luke's stomach. He bent over, coughing and clenching his stomach. I grabbed him by the throat and shoved him back against the wall. I could feel my anger swell in a way that it hadn't in a long while.

“Why were you talking to Marcus?” I growled, tightening my hold on his neck.

“I swear I wasn't…I—”

“You know better than to lie to me.” My voice was rough, even against my own ears. Something was happening to me, something I couldn't quite understand. My anger felt like a flood that had been held back by a weakened gate for far too long. It threatened to break out and leave c*****e in its wake. I pulled Luke towards me and smashed him back against the wall. “Speak!”

Whatever demon he saw in my eyes made him piss his pants, as he spilled. “He wanted to know why we're offering protection to the McClains'. Anna and her brother, Liam. He…he wanted me to…to kill them for a small price. They're our enemies. I'd be doing us a favor. I didn't betray…”

I momentarily turned deaf. Nothing he said mattered anymore, only one thing did.

Anna!

They wanted to take her from me. That was the last push that broke the floodgates. I landed a punch square on his face. His nose broke, spraying my hands with blood. I gleamed at the sight of it. The beast I had locked up had finally been let loose after five years, and it was angry and starved.

I landed another punch on his face, as my thoughts flicked back to Anna. Why did she come into my life all those years ago?

I punched him again…Why did she make me fall for her?

I punched him again…Why did she leave!?

My mind raced and raged as I landed another punch on his face, almost flattening his nose. Why'd she agree to be with Gabriel?

I smashed his head into the wall. Why did her departure make me feel so empty?

I pulled out Viktor's gun from his holster and shot Luke thrice. My chest heaved as I panted heavily, but relief never came. Instead, Anna's words struck my mind again: So, you're just a thug.

Maybe she was right after all.