BOUND TO THE MAFIA LORD

The unexpected visitor

OLIVIA.

Axel…

He’d yelled at me to get out of his sight— after the strange woman had walked in on us.

I bit down my lower lip, feeling utterly useless at that moment.

And the fact that I was half-naked with my gown raised above my thighs when he pushed me away violently.

But why should I be surprised?

He was a heartless devil.

A man who’d broken my family.

Torn everything in my life apart.

Rosa’s hands guided me back to my room— or my cage, as that was what it felt like.

Suffocating.

Restricting.

“Who’s she?”

I couldn’t help but ask, throwing myself into the bed with my body fully stretched on the soft surface.

Rosa heaved a deep sigh, and I heard her footsteps heading towards the bathroom.

“She’s Nelly.”

Nelly… I allowed the name to sink in.

I recalled the look on Axel’s face when he saw her and how he’d sounded almost out of breath after hearing her voice.

She stirred up something within him— I could tell.

Had to be his lover or someone he’d longed for.

Although, I doubted if he even had a heart that could love.

“I know…” I pouted my lips, feeling her warm hands pulling the fabric off my skin as I sat up straight on the bed. “I meant to ask— Who’s she to Axel?”

Rosa didn’t say anything. Instead, she proceeded to fold my hair into the bonnet in her hands.

“Someone he had a close relationship with,” she responded when I wasn’t even expecting, and I furrowed my eyebrows at her response. “But that was a long time ago.”

So, his ex-lover, huh? I’d been right about that.

She stretched her hands out for me to hold, pulling me up to my feet and to the bathroom where my bath water was waiting.

Yes. She was ordered to do every single thing for me— and that included bathing me.

“He was in a relationship with her?”

I stepped into the bathtub, shivering slightly after feeling the warm water on my skin.

Rosa’s hands massaged my back carefully, and I found my body relaxing in the water.

“You want to know every single thing, don’t you?”

I grinned. My mother had always reminded me about how curious I was. But in this case, it was different.

He was at the brink of making love to me and stealing my innocence until someone interrupted— for the second time, which I was so grateful for.

But…

His actions towards me after seeing her were questionable. And I wanted answers to all the burning questions that were at the tip of my tongue.

I groaned. “Just tell me already.”

I heard her chuckle, and she signaled at me to hand over the sponge that was in front of me. Which I did with a rush, eager to hear everything she had to say.

“It’s a complicated story,” she began, gently scrubbing my skin with the pink, fluffy sponge. “Nelly was Dahlia’s best friend. And Dahlia was Axel’s wife.”

I widened my eyes at the little yet heavy piece of information.

Wait, what?

Axel was married?

And he was having an affair with his wife’s best friend?

Touché.

“W-What?”

Rosa poured water all over my back, rinsing out the soap suds. She parted her lips to speak again, this time with a lower voice.

“Like I said, it’s complicated. He met Nelly first, but circumstances changed their fate, and he ended up with Dahlia.”

I lowered my body inside the bathtub, my fingers running through the soapy water.

I had another burning question.

“Where’s Dahlia?”

I heard her force a swallow before whispering in just one word. “Dead.”

I froze, my eyes widening at the word.

So, he was a widower.

What an unexpected twist.

“That’s… sad.” I whimpered, feeling slightly sorry for him. “It must have been hard for him.”

Rosa heaved a deep breath. “Her death broke him,” she said, and I traced the sorrowful tone that lingered in her voice. “They were inseparable. And she was pregnant with their baby before she died. Axel almost went insane.”

Goosebumps grew on my skin. The thought of dying with another life growing inside her felt like a knife that went through my heart.

And Axel…

I shouldn’t be feeling sorry for him— but it felt too painful not to.

He’d lost two special lives.

And he didn’t deserve that.

Or maybe— he did.

I scrunched up my face, slowly allowing my thoughts to control me for the next few minutes.

“Rosa,” I called her with a shaky voice, running my tongue over my lips nervously. “Do you think I'll ever leave here? Alive?”

I felt her hands pause.

She didn't say anything for a few seconds, and when I tried to look at her, she'd already resumed the scrubbing.

“Rosa?”

“I don't know… honestly,” her answer made me feel a lump in my throat– one that was difficult to swallow.

Was I going to ever see my mother?

My sister?

And what was going to happen to me? Now that his ex lover was back?

~~~~~~~♤♤♤♤♤♤~~~~~~~

“I can't believe you came back,”

That was Axel to Nelly. I knew I wasn't supposed to snoop around– but I couldn't help it.

Boredom had become my best friend. And I was getting tired.

I peeped from the slightly closed door, my eyes taking in every single detail.

Axel had his body rested against his table, his arms firmly crossed and dressed in only a pair of navy blue shorts. He had his chest exposed, revealing his tattoos, which I found difficult to count.

I shifted my gaze to Nelly, her hips swaying in rhythm as she walked closer to Axel. Her blonde hair was neatly done in a sleek ponytail, and the soles of her heels made clicking sounds on the marble floor.

“Ace…”

Her voice sounded like music to the ears, soothing and calm.

Seductive, too.

She halted in front of him, her skimpy gown showing off her perfect, curvy figure.

“You're not supposed to be here.”

She pouted her lips. “I missed you.”

He didn't say anything. Instead, I saw her hands reach for his hands.

“Your father… We're rivals. You know what happened the last time.”

“I don't care!” She squeaked, leaning forward so their foreheads could touch each other's. “I want you. And this time, I'm not giving up.”

I had no idea why I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. Or why I felt a flushing heat surge through my cheeks.

I took a step backward, deciding it was time to retreat.

I couldn't stay there anymore.

I didn't want to hear anything… again.

Strong hands– I felt them wrapping around my waist firmly.

At first, fear gripped me, my mind hinting that it was Axel, but my eyes glanced back into the room– and I saw him, locking lips with Nelly.

My heart raced in my chest.

First, at the sight of them kissing.

And secondly…

Who was behind me?

Touching me inappropriately?

It was a man– I knew.

His unfamiliar scent filled my nostrils. And I felt something hard poking me through his pants as he pressed me closer to his body.

Cold lips touched my ears, pressing wet kisses that trailed down my neck.

I lost it when I felt those hands reaching for my breasts to cup them. And slowly… he fondled them.

I took another step backward, stepping on his foot unintentionally.

He gave a loud wince– it'd hurt him.

I swerved around, trying to see his face amid the tension in my heart.

His face was familiar. But his name skipped my mind.

“Viper?”

Axel…

I shifted my gaze and saw Axel standing at the entrance of his room, his narrowed eyes darting between me and the unfamiliar man– who he'd called his name actually.

I stood frozen, knowing I was still held tightly in his arms.