THE MAFIA’s PET

LIES

I called out to a passing nurse.

“Excuse me, the woman who was in this bed. Where is she? My mother. Where did you take her?”

The nurse looked at the chart in her hands, then smiled.

“Your mother has been transferred to the private medical ward. Her condition has improved, and she’s responding well to treatment.”

I blinked.

“Sorry, what?”

“She’s responding to treatment. The doctors decided she could receive better care in the other ward.”

I stared at her, waiting for the catch.

There had to be one.

“She’s getting better?”

“Yes, dear.”

My knees almost gave way.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “Oh, my God. Thank you.”

“But how come?”

“Pardon?”

“How about the bills?”

“You don’t know? Your husband took care of everything.”

My smile vanished.

Of course he did.

“Thank you.”

When I entered the room, my mother was awake, propped up against a mountain of pillows. She looked thinner than I remembered, her cheeks hollow and her skin pale, but she was awake.

And when she saw me, she smiled.

“My baby.”

That was all it took.

I crossed the room and folded myself into her arms, careful not to hurt her.

“Mom.”

“Oh, look at you.” She stroked my hair. “Why are you crying? I’m right here.”

“I’m not crying.”

She pulled back enough to look at my face.

“Lucia.”

“Okay, fine. Maybe a little.”

She laughed softly, and I nearly broke all over again.

I had missed her.

I’d been holding it together for so long, dealing with the bills, Mom’s illness, and everything else life kept throwing at me.

And now she was smiling at me.

Maybe, just maybe, things were finally going to be okay. God, I really wanted that to be true.

“You’re looking beautiful, Mom,” I said, wiping my cheeks.

She raised an eyebrow. “Beautiful? In this place?”

“Yes. Don’t argue with me.”

“You’re the one who has always been stubborn.”

“Must have inherited it from you.”

She chuckled, then took my hand.

“How have you been, sweetheart?”

My smile faltered.

I almost told her everything. God knows I wanted to, but I just couldn’t.

About the contract and Antonio.

About Alessia.

The thought of her name was enough to make my throat close.

But my mother had only just started getting better. She had enough to worry about without knowing that her daughter had practically sold her freedom to a man who could ruin both our lives with a single phone call.

So I smiled.

“I’m doing okay.”

She studied me.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course.”

“And your friend? Alessia? Is she still working at that club with you?”

My heart twisted.

I looked down at our joined hands, suddenly fascinated by the thin hospital bracelet around her wrist.

“Yes,” I lied. “She’s at work.”

The words came out so easily that they frightened me.

“Lucia?”

I looked up quickly.

“Hmm?”

“You seem far away.”

“I’m just tired, Mom. That’s all.”

She squeezed my hand.

“Then rest, my baby. You’ve been doing too much for everyone else.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

If only she knew.

We talked for a while. She told me about the nurses, the food, and the doctor who apparently had a terrible sense of humour. I laughed, teased her about being a difficult patient, and promised to visit again soon.

I didn’t tell her that I had no idea what my life would look like tomorrow.

When it was time to leave, she caught my hand.

“Lucia?”

I turned back.

“Yes, Mom?”

“Whatever happens, don’t lose yourself trying to save everyone else.”

I forced a smile.

“I won’t.”

Another lie.

I was beginning to get very good at those.

⸻

By the time I left the hospital, the afternoon sun had begun to fade.

I sat in the car, my mother’s words replaying in my head.

Don’t lose yourself trying to save everyone else.

Too late, Mom.

I was already halfway gone.

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror.

“Are you hungry, miss? We could stop somewhere before returning.”

“No, thank you.”

I leaned back against the seat and pulled out my phone.

The unknown number was still there.

I opened the conversation.

ME: I’m ready to meet.

The reply came almost immediately.

UNKNOWN: You’re alone?

I glanced at the driver.

ME: Yes.

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

Then a message arrived.

UNKNOWN: Send me your current location.

I frowned.

Why would they need my location when they had already given me an address?

I typed a reply.

ME: You gave me an address yesterday. I’ll meet you there.

The response came seconds later.

UNKNOWN: Plans have changed. Come to the address below.

A location followed.

I stared at it.

It was on the outskirts of the city, far from the busy streets and familiar buildings of central Milan.

My stomach did a little flip.

This was a terrible idea.

I sighed, tightening my fingers around the phone.

“Could you drop me at a nearby café instead?” I asked the driver.

He nodded. “Of course, miss.”

I would have him drop me somewhere public, then find my own way to the address. I wasn’t stupid enough to lead Antonio’s driver straight to a suspicious meeting.

At least, I hoped I wasn’t.

⸻

The place stank. Cigarettes, rubbish, and God knows what else.

A single streetlight flickered overhead, casting a sickly yellow glow over the narrow passage.

I stood near the entrance, hugging my bag against my chest.

This was the address they’d sent me.

I checked my phone again.

Nothing.

“Great,” I muttered. “Absolutely brilliant, Lucia. Sneaking around to meet strangers in an alley. Your mother would be so proud.”

I was about to turn back when I heard footsteps behind me.

Before I could look around, a man’s voice spoke.

“Lucia Abato?”

I spun around.

Two men stood a few feet away.

Both were dressed in black. One was tall and broad-shouldered, with a thick beard. The other had a thin scar running along his jaw.

“Who are you?”

“People who can take you to the person with the answers you’re looking for.”

“That’s not an answer.”

The bearded man glanced at his companion.

Then he smiled.

“You’re a lot like your friend.”

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“You knew Alessia?”

“Better than you think.”

I took a step back.

“Then tell me what happened to her.”

“Not here.”

The man with the scar nodded towards the road.

A black car sat parked a short distance away, its engine running.

I stared at it.

Then at them.

Every sensible instinct in my body screamed at me to run.

Instead, I asked, “Where are you taking me?”

“We just told you we’re taking you to someone who has the answers you’re looking for. Are you slow?”

Okay, rude! That should’ve been my cue to run.

But before I could decide, the bearded man opened the car door.

I hesitated.

He stood there, waiting for me. They weren’t forcing me into anything. I could still walk away if I wanted to.

“Fine.”

The man with the scar gestured for me to enter.

I climbed into the back seat.

The door slammed shut behind me.

I twisted around to look through the rear window, watching the alley disappear into the distance.

“Where exactly are we going?” I demanded.

Neither man answered.

The city lights gradually thinned as we drove farther from the centre. My phone vibrated in my hand, and I nearly jumped.

A message from the unknown number.

UNKNOWN: Good girl. You’re making the right decision, Lucia.

I stared at the screen, then looked up sharply.

“What the hell does that mean?”

The bearded man finally turned towards me.

“Ask our boss.”