lawfully trapped with the Mafia boss

Chapter 4

ANNIE'S POV

The picture on the table caught my attention. It was an old photo of me holding a gun during my training with Aunt Maria. Judging by my size in the photo, I must have been in elementary school when it was taken. But when was this picture taken? And why didn’t I know about it?

It has been three days since I arrived in San Francisco, and I’m starting to enjoy my new life. Today, I’m meeting my friend Lena for shopping. Tomorrow is my big interview, and I need to pick up a few things to prepare for it.

I pulled on a pair of skinny jeans and a floral short-sleeved top, dabbing some moisturizer on my face. I didn’t need makeup—my naturally soft pink lips, long lashes, and creamy skin always made me feel confident.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I saw a young woman who looked ready to conquer the world. Since moving here, a new confidence has settled in me, though I can’t explain where it comes from.

Lena and I decided to hit the mall first, then grab some coffee.

The moment we entered the shop, Lena grabbed my hand and dragged me into an exclusive boutique. The store had a wide selection of beautiful dresses, but my eyes landed on a stunning white dress displayed on a mannequin.

“I’d like to try that on,” I told the shop attendant, pointing to the dress.

Once I slipped into the dress in the fitting room and stepped out, I couldn’t stop smiling. It fit perfectly, and even the shop attendants were astonished.

“Ma’am, this dress looks like it was made for you,” one of them said, beaming.

I nodded, admiring myself in the mirror. “Let me take this dress off so that you Wrap it up for me, please.”

As I was talking to the attendant, an all-too-familiar voice cut through the air.

“I want that dress.”

My stomach sank. Isabella Watson. Of course, she’d show up here.

The shop grew quiet as everyone turned to look at her. Isabella strutted forward, her sharp voice grating. “Are you deaf? I said I want the dress she’s holding.”

I ignored her and walked back into the fitting room to change. When I returned, the attendant was wrapping the dress.

“Annie, stop pretending. You can’t afford that dress,” Isabella sneered. “A poor girl like you has no business being here.”

Her words echoed in the shop, and I felt everyone’s eyes on me.

“Ma’am, this dress has already been purchased,” the cashier said nervously.

Isabella turned to a tall, handsome man standing beside her and whined, “Baby, do something about this. I want that dress!”

The man stepped forward, his voice laced with authority. “Miss, give my girlfriend the dress. She said she wanted it.”

I blinked, shocked by his audacity. “Are you serious?”

Lena stepped up, glaring at him. “Who are you to tell her what to do? She already bought it before you even got here.”

Isabella’s boyfriend, clearly irritated, waved her off. But Isabella wasn’t done. She stomped over to the cashier and demanded, “Give me the dress! Annie can pick another one.”

Her tantrum grated on my nerves. Calmly, I pulled out my black card and handed it to the cashier. The attendant’s eyes widened as she verified it, her demeanour changing instantly.

After paying, I tossed the dress at Isabella. “You can have it. I’d never want anything you’re interested in.”

Turning to her boyfriend, I added, “And you—what bad taste in women you have. Cheap and loud.”

The man’s jaw tightened as his fists clenched. Without waiting for a reply, I grabbed Lena’s hand and walked out of the shop, leaving Isabella fuming.

LEONARDO'S POV

I walked into the boutique, Isabella clinging to my arm like she always did. She was just another one of my temporary women, nothing more than a distraction.

Then I saw her.

Annie.

She looked stunning in a white dress that hugged her perfectly, her elegance putting every other woman in the room to shame. She didn’t even glance my way, walking past me with her usual grace.

For the first time in years, I felt like running. I never imagined our first meeting would happen like this. I knew she was in town, but seeing her here, now… it shook me.

Isabella’s whiny voice dragged me out of my thoughts. “Baby, make her give me that dress!”

I muttered something without thinking. “Miss, give the dress to my girlfriend. She said she wanted it.”

The words tasted bitter the moment they left my mouth. Why had I said that?

Annie’s piercing gaze cut through me, her anger evident. As she handed the dress to Isabella and walked out, I felt a pang of regret I couldn’t explain. The moment she was gone, I left too, leaving Isabella behind in the shop without a word.

Back in my office at one of my clubs, I paced the room restlessly. Annie’s words echoed in my mind: “I’d never want anything Isabella is interested in.”

She was right. Isabella, with her fake smile and shallow charm, was nothing compared to Annie.

The knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. “Come in,” I said curtly.

Isabella walked in, her fake boobs practically spilling out of her dress. “Baby, I’m sorry for what happened at the mall,” she cooed. “That girl, Annie, used to bully me in school. I just wanted to teach her a lesson.”

I stared at her, disgusted. “Strip.”

Her face lit up, and she started removing her dress slowly, trying to be seductive. But I felt nothing. When she finished, I growled, “Get on your knees.”

She obeyed, taking me into her mouth, but the image of Annie flashed through my mind, her fiery eyes and confident stance.

“Stop.” I pulled away suddenly, the desire gone. “Get dressed and get out.”

Isabella looked shocked. “What? But, baby—”

“I said get out!” I snapped.

She stumbled out of the office, her face flushed with humiliation.

As I closed the door behind her, I muttered to myself, “Annie, you’ve completely ruined me.”

What have I done? Will Annie accept me as her husband if she realises we are legally married? I questioned myself, pouring a glass of whiskey for myself.