The Mafia King's Stolen Bride

"Two hundred and sixteen dollars," Elena Marlowe murmured, staring at the bills spread across the bakery counter. It was 10:47 p.m., and she had counted the day's earnings three times already, as if a fourth count might change the number. She picked up her phone and checked the hospital message again: Balance due: $8,400. Her stomach tightened. "No," she whispered, opening her banking app. "Please…" Her balance was barely enough to cover the bakery's electricity bill. She closed her eyes. "Lucas needs the treatment tomorrow." Her phone rang, and she answered quickly. "Hello?" "Miss Marlowe?" "Yes." "This is the hospital billing office. I'm calling about your brother's account." Elena swallowed. "I know. I'm trying to get the money." "We understand, but the hospital cannot continue treatment without payment." "Please, just give me another few days." "I've already extended the deadline twice." "I know." Her voice softened. "Please. He's my only family." There was a pause. "Miss Marlowe, I'm sorry." Elena looked toward the empty bakery. "I'll have it tomorrow." "I hope you can." The call ended. Elena lowered the phone. "Tomorrow," she whispered, as if saying the word could make it true. Then she looked at the clock: 10:49 p.m. "Enough. Go home. Sleep. Figure it out tomorrow." She put the money into the cash box, locked it, switched off the lights, and locked the bakery behind her. The moment she stepped outside, a cold wind hit her face. She pulled her coat around herself. Her apartment was only five minutes away. She had barely taken three steps when she heard an engine a black SUV, turning slowly into the street. Elena stopped as the vehicle moved toward her, then halted near the corner. The windows were completely dark. "That's strange," she murmured, stepping backward. Two men got out, both dressed in black. One looked around the street while the other opened the back door. A man was pushed out, his hands tied behind his back. He fell to his knees. Elena covered her mouth. "What is happening?" She quickly stepped behind a delivery truck. The man on the ground looked up. "Please," he said, his voice weak. "I'll give you the money." The taller man grabbed him by the collar. "You've already given us everything." "I haven't told anyone." "You're lying." "I swear!" The second man looked around. "Boss said he has to be dealt with." Elena's eyes widened. Boss? The man on the ground began shaking. "Please. I have children." The taller man pulled a gun from his jacket. Elena's heart stopped. She reached for her phone, telling herself she should call the police, but her fingers wouldn't move. The man on the ground suddenly looked toward the truck. His eyes found hers. For one second, neither of them moved. Then his face changed. "Run!" The gun fired. Elena jumped and covered her ears as the man fell. "No!" She pressed both hands over her mouth. The shooter looked down at him, then turned. "Check the street." The second man started walking toward the truck. Elena backed away slowly, praying, Please don't see me. Please don't see me. His footsteps grew louder. He was almost there when headlights suddenly appeared; a car speeding around the corner. The second man stepped back. "Someone's coming! Move!" The two men ran toward the SUV. The engine roared, and within seconds the vehicle disappeared. Elena remained behind the truck, unmoving, holding her breath. Finally, she whispered, "Are they gone?" Silence. She slowly stepped out. The street was empty. The wounded man lay motionless several feet away. Elena stared at him. "I need to call an ambulance." Her hand went to her phone. Then another car stopped; a black luxury sedan, unhurried, without panic. The rear door opened, and a man stepped out. Elena immediately knew he was not ordinary. He wore a perfectly fitted black suit, and his face was calm. Too calm. A second man got out from the driver's side. "Mr. Romano." The tall man didn't answer. He walked toward the body while Elena stayed behind the truck. The driver followed. "Should I call the doctor?" "No." "Then the police?" "No." His voice was quiet. "Find out who did this." "Yes, Mr. Romano." Elena's eyes widened. Romano. She knew that name, just like everyone did. Adrian Romano, the billionaire who owned hotels, nightclubs, shipping companies, and half the businesses on the city's waterfront. But there were other stories about him too; stories people whispered, stories that never appeared in newspapers. Elena had always avoided men like him. She had enough problems already; she didn't need another one. Adrian crouched beside the wounded man. "Who did this?" The man's eyes opened slightly. "Romano…" Adrian leaned closer. "Who?" "They…" His voice faded. Adrian looked toward his driver. "Get him into the car." "Sir?" "Now." The driver moved. Then Adrian stopped, his eyes lifting straight toward Elena. She froze. He had seen her. For several seconds, neither of them spoke. Then Adrian stood. "Who's that?" The driver turned. "I don't know." Adrian kept his eyes on Elena. "Find out." Elena's heart began racing. She stepped backward. Adrian started walking toward her. "Wait." She shook her head. "Don't come closer." He stopped. "I need to ask you a few questions." "I don't know anything." "You were here." "I wasn't." "You were standing behind that truck." Elena stared at him. "How did you" "You left footprints in the dirt." She looked down. He was right. "Please," she said. "I didn't see anything." Adrian's expression remained calm. "You saw the shooting." "I didn't." "You're lying." Elena's voice trembled. "I have nothing to do with this." "I believe you." She blinked. "Then let me go." "I didn't say I was going to hurt you." "Your men just shot someone." "My men didn't shoot him." Elena stared at him. "Then who are you?" "You already know." "Adrian Romano." "Yes." She took another step backward. "Then you understand why I'm scared." Something changed in his expression, just slightly. "You should be." Elena's breath caught. "Why?" "Because whoever killed that man may come looking for you." "Why would they?" "Because you saw their faces." "I couldn't see their faces." Adrian looked at her for a moment. "Then you're luckier than I expected." Elena turned. "I need to go." "Wait." She stopped. His voice became quieter. "What is your name?" She hesitated. "Elena." "Elena what?" "Why?" "Because I need to know who I'm speaking to." "I'm nobody." Adrian looked at her bakery, then back at her. "You own that place?" "Yes." "Marlowe Bakery?" Elena's face changed. "How do you know my name?" Adrian said nothing. Her fear turned to anger. "You've been watching me?" "No." "Then how do you know who I am?" He stepped closer. "Elena Marlowe." Her stomach dropped. "You know my full name." "Yes." "How?" Adrian's eyes hardened. "Because your father once knew my family." Elena stopped breathing. "My father?" "Yes." "My father has been dead for ten years." Adrian looked directly into her eyes. "Is that what you were told?" Elena stared at him. "What does that mean?" Before Adrian could answer, his phone rang. He looked at the screen. "Excuse me." He answered. "Speak." The voice on the other end was urgent. Adrian's expression changed. "Are you certain?" A pause. "Where?" Another pause. "Send the car." He ended the call. Elena watched him. "What happened?" Adrian looked at her. "The man who was shot is still alive." She breathed out. "Then call an ambulance." "I already did." "Good." Adrian's eyes stayed on her. "But there's something you need to understand." "What?" "The people who attacked him weren't trying to kill him." Elena frowned. "What were they trying to do?" "They wanted something." "What?" Adrian didn't answer immediately. Then he said, "A name." "Whose name?" "Your father's." Elena felt the ground shift beneath her. "My father?" "Yes." "Why would they want his name?" "That's what I'm going to find out." She shook her head. "I don't understand any of this." "You will." "When?" Adrian stepped closer. "Soon." Elena backed away. "I don't want anything to do with your family." "You already do." "No." "You became involved the moment you saw that shooting." "I didn't ask to see it." "I know." His voice softened. For the first time, Elena saw something almost human in his eyes. "You were in the wrong place at the wrong time." She looked at him. "Then let me go." Adrian studied her. "You can go." Elena looked surprised. "Really?" "Yes." She turned and started walking. "Thank you." She had taken only four steps when Adrian spoke again. "But don't go home." She stopped. "Why?" "Because they know who you are now." Her blood went cold. "How?" Adrian's expression hardened. "One of the men who attacked that man was seen watching your bakery this afternoon." Elena slowly turned around. "What?" "I told you. You are no longer a witness." She stared at him. "Then what am I?" Adrian's eyes held hers. "Leverage." Before Elena could answer, her phone rang. Unknown number. She answered. "Hello?" For several seconds, nobody spoke. Then a weak voice whispered, "Elena…" Her eyes widened. She knew that voice. It was the voice of the man who had just been shot. "Who is this?" "Listen to me." "How are you alive?" "You can't trust Romano." Elena looked at Adrian. "What?" The voice grew weaker. "Your father…" Elena's hand tightened around the phone. "What about my father?" A long silence followed. Then the man whispered, "He's alive." The call ended. Elena slowly lowered the phone. Adrian was watching her. "What did he say?" She said nothing. "Elena." Her eyes filled with fear. "My father…" Adrian stepped closer. "What about him?" She looked directly into his eyes. "He's alive." For the first time that night, Adrian Romano looked genuinely shocked. And Elena knew one thing: whatever had happened ten years ago had never really ended. It had only been waiting for her to discover it.