MAFIA’s OBSESSION

Chapter Nine

We’re definitely going to die today” Vee hissed.

“Vee, please,” Kimberly whispered, her voice tight with fear. “You’re not helping.”

“I’m just saying! I need to make peace with my final moments, and my final moments are not supposed to be in a creepy blacked-out SUV with a blindfold on.”

“Shut up,” a deep voice ordered.

Vee let out a small squeak but mumbled under her breath, “Kidnap me and take away my freedom of speech, too. Mafia bastards.”

I clenched my fists. My heart was hammering against my ribs, but I refused to let them hear any fear in my voice. “Where are you taking us?”

No answer. I hated that. The silence. The lack of control. I tried to focus on my breathing, but it was hard when the reality of the situation kept pressing down on me like a weight I couldn’t shake off.

The ride was smooth, too smooth. Whoever was driving knew what they were doing, taking turns with controlled precision, accelerating just enough before slowing down. We weren’t being driven to some alley to be shot, at least, not yet.

After what felt like an eternity, the car rolled to a stop. Doors opened, and a rough hand gripped my arm, pulling me out. I yanked away on instinct, earning a low chuckle.

“Try anything, and you won’t like what happens next,” the voice warned.

I bit my tongue, knowing now wasn’t the time to test limits.

The air smelled different here cleaner, fresher. No city pollution, no car exhaust. A hint of salt in the breeze. We were near the water.

Footsteps. A heavy door opening. We were led inside, the temperature cooling instantly, and then the blindfolds came off.

I blinked against the sudden light, adjusting to my surroundings.

We were in a villa. A stunning one, with high ceilings, marble floors, rich art hung in the walls and a ridiculous display of wealth. Large windows revealed a dark expanse of land leading to the coastline in the distance.

A few guards stood nearby, watching us carefully, but no one spoke.

“Okay, this is insane,” Vee muttered under her breath. “I mean, if they’re going to kill us, at least they have taste.”

“Vee,” Kimberly hissed.

“What? I cope with humor!”

Before I could snap at her, a door opened somewhere behind us.

We didn’t see him, only heard the slow, deliberate sound of footsteps.

I couldn’t make out his features clearly the lighting in the room was dim, and he was positioned just far enough in the shadows that his face remained obscured. But I could feel him.

The weight of his gaze. The effortless authority in his stance.

Vee let out a low breath beside me. “Okay… I don’t know who he is, but he has big ‘I could ruin your life and you might enjoy it’ energy.”

“Vee,” Kimberly scolded, horrified.

“I’m just saying!”

The man ignored our exchange, his voice calm but laced with something menacing. “You three must be very unlucky… or very stupid.”

His Italian accent was smooth, not too thick, but just enough to make each word feel more weighted. More dangerous.

Kimberly found her voice first. “Please, we didn’t mean to see anything. It was a mistake. We’ll leave, forget it ever happened”

“I wish it were that simple.”the man interrupted.

I swallowed hard, finally finding the courage to speak. “Who are you?”

He stepped forward slightly, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face. Sharp angles. A shadow of stubble along his jaw. Dark eyes that held nothing but calculated coldness.

“Marcus Donovan,” he said simply.

Kimberly stiffened.

She exhaled slowly. “We’re so screwed.”

"What a mess you've made for yourselves."

Vee stiffened beside me. Kimberly took a cautious step forward. "We didn't see anything, I swear. We were just at the wrong place at the wrong time."

“That's a shame. Because whether you saw something or not, you're now in the middle of something you shouldn't be."

I squared my shoulders. "So what happens now? You kill us?"

Kimberly shot me a horrified look. Vee whispered, "Cleo, maybe don't put ideas in his head."

Marcus chuckled, low and amused. "Killing you would be... inefficient." He deadpanned. "But letting you walk away? That's not happening either."

I refused to look away. "We're not your prisoners."

"No," he said, tilting his head slightly, considering me. "But you're not free, either.

The weight of his words settled heavily between us.

I was very aware of the men behind him, the way they stood like statues, hands near their weapons. This wasn't just about keeping us quiet. He was calculating, always thinking ten steps ahead.

Kimberly was right. We had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. But now, we were here, and there was no walking away from this unscathed.

"I'd get comfortable if I were you. You're going to be here for a while."

And with that, he turned and walked out, leaving the three of us standing in the middle of our luxurious new prison, reality finally sinking in.

We weren't leaving. Not anytime soon.