MAFIA’s OBSESSION

Chapter Twelve

A soft knock broke me out of my trance, followed by the click of the door.

“Signora Harrison?”

I froze, then exhaled.A young lady in a maid’s uniform stood in front of me holding a neatly folded stack of clothes.

“It’s time for dinner,” she said.

I sat up, rubbing my palms against my thighs. Dinner. Great. Nothing suspicious about that at all.

She gave me a small nod and set the clothes on the chair and left the room. I examined the dress, running my fingers through the silk, soft fabric. It was beautiful and looked expensive, I had to remind myself that this was not just dinner. Tonight I was dining with the devil.

I dressed quickly, keeping my hands steady despite the tension curling in my stomach. I opened the door to find the maid waiting out for me. The maid led me down a corridor that smelled faintly of polished stone and aged wood, arches stretching above like they had stood for centuries. Marble floors gleamed under flickering sconces, and paintings of stern ancestors watched us in silence. Crystal chandeliers scattered light across richly woven rugs that muted our steps, but my pulse still drummed in my ears.

The dining room opened before me: long dark wood table, candles flickering in crystal holders, soft golden light that made shadows dance across the walls. Kimberly and Vee were already seated, facing the table with the kind of cautious politeness you reserve for a place that could kill you if you made one wrong move. dropped into the chair next to Kimberly, who gave me a small, tight smile. “You okay?”

“As okay as you can be when your life is technically on pause,” I replied, giving her a quick squeeze of the arm.

Vee leaned back in her chair with a mock sigh. “Well… could be worse. At least the guards are hot. Makes the whole ‘kidnapped by a Mafia boss’ thing a little more bearable, right?”

Kimberly chuckled, shaking her head. “Vee, you’re impossible.”

I laughed softly, despite the tension. “Only you would find something positive in this mess.”

Vee smirked, waving her fork like a tiny scepter. “Hey, I’m a professional optimist. Someone has to lighten the mood around here.”

Kimberly’s laugh was quieter, more concerned, and she glanced at me. “Seriously though… we need to watch each other.”

I nodded, my smile fading just enough to let her know I was taking it seriously. “Always. No mistakes. Not here.”

Vee rolled her eyes, clearly amused by our sudden seriousness. “Fine, fine. Team survival. Got it.”

The faint clink of a chair pulling back silenced us. Marcus stepped into the room. Everything shifted. The warm, flickering candlelight suddenly felt cooler, the soft shadows sharper, the air heavier, as if the room itself recognized him. Even Vee faltered mid-smirk. Kimberly straightened, and I felt my pulse skip. He took a seat at the head of the table. His presence filled the room, even without words.

“Good evening,” he said casually but there was nothing casual about his aura.

I stared at him longer than normal, studying the outline of faint tattoos just peeking at the edges of his wrists. I could feel him watching me , our eyes met and the weight of his gaze made my stomach twist. Focus, Cleo. You can do this.

Dinner arrived in silence at first. The guards lingered in the corners, polite shadows, nothing intrusive but impossible to ignore. Marcus’ eyes didn’t leave me, subtle as a predator assessing prey. I caught a small flicker of acknowledgment when my mind wandered to our last conversation. He’d heard me. He’d remembered. Damn him.

“Before we start,” Marcus began, voice calm, smooth, almost conversational, “I want to discuss arrangements.”

Kimberly tilted her head. “Arrangements?”

“Yes,” he said, folding his hands on the table. “Your belongings at the Bennett mansion will be brought here. You’ll have what you need to feel comfortable.”

Vee snorted softly. “So… you’re moving our stuff without asking?”

“I’m keeping you safe,” he said evenly. “As long as you cooperate, no one will be hurt. Your families believe you’re on vacation. Until things die down, you’re safer here than anywhere else.”

I blinked. Cooperate. Safer here. Safe? That word again. I don’t like it, but…

“Wait,” I said carefully. “You can’t just”

“I think we’ve established that I can do whatever I please,” Marcus interrupted calmly. “Resistance isn’t useful. Compliance is. You’ll have your things. You’ll have your space. And no one will come to harm.”

I leaned back slightly, pretending calm while my pulse raced. He’s not bluffing. He’s never bluffing. And somehow… he’s right. For now, we have no choice.

Dinner progressed, food arriving in delicate courses that smelled better than anything I could have imagined in this house. Conversation remained light, cautious, forced almost polite, but the tension didn’t leave. Every glance, every subtle movement of a hand, every flick of his eyes reminded us who controlled the space.

I kept my hands close to my plate, pretending to eat while observing. Watch. Measure. Learn. Survive. And maybe… understand him a little. Just a little.

At the end of the meal, Marcus spoke again, his voice smooth, controlled, leaving no room for argument.

“You’ll remain here. All of you. Safe. Contained. Until the matter is resolved. You’re free to explore the estate but no one leaves.” His gaze lingered for a heartbeat. “Understand?”

He didn’t wait for an answer, he stood and walked away, leaving us stunned.