Conquered by the Mafia Boss

Melanie gives me an anxious look as I pull up the text messages. “The texts he sent me are not from Tony, they’re from Rafael.”

It boils my blood to see him raise his eyebrows as though I’m being overdramatic. We stop at a light and he seizes the phone, scrolling through them. Then he shrugs.

My heart sinks.

“I don’t see what’s the big deal-”

“Tony would not talk to me like that!” I snarl at him.

“Actually, Elena, I’ve known him for longer than you have. This doesn’t really surprise me.”

My nails dig into my palms as he hands me back my phone. A powerless feeling throbs in my chest. Tony’s out there, somewhere. Injured. In pain. He needs me to fight for him.

“Tommy, I’m telling you, Rafael kidnapped him. I need your fucking help!”

Suspicious eyes from the mirror narrow at me. “Elena, you’re overreacting. If anything, he’s drunk. Men are jerks when they’re drunk.”

“No, I’m telling you, that’s not it.”

“Tommy, just bring her to the fucking bar,” Melanie finally yells.

He gives her a dark look. “Fine, but you might not like what you see there.”

“Meaning what?”

A fleeting look makes my insides crawl.

“He could be there with another girl.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Melanie slugs Tommy’s shoulder with her fist, a very angry look on her face.

“Jesus, woman! I’m fuckin’ driving!”

“Don’t be such an asshole!”

“I’m not.”

I don’t listen to them bicker. The irritating noise falls to the background and the only sound is my heartbeat in my head, pulsing loudly. What should I do? I know in my heart of hearts that something went terribly wrong when Tony left the house. Tommy isn’t likely to help me, but maybe John will listen.

What if he doesn’t think the texts are proof, either?

Then I take matters into my own hands.

I’ll find Rafael.

I’ll kill him.

There are other options besides the Mafia. Tony told me all about the bikers in Sorel-Tracy, which is northeast of the city. Their headquarters is a huge concrete bunker that you can see from the highway. The family is allied with them. Maybe they’d be able to help me.

Tommy parks the car and I immediately get out, looking through the darkened windows of his bar for Tony’s shape. Even though I’m sure he’s not there, I can’t help but hope. Tommy rolls his eyes at me as he opens the door for Melanie and I. In the late afternoon, the bar has only a few early drinkers, and none of them are Tony. I wheel around, and Melanie fixes her boyfriend with a death glare.

“He’s not here. We need to do something!”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he looks away from Melanie’s heated stare. “Look, this doesn’t prove anything. The man could be anywhere-”

My scream of frustration cuts his voice off and I rush past him, heading for his office. Swift footsteps follow me into the back and I yank open drawers beside his desk, looking for my money.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

He grabs my shoulder roughly and I whirl around, tears blinding my eyes.

“I want to withdraw ten thousand dollars.”

An unpleasant grimace spreads over his face. “Why?” he says, placing his hands on his hips.

“What the fuck does it matter to you? It’s my money!”

“I know that fucking look-it means trouble for me. You’re planning to do something stupid-”

Behind him, Melanie clutches her sleeve. “Just give her what she wants!”

“What she wants?”

The incredulity in his tone sends a hot wave of heat up my throat.

“Don’t pretend like you actually give a damn about Tony.”

“Fuck you. He’s my baby’s father. Of course I care about him.”

Even Melanie gives her boyfriend a scandalized look. “Jesus.”

He looks back and forth from Melanie’s face to mine, smiling at our outrage. “You realize that they made this whole thing up, right? There’s no baby. She lied so she could get her ex off her back. It’s all bullshit.”

Tommy’s angry voice rings out in the small room. Tears streak down my cheeks as his sadistic voice slaps my face. I feel it burn as though he actually struck me.

“It was in the beginning, but it’s not anymore.”

“Oh, right.”

“I’m pregnant with his kid, right hand to God.”

He sneers at the earnest tone in my voice and Melanie makes another violent movement toward her boyfriend.

“If you hit me again, I’ll tie you up right here in this office and spank your sweet ass until it’s raw.”

Her face burns brightly. “You are being a complete asshole.”

“No, I’m not. You don’t know this girl. She came here a month ago and told me about her plan to marry a wise guy so that her ex would leave her alone. Fifty thousand dollars, wasn’t it?”