Lahat ng Kabanata ng Running From The Mafia CEO: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

Maya’s POV “Coming!” I run my hands down my shirt as I walk to the door, wincing when I step on something sharp. I glance down—it’s a helicopter toy with wings missing. “Adrianna,” I groan, picking it up and shoving it into my pocket. The band holding my bun in place stretches another inch as I near the door, and I quickly shove my hair back in. There’s no time to look decent. I don’t know who’s at the door either. I’m not expecting visitors… or neighbors who pay evening visits, either. “Wait.” My steps slow as my pulse slams in my chest. A cold shiver runs down my spine, with goosebumps jumping on my arms. Kendall. My shoulders stiffen as I go on high alert, glancing right into the living room when the knock comes again, softer this time. Lucien said he got rid of him—I haven’t seen him in weeks, but with everything he told me two days ago… Kendall could’ve caught on to what Lucien knows. He might be back for me. The last time, he used the CIA to threate

Maya’s POVI’m in the living room when Lucien walks out. His sleeves are rolled up, and his hair looks like he’s run his fingers through it one too many times. He stops when he sees me, taking a quiet exhale. “She’s asleep.”He looks like he needs it more. “Maybe…” I find myself saying, “You could stay the night.”He gives me a pained look. “We shouldn’t, Maya. We really shouldn’t.”My smile quivers. “Why? There’s no law against sleeping over in another person’s home, is there? Besides,” I shrug. “We have spare rooms. You made sure of that.”“You look like you might pass out behind the wheel, Lucien,” I say softly when he doesn’t move. “Unless you have Jamie or a driver picking you up?”“No.” He gives a tiny head shake. “Jamie’s looking for Kendall. I drove here.” I snort lightly. “I thought you said you were in the area?”His brows furrow for a moment before he remembers the excuse he gave at the door. He chuckles faintly. “I’m getting sloppy, aren’t I?”“Nope.” I fold my arms as

Lucien’s POVI watch, from where I sit, across the street, in the back of a dark car with tinted windows, as three men step out of the building. I recognize one of them immediately–Kendall. The other two look like covert bodyguards, probably former military, confirming my suspicion that he couldn’t have been working alone. My phone buzzes in the center console, and I swipe my screen before it rings out. “Jamie.” “I have eyes on them, you know,” he says dryly. “You don’t have to sit in the back of your car like a detective on stakeout.” “It’s my responsibility,” I remind him. “If anyone is going to get to the bottom of things, it has to be me. And there’s a short list of people I can depend on, not to stab me in the back.” There’s no list, actually. Jamie’s the only person I trust. “Eh,” I hear him shrug. “That’s true, but I know you’d rather be somewhere else, instead of being stuck in a small, dark space, breathing the same air over and over.”I roll my eyes. “You make it sound l

Maya’s POV By the time I end the call, I’m already on my feet. My chair scrapes back against the polished floor loud enough to turn heads, but I don’t stop. I grab my bag, sling it over my shoulder and move toward the exit with the kind of speed that doesn’t care about drawing attention. Outside, the afternoon air hits my face all at once. Adrianna. I scan the street, spot a yellow cab slowing near the corner and wave it down. “School district on Maple,” I say, pulling the door shut behind me. “Please hurry.” The driver glances at me in the rearview mirror. I probably look exactly how I feel. “Everything alright, ma’am?” “My daughter’s school called,” I say. “I need to get there.” He nods and pulls into traffic. Every red light is an insult. Every slow-moving car is a personal grievance. My fingers tap against my knee and I stare out the window without seeing any of it — just turning the same thought over and over in my head. A man. Someone claiming I authorized him to co

Lucien’s POV I’m out of my chair, my fingers wrapped around his neck, before I realize I’ve stood up. “Don’t you dare,” I snarl, glaring down at him. “Don’t you fucking dare.” Salvatore grins, staring at me as his face turns red, my fingernails digging into his skin. “Go ahead,” he taunts me still, choking on his words. I hear footsteps hurrying towards us, but I don’t move. I want to choke the life from his eyes and repeat the process as many times as it takes to drain every bit of hope from him. Guns cock, safeties going off. Salvatore raises a hand, holding them off. He turns back to me. “Kill me,” he hisses. “Do it. I’ve always known you wanted to. Even when–” he stops when my thumb presses into the side of his neck, cutting off his air. My blood runs hot, and I see rage. Nothing but white, hot rage. My fingernails sink into his carotid artery as my jaw grinds. “Maybe I will,” I chuckle under my breath. “Maybe I should do the world a favor and finish you off.” The smu