All Chapters of The Mafia King's Obsession : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

APRILThe first time I spot the devil is about thirty seconds before an ice-cold beer hits me in the face.He's sitting in a booth at the far end of Goody's Bar when it happens. He's not drinking, not talking, just watching me. His eyes are dark, sharp, and heavy with danger, the kind that sends a chill down your spine even when you're trying to pretend you don't notice.His hair is neatly cut, black as midnight. His suit matches it-tailored, expensive, and so dark it almost swallows the light around him. If fire suddenly started licking at his sleeves, it wouldn't surprise me. He looks like someone flames belong to.I'm behind the bar, pretending to be busy pouring drinks, but I can feel his stare burning through me. He's got the stillness of a predator, waiting for the right moment to strike. I know I should be terrified, but instead, my pulse is picking up.His features are carved like stone: a jawline that could split logs, tanned skin, faint lines around his eyes that only make h

DIABLOThis is not how tonight was supposed to go. I only came here to check out the place before tomorrow night's drop. The plan was simple, come in, look around, and see what kind of trouble might come up. That's it.The first thing I notice is that this bar is a dump. The lights are dim and yellow, the kind that make everything look tired and old. The table in front of me is cracked and sticky, the seat lumpy and worn down. It's the kind of place that smells like spilled beer and old smoke. Not where I usually spend my nights.All I have to do is finish my drink and get out without anyone remembering my face. That's the plan. But then I go and break every rule I've ever set for myself.And for what? Because some woman happened to catch my eye? There are thousands of women in this city, I could have chosen any one of them. But no, fate decided to throw her in my path tonight.Why her? Why now? Maybe fate just enjoys watching me lose control.She's working behind the bar, moving fast

APRILIt's the end of the night, and I'm tired all the way down to my bones. Joe hasn't come out of his office once, so it's been up to Jammie and me to clean everything and get the place ready for tomorrow. I knock on his office door, but all he does is turn up the volume on his TV. I can hear it clearly - reruns of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, his favorite show and the reason he named this bar Goody's. He's doing it on purpose. He doesn't want us asking about our paychecks again.I knock once more, but still nothing. So I go back to wiping down the counter, trying not to think about the guy who came in tonight. But it's hard. Something about him keeps looping in my mind. Not just the way I wanted to throw myself into his arms when he walked up, or that calm confidence he had, the kind that makes everyone else in the room feel smaller. Not even the way he got me to talk about my dream of moving to Rome - a dream I've never told anyone before.It was the way he looked at me wh

APRIL The next morning, I head off to college. It is not really a proper college, more like a rented classroom in a small building in the center of the city. Dido Bruni is our tutor.She teaches language classes there, and she is very good at what she does. When I first joined, I could barely say a word in Italian. Now, after a few months, I can speak a few sentences during our group talks. Maybe in another couple of years, I will be able to have full conversations. Hopefully.I have just stepped off the bus when I see him. The mystery man from last night. Diablo Romano. He is walking into one of those expensive clothing stores, the kind that probably only takes appointments and not walk-ins. A beautiful dark suit rests on a mannequin in the window, looking exactly like the one he wore. Somehow, he wears it better. Above the door, the name Giuseppe's is written in gold italics.I do not even know what makes me do it. I blame my feet. I want to walk straight to college, but my feet h

DIABLOThere is a crowd everywhere in the bar except where I am standing. People never get too close to me. It is like the air around me carries death. Once your hands have been stained with blood a few times, people start to sense it. They do not know why, but their instincts tell them to stay away. They move aside, keeping their distance without realizing it.Except for her. April Morgan. She leaned in close a moment ago. She did not step back. That alone makes her interesting. She seems shy and scared, but there is a kind of quiet bravery in the way she does not run.I take my drink and move toward the booth at the back. From here, I can see the whole bar clearly. The angle is perfect. When Joe steps out of his office, I will notice. Until then, I have time to watch her while she works.She has no idea how her cheeks dimple when she smiles. She probably does not know how wide her eyes get when she looks my way. I wonder if she knows how much I want her. The thought alone tightens