In the Shadows of the Mafia Lord

sol

ance

had I gotten

ght burning down on me, a thousand eyes watching my every move. The nightclub was

it had a mind of its own, swaying, twisting, demanding attention. This wasn't j

god among mortals. His dark eyes followed my every move, piercing a

they'd broken me. For the bastards who had taken everything and left

trembling not from exertion, but from the sheer force of my rage. The applause

, I whispered to myself, "T

masked the scars. Each swipe revealed the truth, the jagged lines on my arms, the fai

creams of my parents and siblings echoing in my ears. B

ud," Rafael's voice bro

shirt unbuttoned at the collar, his dark hair falling

ed, refusing to let him see

and deliberate, like a predator circ

id, crossing my arms. "I know I'

readable. "No, you're here because you'r

orced myself to meet his gaze. "Is that why yo

his fingers brushing against the scar on my arm. The

you were worth saving. But don't mistake my kindness f

t me to

ple reconnaissance mission. Go in, get the

at?" I asked,

re as good as I

ell, but I bit my tongue. I nee

competitor's establishments, a seedy dive that reeked of sweat and desperation. My job was

ink and leering at the waitress. I slipped onto the stool next to him,

ked, my voice dripping

er my body. "What's a pretty thing

s curve into a seductive sm

and arrogant, spilling secrets like water. But as I pressed f

was watc

n I spotted a man with a scar running down his cheek. H

was

the

him. But it was. The man with the scar.

my hands trembled as I clutched my glass. My heart pounded in

urmured, slippin

he scarred man followed, his gaze boring into my back.

nothing to calm the fire raging inside me. I t

e asked, his voice

make him pay for what he'd done. B

ady despite the storm insi

ng closer. "Funny.

e, even as my blood boi

is gaze sharp and calculating

ge and fear. He was here, in Rafael's world. Did R

ar: I couldn't wait any longer. My vengeance was no lon

uld make

ed Rafael, my voice shaking with

ow, his expression

snapped. "He was at the bar

ognition. But then he shrugged, his smirk returning. "You'll have to be mo

but I bit my tongue. I couldn't let him

to leave, his

laced with something I couldn't quite p

ouldn't. Because if I d

ing a game. I was