Dark Obsession

pcakes lining the counter. The sweet aroma filled her small bakery, making h

e cupcakes, the doorbell above the entrance jingl

ed and played in the corner, their bri

chimed in unison, their ti

nding each of th

e helpers. Let's get

n looked at the kids with

ry, I presume?" he said, his deep v

ights. What can I get for you today?"Mia

ery, taking in the rows of cu

one of those delicious-smelling cu

ld you like?"Mia

onto hers, making Mi

, and she smiled, walking

d and hande

back again." she muttered,

g to leave, not without glan

r work, her mind wandering ba

ed, and her eyes drifted

e'd been staring at her boys with an

asy sensation, she re

ore, and Cassie, Mia's

sie called, maki

his town seven years ago with her baby bump. She had b

bubbly personality immed

" Mia asked, wiping her flou

to the counter, her ey

weetness! I need a coffee and one of those delicious cup

aying hooky today, and I'm negotiating with two

softened, her eyes f

My boyfriend's visiting tonight, and let's

a's curiosity was piqued as

tone. "He wants to take our relationship to

idened with

r you need," Mia said, placing a

ways had a thing or two

me," Mia said warmly as h

oughts consumed by the loomin

rning?" she asked, a hint o

lways makes a pit stop here before his morning s

e doorbell above the entrance jingled again. This time, it

. Emilia Gray!"

ed as she accept

t I didn't order any flowers,

admirer?"Cassie's c

n her chest. "I don't think so.

rson handed Mia

ched.'" Mia's smile faltered as she read the message. Her eyes scanned the room

ticed Mia

you okay?

esponding, her voice b

just feels really w

her eyes sparklin

got a secret admirer – and who knows, m

ed serious, her voice

ou're being watched'?" mai asked, her eyes scanning

cret admirer who can't resist yo

t if it's not a secret admirer, but someone who's

before she replied, "Don't be parano

ght smile on his face. Ethan and Eric, the two rambuncti

Ryan!" they chimed

cooping them up

unchkins! What's all the e

at Ryan with wide eyes,

oky, Uncle Ryan!"

d stay home and have a sp

part of your special day, th

th the kids, Mia lean

I don't like this on

ession turned

e'll know what to do." Cassie replie

n asked turning to the ladies as

being watched. I tried to downplay it, telling her it's p

rned serious, his ey

who might have sent it?"

o idea." Mai

I've known you, it's been all about you and the boys. Maybe this is the

ie's, a mix of amus

'm fine focusing on the boys

ric, walked up to her, their cur

that?" they as

wers someone sent." Mia said, t

se?" Ethan and Eric

ust go throw these away." Mia said fir

outside to

d, her heart racing at the thought

beside her, his eyes scan

e asked, his voice

ace, and for a moment, the

g rid of this creepy stuff."

kled at the corn

owers and card from her, his

rk through him, but

d, her voice bare

gaze held hers for a m

. He'd had feelings for Mia for what felt like an eter

SUV lingered, its tinted wi

s voice was l

now." With that, the vehicle melted into th

RE

HOTEL, where crystal chandeliers refracted sunlig

ook pride in its impeccable s

quiet corridor. The soft carpet muffled his footsteps as he approached his office. But as

the note read, in el

note in his hand. It wasn't the first time he'd

of annoyance. Didn't they know he was a

the trash, his mind drifting to the

ment. He loved her with a passion that bordered on obsession, a

gan to tidy up the papers scattered across it. As h

m relentlessly. She was determined to get him into

imed, her voice h

ite smile onto his face. "Sca

I think it would be great if we could work together on th

. He knew that spending more time with S

m sure your father would be happy to overse

ell, but she qui

It'll be fun, I pr

to find a way to let Scarlet down gentl

for now, I really need to focus o

she smiled sweetly. "Of cours

ffice, she suddenly stoppe

dress?" she asked, her voi

k number that hugged her curves in all the ri

" he said, trying

ly, but a sly smirk

o the charity gala. Maybe you can escor

to find a way to let Scarlet down gentl

it, Scarlet," he s

he took a step closer to him, he

," she said, her v

e heat emanating from her, and his unease grew. His mind racing, he

d to focus on my work," he

ached out a hand and gently brushe

ipping with sarcasm. "I wouldn't want to

he gently removed h

should go," he said,

ed. She leaned in close, he

over, Ryan. Not by a lon

im. But he knew that this was far from over. Scarlet would stop at noth

im. But he knew that this was far from over. Scarlet would stop at noth

remembered the gala upcoming at the hot

" he muttered to himself, a slow

prospect of asking Mia to be his da

is desk, his mind now preoccupied with

**

'S

zzling vegetables and simmering sauce fillied the

playful shouts drifte

n, a habitual gesture that brou

er head, and she coul

, you're even more beautiful" a dee

beautiful, Mio Eroe.

ful, inside and

he used to make her feel. His words, his touch, s

ght, Cassie's voice broke the silenc

ssie teased, walking into

d, shaking

n a towel, feeling a bit more grounded

pping her bag on the counter as sh

simmering sauce filled the air, makin

asked, running her hands th

rant?" Mai asked, stirring the sauce with

lad to be home." Cassie

cooking?" Cassie excla

You're welcome to join u

ust take you up on that

the counter. She glanced at the scre

il," she muttered,

n." Cassie said, chatting with her boyfriend as she

ove is in the air!" Mai c

ly rolled her

aid, chuckling as she

aid, "Hey, I'm going to head home. Austin'

e you tomorrow, Cass.

Mai."Cassie smiled ba

ai called out, "Night, Cass! Say

eturned to her cooking, feeling

oom, she was greeted by the ene

ey chorused, ru

you two!" Cassie laughed, sweeping the tw

nned misc

wall!" Eric chim

night, okay? I'll see you two tomorr

was also coming in, and the

exclaimed, wrapping his arm

tement about?"Ryan chuckled, lif

wall!" Eric sq

two are in big trouble

ill us!" Ethan gri

e we can help you clean i

he exchange as they shared a

rushing out of the door as Ryan chuckled. The sound of the door c

e don't want Mama scolding you t

ing chicken and steaming vegetables wafted from the k

out of the kitchen, a

re!" she asked, her eyes widening in surprise

with guilt. Ryan tried to stifle a grin, but Mai

licking from the wall to the tw

asked, her voice f

ked at each other,

We did it!"

her head. "Why did y

ng to create a masterpi

ce?"Mai rais

ng art!"Ethan nodde

suppose it's... creative. But next t

ock up on paper and c

you help me while I set up dinner"Mai said

to scrub the wall, the kids "helpin

ater aft

of blooming lilacs and the soft chirping of crickets. The warm wooden slats of the swing felt rou

ring the way the fading light danced across her f

admiration, laughed and playfu

. I'm glad we're frien

at at her words. Friends.

y favorite people." He forced a smil

e pretty great yourself.

with the soothing sounds of the evening: the crickets chirping, the w

tmosphere was tinged wit

to reveal his true feelings to Mai, or if th

y."Ryan said with a smile as he stood up, the wood

e of yourself, ok

he boys I'm gon

to Grandma Nancy when y

er about the gala at the hotel? Maybe he'd try his luck next tim

ps. She headed back to her apartment, unawa

he door creaked open. Her little boys, Ethan an

?" Mai sat u

ide of her. Ethan laid his head on her right shoulder,

ies?" Mai asked, h

eep, Mama," Et

rts?" Mai asked, gent

with you, Mama

ve, and she wrapped her arms a

abies," she

n said, his

ie?" Mai re

Eric asked, echoing

warmed wit

ateful to have you two sweethearts b

, his eyes sparkli

ll Dad come ho

eat. She hesitated, uns

sweetie, and he can't come h

my and Daddy, and they get to see their Daddy ev

eath, trying to fi

ifices for their families. Your Dad is

at each other, t

ay, Mama?"

th tears. She nodded, t

eds to take care of some things rig

er with trusting eyes,

!" they chi

g school day, and we can't be late!"Mai whispere

Ethan whispered, his

d, his eyes closing as he sn

s you very much, even if he's not here rig

ze lingered on her sleeping boys, but her

emories to fade, but they lingered

_

s Domini

t a lone figure sat in a leather chair, puffing heavily on a cigarette. The acrid smell of smoke hung i

gang members, Bullet and Poison, entered wi

Don," Bulle

pproached the table and placed the

manded, his voic

thout a word, leaving D

auntered to the table, taking his time to open the bag. A sly smile spread

nections had tipped him off to the Lord's treacherous intentions. Instead of falling int

Leo strolled to the window and

mured to himself, basking in t

ly as Don Leo to those who tremb

no family, he had inherited not only the family

mily's crime syndicate from the ground up, forg

o take over the empire, but his brutal murder had l

ed with deadly precision, crushing any opposition and eli

d earned him the respect, and fear,

bout the Don's unholy power and the t

for his ability to strike without warning, l

, lighting a cigar, the door

said, bo

arked, not tur

the flowers," th

door, the cigar clenc

a?" he murmured, a hint of m

n command and quickly departed

g with fire," he murmured

ith intensity as his mind whirled with the

towards the warehouse. Vinnie his righ

mission went smooth. No hicc

is eyes scanning the

. We're heading to Athen

d serious, a flicker of c

What's the pl

tone. "We're going to retrieve... my captive. Some

innie's eyes darted to t

d glacial, his eyes fr

Vinnie. Don't forg

is eyes dropping to the

at this mission was more personal than he'd initially thought. The Don's obse

ver crossed paths with me.," Leo murm

B