The mafia boss obsession

nor

too quiet. To

ng, my mind drifting despite my best e

x A

ugh me, memories I had buried for nine long years. B

let myself

Yea

le town on the outskirts of Golden City. They called it a "break from the city," but I kne

d it a

like lavender and old books, and there was no Wi-Fi. I spent the first few

en, I

h the trees, casting golden patterns on the pavement as I wandered through

han me, sitting on the front st

. His posture was relaxed, his arms resting on his knees, but there wa

ow what ma

ike he was thinking about something far away. Or maybe

alked u

d," I said, ha

yes were-a shade of blue so piercing they almost didn't seem real

do y

"That's bec

ut there was a flicker

ou new

th my grandma for the

That's how it

w do you

t smiled. Almost. "

beside him, ignoring the

aid. "I need something to do. Someone to talk t

figure me out. Then, after a long

le

ked. "

glancing at me from

ed. "E

ke that, I

s That

iet, reserved, almost guarded. But the more time I spent wit

ys letting me ramble about the books I was reading or the ridiculous dr

vorite spots-the abandoned train tracks where he liked to think, the small bookshop that carr

r offered. But there was a weight in his

it wasn't my

Conf

e lake, watching the sky turn shades of pink and orange. Th

that night, m

. "What's on

nd through his hair. Then,

you, E

mple, but they se

him, stunn

aking his hea

m, stopping him. "I just..

readable. "I know we're different. I

know wh

fied me. He was different from the guys I flirted

lt...

ings had co

admitted. "I don't

ened. "I'd ne

ieved

y, a few days l

ose last few weeks of su

e That Nev

posed to end

tell him. I

me to leave, I couldn't br

hat he'd say. Maybe I w

t. Just

No expl

ver look

sen

the door jolted m

my ribs. My eyes darted around the unfamiliar roo

r creak

re, his expres

t, I couldn

ind had become a m

s met, I reali

ever for

ver stopp