A Deal with the mafia Devil

The Price o

eet, too artificial. It clung to Aria's skin like a d

e hope. But there was only the thrum of discomfort beneath

e center of the small cake, its glow casting long shadows on the peeling wallpaper. Her parents stood on the

oo tightly, knuckles pale. Her fa

mother said, the wor

round. No balloons. No music. Not even her little br

she asked, scann

aunt tonight," her fat

ther added, smoothing a none

owned. "He's five. He li

her father gestured towar

anymore-at least, not in this house. She leaned forward, blew out the c

e cla

er fathe

suggestion. It was

the room. A single slice of cake was served-on

ong. Deeply, fun

throat. "We have someth

's arms rose. He

" she sa

stilled. "You're not a child anymore, Aria. You've reached

he asked, heart beginning to pound

hed like the wor

her father said. "Y

t closer. Aria leaned back, he

time ago. For your future. F

wed. "What kin

ther said, "You're g

d stoppe

d. Once. Tw

he hadn't spoken. "His name

or his family," she snapped

he said coldly. "The cont

he chair scraping across th

inced, but d

ed you," sh

tter. "You call this protection? Handing m

" her father growled. "He's t

breath

oaked wealth. Mafia. Ruthless. The kind of name that made people speak in

id. "No. Thi

choice," her mo

eally going to stand there and act like thi

her voice remained steady. "I tried to stop

barked. "She doesn't

ising from her seat. "You gambled away everything! An

hudded painful

whispered. "Please, t

f them sa

row. "You were eight. They said they'd wai

she laughed bitterly. "To fatten

raise you right. So you wouldn't

t him. "You'r

dn't

d. "He's coming to

d turned

heaving. She needed air. She

her said. "If you run, we all suff

oom t

er baby

p me," she said, trembli

toward her, but A

t tou

nt this for you, but we didn't know what else to do. He... he

a mafia prince, no

trol," her father said.

ive. Words that belonged in war

finally. "Be ready tomorrow. Don't

-at the strangers who raised her,

lked out, her feet hea

-

that

mind racing. Every second felt like a countdown. He

ck came at

dn't a

ened

in silk. "This was mine," she said, placing it o

dn't to

ant it," s

her said. "But yo

up. "What

him once. When the deal was

nd

looked at you like you were

in her chest. Dread, curio

anything?"

ded. "He said.

red. "Th

ded again. "Th

-