Marked By The Mafia
Chapter 5
The hospital’s lights buzzed faintly overhead as Serena slipped out through the back exit. Her shift had ended, but her mind hadn’t stopped spinning. Nathaniel’s voice, Luca’s touch, Rachel’s warning—they looped endlessly in her head like a fever she couldn’t shake.
She gripped her purse tighter, the night air biting against her skin as she crossed the parking lot. The streets were half-empty, drenched in the dull orange of streetlights, and the silence felt heavier than usual. She unlocked her car, slid into the driver’s seat, and let out a slow breath.
Just get home. Shower. Sleep. Think in the morning.
But as she drove, the unease that had been sitting in her gut all day began to grow.
A pair of headlights appeared in her rearview mirror. Close. Too close. She frowned, adjusting the mirror, watching as the dark sedan mirrored every turn she took. At first, she told herself it was nothing—just another car heading the same direction. But when she changed lanes and it followed, her pulse spiked.
Her hands tightened on the steering wheel.
Another turn. The same car.
Her throat went dry. No… no, it can’t be.
She pressed harder on the gas, trying to put distance between them, but the car stayed close, its presence looming like a shadow she couldn’t shake. Panic coiled in her chest. She needed to get to a police station, somewhere safe—but before she could think of a plan, flashing headlights blinded her from behind.
The sound of tires screeching filled the night as another car swerved in front of her, blocking the road. Serena slammed the brakes, heart lurching into her throat.
Two men stepped out—dark suits, cold eyes, guns glinting beneath their jackets.
Her breath came out in shallow gasps.
“Step out of the car, Dottore,” one of them ordered, voice flat, accent heavy.
Serena froze, shaking her head. “Please—I don’t understand—”
“Now.”
Her trembling hands fumbled with the seatbelt. The night air hit her like ice when she opened the door. One man slid into her driver’s seat while the other grabbed her arm, steering her toward the black car behind them. She wanted to scream, but fear choked the sound in her throat.
The door opened.
And there he was.
Luca Moretti.
Sitting in the back seat like a king in his throne—casual, confident, terrifying. The faint glow of the dashboard carved shadows along his sharp jawline, his gray eyes gleaming like polished steel.
“Get in,” he said quietly.
Serena hesitated, shaking her head. “Luca, what is this? What are you doing?”
His gaze flicked up, cold and unreadable. “I said—get in.”
Her body moved before her brain could argue. The door shut behind her, sealing her inside with him. The scent of his cologne filled the space—dark, expensive, and suffocating.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence stretched until Serena couldn’t bear it anymore.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
Luca turned his head slowly, his eyes dragging over her face like a slow caress. “You were planning something,” he said, voice low, dangerous. “I could feel it the moment I left your office. You think you can go back to him? Pretend last night never happened?”
Her breath hitched. “How—how did you know about Nathaniel?”
A faint smirk ghosted across his lips. “I’m a mafia boss, cara mia. Information gets to me before you even think to hide it.”
Her stomach dropped. “You’re insane,” she breathed, pressing back against the door.
Luca leaned closer, his voice dark silk. “Maybe. But you knew that the moment you let me touch you.” His hand lifted, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. “You think I’ll let you go back to your fiancé and pretend I never existed?”
Serena tried to turn away, but his fingers slipped through her hair, tugging gently until her face tilted back toward him. His touch sent a wave of conflicting emotion through her—fear, anger, and that same dangerous pull she couldn’t fully resist.
“Luca, please,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “You don’t understand. This isn’t—this can’t—”
He cut her off with a quiet chuckle, the sound sending shivers down her spine. “You think I don’t understand? I understand better than you do. You’re mine, Serena. You just don’t want to admit it yet.”
He leaned in closer, his breath brushing her skin. “You smell like him,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a low growl. “It drives me insane.” His fingers trailed down the side of her neck, then lower, tracing her collarbone before stopping abruptly. “Don’t ever let him touch you again.”
Serena flinched, pulling away, heart pounding in her ears. “You don’t own me!” she snapped, her fear laced with defiance.
Luca’s eyes burned, equal parts fury and obsession. “No,” he said softly. “But I will.”
He reached forward again—slower this time—his thumb brushing her jaw, his gaze locking on hers. The silence in the car was unbearable, thick with tension and danger. Then, unexpectedly, he leaned back, a slow, cruel smile curving his lips.
“Go home,” he said quietly. “For now.”
The door opened, and the cold night rushed in. Serena stumbled out, nearly falling as her legs trembled beneath her. Her own car waited a few meters away, engine idling. The man inside stepped out, handed her the keys, and without a word, the two vehicles disappeared into the night.
Serena stood there for a long time, shaking violently, her breath coming in uneven bursts. Every nerve in her body still buzzed with the memory of his voice, his touch, his threat. She had thought she could stay away, that she could choose peace—but Luca wasn’t going to let her go. Not easily.
She got into her car, gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. The decision she’d been avoiding crystallized in that moment. She couldn’t keep running. She couldn’t keep pretending. The only way to escape him was to do something drastic—something final.
So she drove.
Her mind screamed at her to go home, to lock her doors, to hide. But her heart—her terrified, desperate heart—told her where she needed to go.
Nathaniel’s apartment.
The city blurred around her as she drove, headlights streaking through the night. When she finally arrived, she sat outside for a moment, staring at the door, her pulse hammering in her ears. Then she forced herself out, walked up the steps, and knocked.
The door opened. Nathaniel stood there, confusion flashing across his face. “Reni?”
She swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. “Can I come in?”
He stepped aside without hesitation. Inside, the warm light and familiar scent of coffee hit her like a memory she didn’t want to face.
“I forgive you,” she said suddenly, the words tumbling out before she could stop them. Nathaniel froze. “I… I want to try again. I don’t want to fight anymore.”
He stared at her, disbelief softening into relief. “Reni… are you sure?”
She nodded quickly, stepping closer. “Yes. I want us to move forward. I want… us.”
He reached out, pulling her into a tight embrace. The warmth of him felt safe—too safe—and for a moment she allowed herself to sink into it, to believe this could be enough. They kissed, a slow, tentative meeting that felt like a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep.
Later, sitting on the couch, she stared at the floor, then lifted her gaze to meet his. “Nathaniel… I want the wedding to happen. Tomorrow.”
He blinked, startled. “Tomorrow? That’s—Reni, that’s impossible. We can’t—”
“We can,” she interrupted softly. “Just us. Family and friends. No press, no noise. After the wedding… we leave the city. Start over somewhere new.”
Nathaniel hesitated, frowning. “Why the rush?”
Serena looked down, unable to tell him the truth—that she’d just been abducted by a mafia boss who refused to let her go. “Because I can’t stay here,” she said instead. “This city will always remind me of what happened. I want to forget, Nathaniel. I want us to start fresh.”
He studied her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “If that’s what you want… we’ll do it.”
She smiled faintly, though her heart felt like it was caving in. “Thank you.”
When he pulled her close again, she let him, resting her head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. But her mind wasn’t calm. It never could be now. Because every time she closed her eyes, she saw Luca’s face—the hunger, the danger, the promise in his voice.
And as the night stretched on, Serena stared at the wedding invitation still clutched in her hand, her thoughts a tangled mess of fear and longing.
Tomorrow, she told herself. Tomorrow everything would change.
Sleep wouldn’t come. Her thoughts kept circling the same question—would tomorrow mark a new beginning, or the moment everything unraveled for good?
.
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