Mafia Obsession

Leo

I step out of the cabin, itching to get back to Ellie.

“Okay, break it up love birds,” I say, seeing Kane spin Jasmine around, as if he’s in a damn romance movie.

I’m happy for my older brother. He’s always hated the life in the mob even more than me and Rick. I’ve never seen him as happy as he is with Jasmine around. He drops her to the floor abruptly and spins toward me, eyes narrowed.

I walk toward them, smiling. “Not sure we’ve officially been introduced, sister-in-law to be.” I bow, knowing it will piss Kane off. He’s the easiest guy to annoy.

“Don’t be such an ass, Leo,” Kane says through gritted teeth. I step closer to her and grab her hand, planting a kiss on the back of it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Jasmine.” I glance at Kane, smirking. “Are you sure he’s not too old for you?”

I get the rise I want, when Kane growls like an angry tiger. I take a step back, holding my hands up. “I’m only messing, big brother.”

“He’s definitely not too old for me,” Jasmine says, looking at him adoringly. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Leo.”

I give her a nod. “I like her, Kane.”

Rick has been loitering in the doorway and steps out behind me. “Yeah, odd you were going to marry the girl and hadn’t even taken a moment to introduce her to your brothers.” I watch my older brother step forward and shake her hand. “I’m Rick.”

She nods. “I know.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Rick smiles, which is rare for him, and then chucks Kane a bag. “Change your clothes and burn them.” He glances at Jasmine. “You too, sweetheart.” He glances at Kane. “See you back at the house.”

Rick walks passed them toward one of the SUV’s, and I follow him, eager to get back to the house. “Do you think they will get busy out in the open?” I say, nudging Rick in the ribs.

He shakes his head. “Can’t you be serious for once in your life, Leonardo?”

I tense at him using my full name, as I hate being called Leonardo. “Don’t call me that,” I hiss, sliding into the passenger’s side of the SUV. “Let’s get back.”

Rick stares at me for a moment, eyes narrowed. “What’s the rush?”

I shrug. “No rush.” I need to keep cool otherwise I risk him learning the truth.

If he finds out I’ve kept a girl who tried to steal two-hundred thousand dollars from us in my room for a week, he won’t be happy. We live by a code and the code keeps our family safe. I’ve violated it. I’m just lucky that as the underboss my guys respect me and haven’t spilled about me letting Ellie live.

Rick huffs as he starts the car, shifting into reverse and turning it around. “I was thinking we could grab a drink on the way home?” He looks hopeful, glancing over at me.

Shit.

I can literally feel the blood draining from my face. Rick has a lot going on, especially with the heist happening tonight. One of the lower level crime rings has taken liberties, and we’ve got our guys pulling a heist on all their drugs and gunst. It could end badly, if it goes wrong. He no doubt wants to get his mind off of it, and what kind of brother would I be if I said no?

“Sure, let’s get a drink,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder.

He smiles an uneasy smile and then turns right toward our favorite bar. Ellie will be fine. She’s locked away in our mansion which is heavily guarded. What’s the worst that can happen?

AFTER THREE BEERS, I’m getting irritated. Rick isn’t slowing down, and I can’t stay here much longer. Ellie will wonder where the fuck I am.

“I’m ready to call it a night,” I say, stretching my arms above my head and yawning widely.

Rick tips back the rest of his scotch and then glares at me. “I’ve not had enough,” he slurs.

The guy has had almost a whole bottle of scotch since we’ve been here. I know how much his position fucks with him, and now and then he has one of these moments and gets rip-roaring drunk.

“We’ve got more at home. Come on, I’ll drive.” I snatch the keys up from the bar and swing them around my finger.

He gets to his feet and sighs. “Fine, but you can be a real ass.”

A flood of relief fills me when he doesn’t argue about leaving. It’s getting on for dark and Ellie has been alone for hours. I hate leaving her for so long, particularly considering where we left off. For the first time, I was going to make love to her-not just fuck her.

Fuck.

The moment that thought passes through my mind, I panic. I fucking love the girl. God knows how it happened, but it did. I never thought I’d love any woman. We walk out of the bar, and I unlock the SUV, climbing into the driver’s seat. Rick crosses his arms over his chest and glares out of the window, like a little child sulking over me stopping his fun early.

I speed onto the highway out toward our home, driven by the need to see my woman. The journey feels like it takes forever, but finally the gates come into view. My eyes narrow as there aren’t any security guards on the gate. “Where the fuck is security?” I ask.

Rick looks out the front and shakes his head. “I don’t know.” He grabs his phone out of his pocket and dials head of security. “Gabe, where the fuck is the security for the gate?” he asks, flipping the phone onto loud speaker.

“They should be down there, sir.”

My stomach twists and I know something is wrong. I press the button to open the gates and speed down the driveway, wishing it was shorter.

“What’s the rush?” Rick asks.

I shake my head. “Something is not right.”

I can feel Rick’s eyes on me as I race down the driveway at speed, skidding to a stop outside the front of the manor. Without thinking, I fling

the door open and rush inside. Ellie has to be okay. I need to see her safe and sound, wrapped in my duvet cover. Her bright blue eyes wide and full of adoration the moment she sees me.

Instead, I find my door broken off the fucking hinges. Splintered and broken wood all over the floor and a trail of blood on the beige carpet. She’s gone, and she’s hurt.

My vision turns to pure red rage and I can feel my blood boiling beneath my too tight skin. “Motherfuckers,” I roar, punching the wall so hard my knuckles paint blood across it.

“What the fuck is going on, Leo?” Rick appears behind me, eyes wide. “They’ve taken her.”

His brow furrows. “Taken who?”

I shake my head, not wanting to explain everything right now. I can’t. The rage is eating me up inside and I can barely speak. Instead, I pace the floor.

My shoulders and muscles tenser than they’ve ever been. Ellie never told me the name of the man who was after her, but I’ll find him and I’ll fucking kill him.

How the hell did they even get in here?

Rick’s hand comes down on my shoulder, and he squeezes tightly, forcing me to a stop. “Leonardo, you may be my brother, but I need an explanation right fucking now,” he growls.

Without another word, he drags me out of the room and pushes me down the corridor. Rick has always been bulkier than me, but I’m quicker. In my rage, I swing a punch at him, catching him in the jaw.

His eyes widen and his jaw goes slack for a moment. “What the fuck was that for?” He doesn’t wait for an answer, before his heavy fist plants right in the center of my face.

Pain stings through my nose and blood cascades down my face, trickling onto my lip. It is good. The pain grounds me, removing the rage that has spiraled me out of control.

“Sorry,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ll explain everything.”

Rick gives me one nod, eyes dark and angry. He leads the way down the stairs and I follow.

He opens the door to his office, and I step inside. I stand in the center of the room, as he sits behind his desk and stares at me, waiting for an explanation.

Where the fuck do I start?

“Long story short, I fucked a thief who tried to steal from us because I couldn’t bring myself to kill her.” I run a hand through my hair. “A week ago, I saved her from two drug dealers in the street, and she had nowhere to go.” I shrug. “I bought her here.” I can’t bring myself to look my brother in the eye, instead, I keep my eyes focused on the ground. “She was locked in my room and someone has taken her.”

Rick is silent for a while, and I still can’t bring myself to look at him. “Fuck,” he says. He doesn’t sound angry just exasperated.

When I look up, his eyes are filled with disappointment. It’s worse than him being angry. I hate disappointing my older brother.

“Who knew she was here?” he asks.

My brow furrows as I try to work out the answer to that question. I hadn’t told anyone. The only people who had seen me with Ellie were the two drug dealers I beat to a pulp. “The only people who saw me take Ellie were the two drug dealers.”

Rick scrubs a hand across his jaw. “Were they ours?”

I nod my head. “I recognized both of them as guys who deal our drugs.”

Rick sighs heavily. “Do you care about this girl?”

It’s an important question that I know the answer to, even if I’m scared to say it out loud. I don’t care about anyone but my brothers, and somehow, I care about her more than I can understand. “Yeah, I have to get her back.”

“Fuck, what is it with you guys lately? First Kane, and now you.” He shakes his head.

I shrug in response, since I can’t explain it. The moment I set eyes on her, I knew she was the woman for me. It’s the only reason I couldn’t kill her. If it had been someone else, they’d be dead. I know how fucked up that is, but that is me. I am fucked up.