MARKED BY THE MAFIA
Marked By The Mafia – Episode 27&28
[…BOUND BY DUTY…]
GENRE: Dark Romance
TAGS: MAFIAS, OBSESSION, POSSESSIVE, LOVE, STEAMY, LOVE TRIANGLE, EMPIRE, BETRAYAL, CRIME, VIOLENCE, DEATHS AND MANY MORE…
✧༺✰༻✧
✮{… MISSION ACCOMPLISHED…}✮
“Hello, Matty” came the voice from the other end.
His breath hitched, the faintest flicker breaking through his iron composure. His eyes widened, just slightly, but enough.
Because only one person ever called him that.
Matteo’s jaw clenched as he ended the call without a word, the screen going black in his hand. The silence that followed was deafening, heavier than gunfire, heavier than blood on marble floors.
His knuckles whitened against the phone. For the first time in years, he’d felt something sharp enough to cut through his control and it’s not rage, not lust, but memory. And memory was the most dangerous weapon of all.
He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, the shadows of his office stretching long and dark.
“Hello, Matty”
The voice lingered in his head.
“F+k” he muttered under his breath, slamming the phone down on the desk hard enough to rattle the glass of whiskey sitting there untouched.
Matteo’s chest rose and fell in measured breaths, but the calm was a lie. Inside, every vein burned, every thought fractured.
He hadn’t heard that name in years. Not from anyone still breathing.
His hand dragged slowly over his jaw, fingers pressing hard enough to leave marks. He hated the way his pulse quickened, hated that a single voice could unearth the ghosts he’d buried beneath blood and empire.
“Matty…” he whispered the word like venom, as if saying it could strip it of its power. But it didn’t. It wrapped around him tighter, pulling him back to a time when he wasn’t Boss, when control wasn’t second nature, when weakness had a name and a face.
Bianca.
The name flickered like a match in his mind, threatening to burn the walls he’d built.
Matteo reached for the whiskey, downed it in one swallow, the burn doing nothing to drown the taste of memory. He slammed the empty glass back on the desk, the sound sharp and final.
No.
He would not let the past crawl into his present. He would not let her, whoever she was now use that name to unmake him.
Matteo leaned forward, elbows braced on the desk, eyes cold as the shadows cloaking him.
***
THE MORETTI’S LOUNGE*
The door to the lounge burst open.
Every head turned.
Vixen walked in, eyes blazing, heels biting into the marble with each step. She didn’t look at the drinks, the smoke, or the laughter circling the room.
Her gaze found one person.
Viper.
The lady lounging in her chair, legs crossed, glass of red in hand, like nothing in the world could touch her.
“Look who’s back from the lion’s den,” Blade grinned, twirling his knife lazily. “Guess the fire didn’t eat you alive, huh?”
No one laughed.
Because Vixen wasn’t smiling.
Her stride sharpened and in an instant, she lunged straight for Viper.
Viper had already moved, chair scraping back as she stood, smirk curving her lips though her eyes were colder than ice.
“Oh, don’t tell me you’re still mad,” Viper drawled. “I thought we agreed, survival of the fittest””
“You left me to die!” Vixen’s voice cracked like a whip, fury spilling out of her as she went for Viper’s throat.
Before contact, Ace was there, wrapping his arms around her, holding her back.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” he said against her ear, tone soft and controlled. “I was worried sick”
“Get off me!” Vixen snapped, shoving him hard. Ace stumbled a step back, jaw tightening but he didn’t push again.
The air thickened.
Rocco leaned forward, grin crooked.
“Finally, some fun”
Scarlett sipped her wine without blinking. “This is going to get messy”
Sylvia didn’t even look up from her tablet, fingers flying. “Already is”
Vixen’s chest rose and fell, her glare locked on Viper like a blade ready to be driven home.
And Viper? She just smiled, sipping her wine slow, like she hadn’t abandoned her in the flames of Villa Rosetta to burn to death.
Vixen’s glare lingered on Viper one last time before she turned on her heel.
Ace was up instantly, following after her without a word. The door slammed shut behind them, leaving the rest of the clan in the heavy silence of what could’ve been a bloodbath.
Blade sighed dramatically, spinning his knife. “Well, there goes my entertainment for the night”
Scarlett’s smirked as she raised her glass. “Trust me. That show’s far from over”
Storm finally moved, leaning forward from his corner, hood casting a shadow over his sharp eyes. He didn’t bother hiding the way his gaze lingered on Viper. Everyone knew. Everyone ignored it.
“You shouldn’t let her get under your skin, she’s not worth your energy”
Viper turned her head slowly, meeting his stare. Her lips curved into the faintest smirk. “And what am I worth, Storm?”
“Everything”
Blade let out a low whistle.”“Shameless, man. Absolutely shameless”
The rest laughed at the statement.
“Careful, Blade”
Ace caught up with Vixen as she stormed down the corridor, every step sharp with fury.
“I swear I’ll kill her myself,” she hissed, words spilling like venom. “She’s not even a bit remorseful—”
But Ace wasn’t listening. He was just staring at her, eyes fixed like she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
When she turned to face him, ready to spit more fire, his voice cut through.
“How have you been? I missed you a lot, Vixen”
Her eyes rolled instantly, the heat in her chest shifting to irritation.
“Ace, I have a mission to prepare for. And to answer your question—” she flicked her hair back, cool and dismissive, “I’ve been good”
She turned on her heel and walked away, heels echoing down the hall.
Ace stood there, watching her go, expression unreadable but heavy with something he wouldn’t say out loud.
A moment later, Rosa stepped up behind him, silent as a shadow.
“You’re wasting your breath” she murmured.
Ace didn’t answer, his eyes were still on Vixen’s fading silhouette.
“Chasing her will only get you killed or worse, distracted. And we both know distractions in this family are fatal”
She expected his usual cold indifference, maybe a cutting retort. What she didn’t expect was the sudden force of his body pinning hers against the wall, his hands gripping tight, his lips crashing on hers.
Rosa froze for a heartbeat, shocked then melted into it, kissing him back with equal hunger.
When they finally tore apart, breathless, her smirk was wicked. “Your suite or mine?”
Ace’s eyes darkened. “Yours”
And without another word, they disappeared down the hall.
***
ROME, SANTA LUCIA CONVENT*
The clock in the bell tower struck five, its heavy chimes rolling through the streets of Rome. Evening had settled in already.
Bianca stepped out of her room, a small woven basket hooked neatly over her arm. Her veil framed her face as she adjusted it, the sound of her slippers light against the stone floor.
At the end of the corridor, Sister Agnes waited, hands folded in front of her. She looked up as Bianca approached.
“You’re going out?” Agnes asked.
Bianca nodded gently. “Sister Clara is unwell again. She asked for fresh herbs, so I’ll fetch them from the market before the stalls close”
Agnes gave a thoughtful hum, then smiled. “Then I’ll join you. The streets are busier at this hour, and two are always better than one”
Bianca’s lips curved in gratitude. “Thank you. That would be kind”
Together, they pushed open the heavy oak door of the convent, stepping out into the evening air.
The fading sun brushed their faces, warm against the cool breeze drifting up from the Tiber.
The city’s sounds rose around them. The chatter of merchants packing their goods, the laughter of children darting through narrow streets, the distant clip-clop of carriage wheels on cobblestone.
Side by side, they walked down the stone steps, blending easily into the rhythm of Rome at dusk.
Halfway down the cobbled street, Agnes suddenly slowed. You are reading from www.mhiztaemy.com.ng Her eyes flicked toward a young man across the square, carrying crates of bread into a shop. He was tall, sleeves rolled up, the sunlight catching in his hair.
Agnes flushed instantly, her lips parting in surprise as if she hadn’t meant to stare.
Bianca noticed at once, her soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Ah… now I know why you insisted on coming with me,” she teased gently. “It wasn’t just for Sister Clara. You wanted to see your crush”
Agnes gasped, then covered her face with her hands, laughing shyly. “You caught me. I can’t help it, Bianca. He always passes by here at this hour. I just… wanted to look”
Bianca’s smile warmed. “There’s no shame in that”
Agnes peeked at her through her fingers, eyes bright. “And you? Don’t you have a crush? Someone who makes your heart race?”
Bianca paused only a moment before answering. “Matty. I have Matty”
Agnes tilted her head. “Matty? Who’s this Matty?”
Bianca’s gaze softened as she adjusted the basket in her hands.
“My Matty” she said simply, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Agnes blinked at her, curious, but before she could ask again, they reached the small herb stall tucked at the corner of the square. The scent of rosemary and sage filled the air as Bianca stepped forward to greet the old vendor with a kind smile.
The old vendor’s face wrinkled with a smile the moment Bianca approached. He reached over the baskets of rosemary, basil, and sage, plucking out the freshest sprigs for her basket.
“Ah, Sister Bianca, If you weren’t a nun, I’d have married you off to my son by now. You’d make a perfect bride”
Agnes giggled behind her hand, but Bianca only laughed softly, the sound light and genuine. “You flatter me too much, Signore. But if he’s not Matty, I don’t want”
The vendor chuckled, shaking his head as he packed the herbs carefully. “Then I suppose your Matty is a very lucky man”
Bianca only smiled, accepting the bundle. “Grazie”
She and Agnes walked away down the cobbled street, the convent bell tolling faintly in the distance. Agnes still looked at her sideways, curiosity shimmering in her eyes, but Bianca gave nothing more.
Instead, her mind was elsewhere.
Sicily.
She would have to speak to Mother Superior soon, perhaps tomorrow. She could phrase it carefully and say a relative had written, one who had fallen ill. That she wanted to visit, just for a short while, to offer comfort. No one would deny her something so selfless.
Yes. That would be her reason.
But her heart whispered a different truth, one only she could hear.
Matty.
Agnes walked slower than usual, her fingers brushing the edge of her veil nervously.
“I’ll tell you something, Bianca” she said at last.
“Sometimes I… I wish to leave the convent. To start a new life. A different one”
Bianca stopped, turning to face her. Agnes’ cheeks burned under the weight of her own words, but she didn’t look away.
Bianca’s expression softened. Her hand gently touched Agnes’ arm. “Then come with me”
Agnes blinked. “Come… where?”
Bianca’s lips curved into the faintest smile. “Sicily. Will you come to Sicily with me?”
Agnes stared at her, stunned into silence.
Bianca kept walking, the evening sun catching the edge of her veil, leaving Agnes standing there with her heart pounding, wondering if she’d just been given an escape or invited into something far more complicated.
Agnes hurried to catch up, still trying to process Bianca’s words.
“Wait” she said breathlessly, tugging lightly at Bianca’s sleeve. “Why Sicily? Why are you going there?”
Bianca only smiled, the kind of serene smile that gave nothing away yet felt like it carried a whole world behind it.
“You’ll see” she murmured.
And with that, she kept walking.
Agnes followed beside her, but her mind was far from calm.
***
SICILY, MASQUERADE BALL*
Crystal chandeliers burned like captured stars above the grand hall. Music swelled from a golden quartet in the corner, violins and cellos weaving through the clamor of silk gowns, sharp tuxedos, and painted masks.
The Moretti clan was already inside.
Spread across the crowd, hidden in plain sight.
Scarlett stood near the marble staircase, her black feathered mask catching the candlelight as she leaned casually against the railing, scanning faces like a cat among canaries.
Blade danced with a woman draped in emerald, spinning his butterfly knife between his fingers under the tablecloth every time her gaze turned away.
Rocco mingled with a circle of men in suits, his laughter booming as if he belonged there, though his eyes never stopped roaming for their mark.
Sylvia was nowhere near the crowd. She stayed in the shadows by the service corridor, mask plain, tablet tucked discreetly in her clutch, watching the security feeds she’d hacked minutes ago.
Vixen glided through the dancers, crimson silk flowing around her legs, her mask glittering gold. To the untrained eye, she looked like temptation itself. To those who knew better, she was death in heels.
And then there was Matteo.
The Boss stood at the far end of the hall, a black mask covering half his face, sharp lines carved in shadow. Aurora was on his arm, dressed in silver that shimmered under the chandeliers, her mask delicate lace. Together, they looked untouchable like the king and queen of this gilded underworld.
Aurora’s hand tightened faintly against his arm, her pulse betraying her calm façade. Her eyes swept the hall, searching for a man she’d never met but whose death she was now bound to witness.
Viper approached from the left, her scarlet mask gleaming. “Target hasn’t shown yet. My bet? He arrives fashionably late, ego that big needs an entrance”
“Then we’ll be ready” Matteo said coldly, raising his glass to his lips.
The music swelled again as the gilded doors at the far end of the ballroom began to open.
The crowd stirred, masks turning, whispers spreading.
Elijah Varga had arrived.
The clan members smirked, show on.
Aurora left the ball room for the restroom, since she was feeling pressed.
Minutes later, she stepped out spilling into the otherwise empty corridor. She adjusted her silver mask, exhaling slowly, her chest tightening beneath the weight of the night.
And then she froze.
Because he was already there.
Elijah Varga.
A tall man in a wolf-mask, expensive silk clinging to his broad shoulders, his dark eyes gleaming with arrogance. His gaze wasn’t on her face. It dropped, lingering far too long, shameless and hungry.
“You look so hot… so s+×y” he drawled, stepping closer, his words thick with lust.
“The moment I walked in, I saw you. Couldn’t look away. Had to trace you here”
Aurora’s lips curved into a slow smile.
“Did you now?” she purred, tilting her head as if flattered. “Well… here I am”
His eyes lit, mistaking the predator for prey. He reached forward, hand extending toward her waist.
That was when she moved.
Aurora slipped the silk handkerchief from her clutch. Before his hand could touch her, she pressed the cloth firmly over his nose and mouth.
The sweet chemical sting filled his lungs as he struggled, muffled protests caught beneath the fabric. His body jerked, muscles straining… but already weakening.
Aurora’s smile never stopped. “Relax, handsome. I’m all yours…”
His eyes rolled back, his knees buckling. A heavy thud echoed through the corridor as Elijah Varga collapsed at her feet, unconscious.
Aurora crouched down, silver skirts pooling around her as she looked at him. The target. The man her clan had come here to end.
The next step was simple.
Kill him.
Aurora crouched, fingers steady as she slid a slim stiletto blade from beneath the strap of her gown.
She studied him for a moment, her lips curving into the faintest smirk.
“So easy for my official first kill” she whispered.
She angled the blade and drove it clean into the side of his neck, fast and precise. The steel slipped through flesh, severing artery and silence in one motion.
His body jolted once, then went still, blood pooling beneath him, dark against the polished marble floor.
Aurora exhaled softly, wiping the blade on the inside of his jacket before tucking it back into her gown. She adjusted her mask, smoothed her hair, and stood as though nothing had happened.
Then she hooked her hands under his arms and dragged him across the floor, her heels clicking steadily.
At the far end of the hallway, behind a velvet curtain shielding a storage alcove, she shoved his body out of sight. The heavy drapes fell back into place, swallowing him whole.
***
BACK AT THE EMPIRE*
The lounge was thick with smoke and laughter, the clan scattered across chairs and tables.
Aurora sat among them, mask gone, silver gown still gleaming faintly under the low lights. Every gaze carried the same thing: respect.
Rocco raised his glass first. “Fast, clean and no noise. That’s how it’s done”
Scarlett smirked, swirling her drink. “Didn’t think she had it in her… but I stand corrected”
Blade leaned forward, knife spinning lazily between his fingers. “Not just corrected but impressed. That was a pro’s kill”
Sylvia finally glanced up from her tablet, a rare nod of approval.
“No trace, no suspicion at all. Later you will teach me how you did it” Vixen said and they laughed.
Even Storm cracked a small smile, lifting his glass. “Welcome to the real family business, Aurora”
The praise circled the room, all genuine. All except from one corner.
Viper.
She sat with her legs crossed, wine glass untouched, lips curved in a thin, bitter smile. “One kill and everyone’s acting like she invented murder” she muttered.
Aurora didn’t so much as glance her way.
Matteo, however, did. His dark gaze cut across the room, silencing even Viper’s smirk. Without a word, he reached for Aurora’s hand and pulled her to her feet.
“Enough” he said simply, his voice brooking no argument.
The two of them left the lounge together, the heavy door closing behind them, muffling the sounds of the clan.
Outside, his black car waited. Matteo pressed her back lightly against the door, his face close enough for her to feel the heat of his breath.
“You deserve a good f+k” he said lowly, his voice rough silk.
Aurora laughed, tilting her chin up. “Is that your way of saying good job, Boss?”
Before he could answer, his phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen once, and ended the call without hesitation.
Then he gripped Aurora by the neck possessively, forcing her eyes on his. His lips hovered a whisper away from hers.
“Let’s give Elijah Varga a show” he growled.
•
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TBC😈
