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"I'd been waiting for a Morano for years okay not years just a year when Alessandro Donatelli walked into Sweet Treats Ice Cream Shop. Ever since the Morano crime family expanded their operations into Riverton four years ago, I'd anticipated one of their high-ranking members would come to Oakdale. We had all sorts of characters in our small town, why not a notorious made man? But rural western Riverton wasn't exactly a hub for organized crime, apparently. Ashwood, on the other hand, was a different story altogether - the Moranos had a stranglehold on the city.

It's not that long a drive from Oakdale to Ashwood, and everyone who came into the shop said that if you threw a rock on the street corner, you'd hit a Morano associate. Though you'd better not. But I was waiting for my own Morano. You can tell I don't get out much. And it's not because I'm not attractive. I am. I'm blonde, green-eyed, and twenty-two, with curves in all the right places. Kaya, my best friend, had picked out my outfit: black shorts, white T, black socks - perfect for scooping ice cream.

As I handed a cone to a customer, my eyes locked onto Donatelli's. Tall, dark hair, piercing gaze - he exuded power. What brought a Morano consigliere to our quaint ice cream shop?"

But I had my own secret, one I kept hidden from the world. That's how I tried to think of it. The customers at Nathal's Ice Cream Parlor just thought I was mad or crazy, or something. But I was just unusually quiet, not into the same things my best friend Kaya was. Either way, the result was the same: I never dated anyone, so little treats counted a lot for me.

He sat at one of the tables, Alessandro Donatelli, a name synonymous with the Morano crime family. I knew immediately who he was and who he was after. I just couldn't make his work harder for him, but I wasn't going to play into the hands of his boss just like that.

I was amazed when no one turned their eyes to look at him. I would have missed him too, if I hadn't seen him at the Riviera Hotel earlier, calling that man his best friend. But at least they should have been able to tell by his style of clothes – tailored, expensive, and screaming "Morano."

I couldn't even determine my own expression, and I just couldn't hear when Nathal tried to reach out to me. He might have called my name a few times more if Kaya hadn't tapped me on the shoulder, waking me out of my thoughts.

Nathal looked at me from the ice cream office – we all called it that – with a worried glance. Nathal, the owner, was down-to-earth, more like family than a boss. But now, he looked at me with concern, and I knew I had some explaining to do. But for now, I was going to try and make some money for us.

He seemed lost in thought, and I wondered what occupied his mind. But approaching him was out of the question. Alessandro Donatelli, a high-ranking Morano family member, was untouchable.

Sitting at the table, he appeared slightly under six feet, his brown hair impeccably styled. His tailored attire screamed wealth and power. I couldn't help but notice his chiseled features – sharp jawline, arched brows, and a perfect nose.

As our eyes met, I tensed. Was he truly after me, or was I just paranoid? His gaze lingered, and I sensed an unspoken question. Donatelli's pale complexion only added to his enigmatic aura.

Rumors swirled about the Morano family's involvement in organized crime, but the media often sensationalized the truth. One thing was certain: Donatelli was a force to be reckoned with.

Kaya's gentle nudge broke the spell. "Hey, you okay?" she whispered.

I nodded, trying to compose myself. Donatelli's attention returned to his coffee, but I knew I hadn't seen the last of him.

Nathal's worried glance from the office reminded me to stay focused. I couldn't let Donatelli's presence disrupt our business. But as I scooped ice cream, my mind wandered back to the mysterious mafia man.

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As the afternoon wore on, Donatelli remained seated, sipping his coffee and occasionally glancing at me. I tried to ignore him, focusing on serving customers and making small talk with Kaya.

But my mind kept drifting back to Donatelli. What brought him to Nathal's Ice Cream Parlor? Was he monitoring our business or seeking something more sinister?Me.

Kaya noticed my distraction and leaned in close. "What's got you spooked?" she whispered.I have been looking at you for quite some time now and you don’t seem yourself.

I hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "Just wondering what he wants," I replied, nodding discreetly toward Donatelli.

Kaya followed my gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Who is he?"

I shrugged, unwilling to share my story about that night with her just yet.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the parlor, Donatelli finally stood up. His tall, imposing figure commanded attention, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.

He approached the counter, his eyes locked on mine. "Thank you for the coffee," he said, his deep voice sending a tremor through me.i snapped I didn’t even serve you that, this is an ice cream shop and for crying out loud , you were sipping coffee which isn’t even sold here”

But I kept that to myself

I managed a polite smile, trying to hide my unease.

As he turned to leave, Donatelli dropped a small piece of paper on the counter. "You might want to take a look at this," he said, his gaze piercing.

And with that, he walked out of the parlor, leaving me wondering what secrets the paper held.

But I wasn’t going to keep myself waiting I open it and it read

“ miss finding you took a full year of my time but I’m glad I finally met you again” . I folded the paper and tossed it out before Kaya read the full content.

“ hey I didn’t get to read” she says we got a good business down here.

I said looking at the closed door , sighing with relief finally.

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