THE MAFIA PRINCE 2/2

A few days had bled into one another, each sunrise a muted echo of the last. The memory of Kade, the heat of his skin against mine, lingered like phantom touches on my body. I missed him. The thought was a quiet admission, a secret I held close to my chest. I wanted to see him again, to feel the intensity of his gaze, but I was adrift, unsure how to navigate the chasm between our worlds.

My days were a monotonous loop of waking, working, and waiting. Each notification on my phone was a tiny spark of hope, quickly extinguished when it wasn't him. I was starting to think our night together had been a dream, a figment of my imagination conjured from loneliness.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as I walked home from work, lost in thought. The city was a cacophony of sounds, cars honking, people chattering, but I was cocooned in my own little world. That's when I saw him.

Kade.

He was standing in front of an abandoned building a few blocks from my house, the kind that squat like forgotten monsters on the edge of the city. He was surrounded by men, all of them dressed in dark suits, their faces grim and unreadable. My heart lurched. This wasn't the Kade I knew, the one who had laughed with me at the bar, who had held me in his arms. This was someone else, someone dangerous.

My feet rooted to the spot, curiosity and fear warring within me. I wanted to turn away, to pretend I hadn't seen him, but I couldn't. I had to know. I crept closer, using the shadows as my shield.

A figure was slumped on the ground in front of Kade, bruised and bleeding. He was pleading, his voice a desperate rasp. "Please, Kade, I can get the money. Just give me more time."

Kade didn't flinch. His face was a mask of cold indifference. "Time is a luxury you can no longer afford." His voice was low, devoid of emotion, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

"I'll do anything," the man begged, tears streaming down his face. "Please, I have a family."

Kade tilted his head, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. "Family, huh? You should have thought about that before you ran up your debts."

He raised his hand, a signal. One of the men stepped forward, pulling out a gun. The man on the ground screamed, a raw, animalistic sound. I wanted to cover my ears, to block out the horror unfolding before me, but I was frozen, a helpless observer.

"Please, no!" the man cried, his voice cracking. "I beg you!"

Kade's expression remained unchanged. "You made your choice."

A gunshot echoed through the air, sharp and final. The man slumped to the ground, lifeless. I gasped, a small, involuntary sound. It was enough.

Kade's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the shadows. He locked onto my hiding place, his gaze piercing and intense. I felt like a deer caught in headlights, paralyzed with fear.

He smirked, a slow, predatory curve of his lips. He knew I was there.

I didn't wait to see what he would do. I turned and ran, my heart pounding in my chest. The sound of my own ragged breathing filled my ears. I could hear footsteps behind me, the heavy tread of Kade's men. They were gaining on me.

"Get him!" I heard one of them shout.

Fear lent me speed. I dodged through alleyways, my lungs burning. I risked a glance over my shoulder. They were still behind me, guns drawn.

"Let him go," I heard Kade's voice, calm and authoritative. The footsteps stopped. I didn't slow down. I ran until my legs ached, until my lungs screamed for air. I didn't stop until I reached my house, slamming the door behind me and locking it with trembling hands.

I leaned against the door, gasping for breath, my body shaking. What had I just seen? Who was Kade? The man I had spent a night with, the man who had made me feel alive, was a killer. A cold-blooded killer.

I stumbled to my room, my mind reeling. I needed to get away, to escape this nightmare. I started throwing clothes into a bag, my hands shaking so badly I could barely hold onto them.

That's when I saw him.

Kade was sitting in the chair across from my bed, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. How had he gotten in here?

I froze, my blood turning to ice. "What are you doing here?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

He stood up, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator stalking its prey. "We need to talk."

I backed away, fear clawing at my throat. "Stay away from me."

He ignored my plea, stepping closer. "I know you saw what happened."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied, my voice trembling.

He stopped in front of me, his eyes locking onto mine. "Don't lie to me, Jay. I saw you."

I couldn't look away. His gaze was too intense, too mesmerizing. "I... I don't understand," I stammered. "Who are you?"

He reached out, his fingers brushing against my cheek. I flinched, but I didn't move away. "I'm the man who wants you."

"But... the man I saw..."

"That's also me," he said, his voice soft, almost gentle. "I'm not a simple man, Jay. My life is complicated."

"Complicated?" I echoed, my voice rising. "You killed someone! That's not complicated, that's monstrous!"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I do what I have to do. I protect what's mine."

"And what's yours?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm. "Is that why you came here? To kill me too?"

He shook his head, his eyes softening. "No, Jay. I came here to explain."

"Explain what?" I demanded. "Explain why you're a murderer?"

"I'm the head of a family," he said, his voice low. "A family that has certain... obligations."

"A mafia family?" I guessed, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut.

He nodded, his expression grim. "I'm taking over soon."

I stared at him, my mind struggling to process what he was saying. "You're a mafia boss?"

"Soon to be," he corrected. "My father is stepping down."

"And you expect me to just accept that?" I asked, my voice incredulous. "You expect me to be okay with you being a criminal?"

"I expect you to understand," he said, his voice pleading. "To understand that this is who I am, that this is my life."

"I can't," I said, shaking my head. "I can't be with someone like you."

He stepped closer, his body almost touching mine. "You can't deny what we have, Jay. I know you feel it too."

I wanted to deny it, to push him away, but I couldn't. He was right. I did feel something for him. Something strong, something dangerous.

"I don't know what to do," I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.

He cupped my face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away my tears. "Let me show you," he said, his voice husky. "Let me show you what we can have."

He lowered his head, his lips brushing against mine. I hesitated for a moment, then I closed my eyes and gave in. His kiss was soft at first, tentative, but then it deepened, becoming more urgent, more demanding.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. I didn't care who he was, what he did. All I cared about was him, about the way he made me feel.

He pulled away, his eyes dark with desire. "Come with me," he whispered. "Let me take care of you."

I didn't answer. I didn't need to. He already knew my answer.

He took my hand, leading me to the bed. He sat down, pulling me onto his lap. I straddled him, my legs on either side of his hips.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice low.

I nodded, my eyes locked on his. "I want you, Kade."

He smiled, a slow, predatory smile. "Then you shall have me."

He kissed me again, his tongue tracing the outline of my lips. I opened my mouth, inviting him in. His tongue plunged into my mouth, exploring every inch. I moaned, my body arching against his.

He reached down, his hands sliding under my shirt. He cupped my breasts, his thumbs teasing my nipples. I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.

He unbuttoned my shirt, pulling it off my shoulders. He leaned down, kissing my neck, my collarbone, my chest. He licked and sucked at my nipples, sending shivers of pleasure through my body.

I ran my hands through his hair, pulling him closer. I wanted him inside me, I wanted to feel him filling me up.

He stood up, lifting me in his arms. He carried me to the bed, laying me down gently. He undressed me, his eyes never leaving mine. I watched him, my heart pounding in my chest.

He stepped out of his own clothes, revealing his hard, muscular body. He was even more beautiful naked than he was clothed. I reached out, my fingers tracing the lines of his chest, his stomach, his thighs.

His cock was thick and hard, throbbing with desire. I wrapped my hand around it, stroking it gently. He groaned, his body tensing.

He knelt between my legs, his eyes burning with lust. He spread my legs wider, his fingers teasing my inner thighs. I moaned, my hips arching up to meet his touch.

He lowered his head, his tongue flicking over my clit. I gasped, my body convulsing. He sucked and licked, driving me wild with pleasure. I cried out, my orgasm building.

He moved up, his cock hovering over my entrance. He pushed inside me, slowly, deliberately. I moaned, my body stretching to accommodate him.

He started to move, his hips thrusting in and out. I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him closer. I met his thrusts, my body moving in rhythm with his.

The world dissolved around me, everything fading away except for the feel of his body inside mine. I was lost in the sensation, lost in the pleasure.

He thrust harder, faster, his breath coming in ragged gasps. I cried out, my orgasm exploding. He followed close behind, his body convulsing as he came inside me.

We collapsed against each other, our bodies slick with sweat. I held him tight, not wanting to let go.

After a while, we separated, lying side by side, our bodies still trembling. I turned to him, my eyes searching his.

"What now?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

He reached out, taking my hand in his. "Now, we figure things out," he said, his voice soft. "We figure out how to make this work."

I didn't know if it was possible, if we could overcome the obstacles between us. But I knew one thing: I wanted to try. I wanted to be with him, no matter the cost.

He leaned down, kissing me gently. "I promise you, Jay," he whispered. "I'll do everything in my power to protect you, to make you happy."

I closed my eyes, trusting him. Hoping he was telling the truth.

The next few hours were a blur of passion and tenderness. We made love again, slower this time, more sensual. We explored each other's bodies, learning what pleased us, what drove us wild.

Between the lovemaking, we talked. He told me more about his life, about the responsibilities he faced, about the dangers that lurked in the shadows. I listened, trying to understand, trying to reconcile the man I knew with the man he was.

He told me about his father, a ruthless and powerful man who had built the family's empire through violence and intimidation. He told me about his mother, a gentle and kind woman who had tried to shield him from the darkness. He told me about his siblings, each of them vying for power, each of them willing to do whatever it took to get ahead.

He told me about the enemies he had made, the people who wanted him dead. He told me about the sacrifices he had to make, the compromises he had to accept.

I asked him about the man he had killed, the man I had seen begging for his life. He didn't flinch. He told me the man had betrayed the family, had stolen from them, had threatened their safety. He said he had no choice but to eliminate him.

I didn't know what to say. I couldn't condone his actions, but I could understand them. He was living in a world where violence was a way of life, where survival depended on strength and ruthlessness.

As the night wore on, I started to see him in a new light. He was still the man I had fallen for, the man who made me laugh, the man who made me feel alive. But he was also something more, something darker, something dangerous.

And I was drawn to it.

I knew that being with him would be risky, that it would expose me to a world of violence and danger. But I was willing to take that risk. Because I loved him.

As the first rays of dawn peeked through the curtains, he stood up, pulling on his clothes. "I have to go," he said, his voice regretful. "I have things to take care of."

I nodded, understanding. "Will I see you again?" I asked, my voice anxious.

He smiled, stepping closer. He cupped my face in his hands, kissing me softly. "You'll see me again," he promised. "I won't let you get rid of me that easily."

He turned and walked out the door, leaving me alone in my room. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind racing.

What had I gotten myself into?

I didn't know. But I knew that my life would never be the same again.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***