Chapter 8 - The wrath of the father
Maya stood up, tears of profound relief streaming down her rosy cheeks. She carried Noah down the dusty staircase and ran directly into Vincent’s waiting arms.
Vincent caught them both. The legendary, frighteningly calm Mafia Boss finally broke. He wrapped his massive, muscular arms around Maya and his son, burying his face in Maya’s soft brown hair. His chest heaved with raw, unchecked emotion.
“I thought I lost you,” Vincent whispered, his voice cracking. “Both of you.”
He escorted them to a waiting, unmarked car. The drive to the secure penthouse was silent, but Vincent never let go of Maya’s hand.
When they arrived at the luxurious, sky-high apartment, Vincent ordered his men to secure the perimeter. Noah, exhausted from the ordeal, fell asleep almost immediately on the massive living room sofa.
Maya stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out over the glittering city lights. Vincent walked up behind her. He didn't say a word. He simply placed his large hands on her shoulders, turning her gently around to face him.
His dark eyes were entirely stripped of their cold authority. They were filled with absolute, burning devotion.
“You risked your life for him today,” Vincent said softly, his thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones. “You had every chance to run, to save yourself, and you didn't.”
“I love him, Vincent,” Maya whispered, her breath hitching as he stepped closer.
“And I love you,” Vincent confessed, the words rough and heavy with absolute truth.
He didn't wait for her to answer. He leaned down and kissed her. It was a kiss forged in fear, relief, and undeniable passion. Maya melted into his embrace, her hands sliding up his broad chest to wrap around his neck. For a moment, the violence of the world faded away, leaving only the fierce, consuming heat between them.
Suddenly, Vincent’s secure phone buzzed sharply in his pocket. He pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against hers, and answered the call.
May you like
It was his chief bodyguard. “Boss. We captured Falcone alive. He’s secured in the basement of the warehouse.”
Vincent’s eyes darkened, the cold Mafia Boss returning in an instant. “I’m on my way.”
