Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

DANI
I didn’t know a life of a mafia made a decent living and seemed normal. Of course, they made a lot of money. They laundered money. They sold drugs and guns. They trafficked humans.
Terzo was driving a 2024 Chevy Malibu, way better than the car I drove before I left my old life.
As we drove through the busy city street, I thought of how to ask about our living arrangement. I wanted to know the mysterious Terzo Siciliano. I wanted to know his intentions on why he went through this great length and got shot just to take me with him.
“Did my father owe you a huge load of money?”
“No.”
“Do you owe my father a debt?”
He barely looked at me before he focused his attention back on the busy street.
“Then what is it that you want from me?”
I got nothing but silence.
“I want to get some things from my apartment.”
“I’ll buy anything you need.”
“I don’t want you to spend money on me. I still have clothes from my apartment.”
He seemed to reconsider what I said and sighed. He turned right, which was headed towards my address, without even asking me where I lived. It was creepy that he seemed to know a lot about me, but I knew nothing about him until yesterday.
“What’s the relationship between our fathers? Are they enemies, frenemies, or business allies?”
“Our fathers were never been friends nor have business alliances. Your father can’t be trusted. He betrayed everyone he worked with, including Ilya. You’re lucky Ilya has integrity, and his true to his words.”
“I heard my father talk about Ilya Vasilyev. He seemed to fear him.”
“I’m surprised you made your way to the bratva unscathed.”
I looked at him. Terzo was very attractive, beautiful even for a man, with high, slanted cheekbones, a strong jaw darkened by a five o’clock shadow. He was in his early thirties, maybe— definitely in his prime. His face was expressionless except for those light caramel eyes framed by thick dark lashes darted behind the windshield with such intensity, not only to concentrate, but he seemed to be in deep thought. His dark, thick, wavy hair was tousled, which was due for a haircut. His straight Italian nose may have been broken once, and his full red lips looked soft and firm.
“Stop looking at me.” His voice startled me.
I swallowed. “I’m just trying to figure you out.”
“Nothing to figure out. What you heard about the mafia is all true. I’m dangerous— lethal. We’re dangerous. Our line of business is dangerous. We killed people who betrayed our organization, who crossed the line, who hurt the people we loved. That’s why I don’t get myself involved with anyone, because it’s a liability I can’t afford. I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me, because of what I do for a living.”
“That sounds sad.”
“Yes, but this is the life I chose.”
“You mean the life that you grew up in, the family legacy that you can still get away from it?”
“Like what you did?” He briefly looked in my direction. You ran away from danger to a more dangerous territory.”
“I ran away from marriage. I’d rather clean toilets than marry into the mafia.”
He snorted and parked the car. I didn’t realize we had already arrived until he unlocked the car door. “I’ll go with you.”
“No. You’re gonna scare my roommate, but if I’m not back in ten minutes, then I’m in trouble. You can leave me—”
“Just shut and go.”
I rolled my eyes before I got out of his car. My apartment was on the third floor. I usually left a key under the mat. Thankfully, it was still there, but I heard soft music playing from the inside. So my roommate was at home.
I got inside and locked the door behind me.
“Oh, my God! Dani?” Serena looked surprised to see me. She just came out of the bathroom, still wearing a robe and a towel wrapped around her head. “I thought you were dead. Kidding. Where have you been? You only left me a single DM, said, you’re going somewhere. You didn’t even update your IG or reply to my DM. Oh, my God. Are you okay? Are you in trouble?” She inspected my chin with a worried frown.
“I’m fine. Thanks. I’m staying with a friend. I’m here to get some of my stuff.” I stared at the boxes that I didn’t realize were there in the living room.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were coming back.” She pursed her lips. “I can’t afford to rent alone, so I packed up your things and looked for a new roommate.”
Wow. “Okay. Can you keep my things here for a day or two? When is your new roommate gonna come?”
“Wednesday.”
What day today? Nevermind. “Okay.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked me again, reading my face.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, your ex just dropped your bag.”
“Wait. What?” I stared at her in disbelief.
“Yeah. He called me earlier to drop off your things. It’s outside my door.”
I raised my eyebrows as I followed her to her bedroom door. It was my suitcase, the same suitcase I left last night. “Oh, God. Thanks. I didn’t know I had many things I left in his apartment, but I’ll arrange a mover.”
Why would he return my things after what he did to me? He could have just thrown it to the dumpster.
“Thanks, Serena.” I smiled gratefully as I grabbed the handle until my eyes landed on the necklace around her neck. She covered it right away as if she tried to hide it from me.
I ignored the pang in my chest and smiled before I went to the door.
Terzo’s car was still in the parking lot when I got there. He came out and grabbed my suitcase from me.
“What are you doing?”
“Is this the same suitcase you left at your asshole ex?” He opened the trunk and stuffed it without my permission.
“Yes. Why?”
“Open it.”
“Why would I open it in the street?” I asked in a choked voice.
“I’m not gonna judge what’s in there. I just wanna make sure your ex didn’t put a bomb inside.”
“Are you insane?” I glared at him in disbelief.
“This is how I survived. You should start learning not to trust anyone. My mistake was I put my faith in you not to shoot me because I didn’t see the killer instinct in your eyes.”
“I apologized, didn’t I? Your men startled and scared me.” I opened my suitcase and gestured at him exaggeratedly. “Happy?”
He wasn’t. He checked what was under my clothes. Then he saw my passport and pulled it out, which drew me concern.
“What are you doing?” Panicking, I asked.
“You have a bad habit of running away. I’ll keep your passport with me.” He shut the trunk and got into the driver’s seat.
“I see. I’m your prisoner now.” I stuffed myself in the passenger’s seat and put the seatbelt on.
“Call it whatever you want. You shot me. You’re lucky I didn’t die.”
“Right. You’re gonna remind me for the rest of our lives, aren’t you?” I shut my mouth quickly after realizing what I just said. I was clearly drawn to him, and it sickened me to think that I was attracted to this violent man while I ran away from the other.
It seemed that troubles found me while escaping from another.
“So we’re gonna be together for the rest of our lives. Do you agree?” There was a humor and sarcasm in his voice, and it irritated me.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I can just jump off this car, go to the police, and report you for punching me and stealing my passport.”
“You don’t have to jump. I’ll gladly park the car and let you walk to the police station to file a report.”
“Asshole.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
We arrived at his apartment. I was surprised by a pretty cozy bachelor’s pad, so spotless.
“We only have one bed and one bath.”
“I’ll use the couch.” I went to the couch as he placed my suitcase in the corner.
“Good because if you don’t want to sleep in my bed, I’m not gonna sleep on the couch.”
“Very gentlemanly. Chivalry is dead. Thank you. It’s better than shoving your scar into my face.”
“You can order food from the app. There are some bills in the bowl. Make sure you stay here and don’t open the door if it’s not Marco and Gio.”
“Wait.” I stood up, rendering horror. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes. Stay here and lock the door. I trust you won’t escape again.”
“I’ll be here when you come back.”
“Good. And we still have to talk.”