The Alpha Mafioso's Prey

Chapter 1: Meeting the Beast

 She didn't see him come in. She sensed him.

Aurora couldn't tell what it was at first--a shiver down her spine, a flush to her cheeks, a quickening of her breath. It hounded her as she put a pot of coffee on and brushed her hands on her apron, getting ready to serve the party that just came in.

"Welcome to Sunrise Cafe," Aurora said with a smile. "What can I get for you today?"

The younger of the two men barely glanced at her. "Coffee. Black, for both of us."

She made a quick note. "Gotcha. Anything else?"

The same man cut her another, sharper look. "No. Get on with it."

The smile froze on her face.

"R-right," she stammered, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "That'll be right out."

Backing away quickly, she tried to slow the pounding in her chest. She knew that man--knew of him, anyway. Valentino Maledetto, known to most as a brutal mafioso. And to others...

She busied herself with the coffee she'd already put on, peeking at the pair of men through the kitchen window. She'd hoped that she'd simply been mistaken, but no--the scar cutting through his chiseled cheek was a dead giveaway, even if his raspy voice hadn't been. Valentino started to turn his head, and she ducked down, hands shaking.

It's fine. Everything's fine. He hadn't even looked at her, really, so what was the danger? Aurora was just some waitress in some cafe on some Tuesday in New York City. There were millions of nobodies just like her.

Well. Maybe not just like her. But she'd gotten this far, hiding her secret.

Checking her reflection in the stainless steel coffee pot, Aurora fiddled with her brown hair once more, delaying the inevitable. She lifted the pot, holding it loosely, plastered the same fake smile on her face, and walked out of the kitchen, spine too stiff to be casual.

"Here you are, gentlemen." She set a couple mugs in front of Valentino and his partner, fixing her eyes on the stream of coffee as she poured.

It shook. Her hands shook.

"Something wrong?"

Aurora flinched, and coffee splashed onto the table. Valentino jerked his hand away with a growl.

"Oh my God," Aurora exclaimed, voice trembling. She grabbed the towel off her shoulder and started dabbing frantically at the tablecloth. "I'm so sorry about that. Are you alright? I can't believe I--"

Valentino gripped her arm, stopping her frenzied efforts. "I'm fine. Leave us. Leave the coffee."

A jolt ran through her arm, arcing up from where Valentino's fingers fell on her arm. He tensed, as though he could feel it too, and Aurora yanked her arm away.

"Of course. I'm so sorry," she said in a rush. Was he staring at her? "The coffee's on the house. I..." He was definitely staring at her now, his dark eyes narrowed ever so slightly. His gaze cut through her like a spear, rendering her vulnerable and weak.

"It's... fine," Valentino said after a pregnant pause. "You didn't get any on me. See?" He let go of her arm, leaving red fingerprints behind, and held up his hand, turning it back and forth.

"Oh." Aurora flushed red and lowered her eyes. "I... Well, good." She held her arm across her stomach. "Can I... get you anything else?"

His eyes roved over her a little too intensely for her liking. "We'll be fine for now."