My mafia love

24- Beautiful

Kelly's POV:

The following morning arrived far sooner than I expected.

Two of Cade's men loaded my small collection of belongings into a black SUV while Adam insisted on carrying the last box himself despite repeatedly complaining about how heavy it supposedly was.

I say my belongings, some of my things from my previous home magically appeared in my room at Cade's mansion one day . I didn't have much but at least some things weren't brand new.

Cade never came outside.

Part of me had expected that.

Another part had hoped I was wrong.

The journey lasted almost an hour before the car eventually pulled into a quiet street lined with modern apartment buildings surrounded by cafés, small shops and tree-lined pavements that looked nothing like the neighbourhood I had lived in before.

Adam climbed out first before opening my door.

"Welcome home."

I stepped onto the pavement slowly before looking up at the building in front of me.

It wasn't enormous.

It wasn't some extravagant mansion.

It was simply... beautiful.

Bright stone walls framed large windows that overlooked a peaceful courtyard filled with flowers, while the apartment itself was almost twice the size of anywhere I had ever lived, decorated with soft neutral colours, polished wooden floors and furniture that somehow managed to feel expensive without being intimidating.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I was standing somewhere that belonged to nobody except me.

I didn't pay for it, I didn't choose it.

But the fact it was a gesture to keep me safe, makes me love and appreciate it so much more.

Adam placed my keys into my hand before smiling.

"Go make it yours, kitten."

As I stepped inside, I took one last look at Adam walking away and closed the front door behind me, I realised something that should have made me happier than it did.

After everything that had happened, after finally getting exactly what I had wanted from the very beginning...

...the first person I thought about wasn't myself.

It was Cade, Adam and Sasha.. even Derek.

After everything, it felt like I was leaving something behind.

I get attached way too easily.

Fuck me.

I woke up the next morning, relishing in my new bedroom. Everything about the house was so homely and beautiful. Everything was already placed inside of it, decor, furniture. Words can't describe how grateful I am.

I decided to take a stroll through my new neighbourhood and everything about it was everything i've ever dreamed of, cute cafes, small cottages, vintage shops.. I loved it.

~~

The sharp knock against my front door startled me from where I had been curled beneath a blanket on the sofa, a mug of tea balanced between my hands while some forgettable television programme played quietly in the background. I frowned at the clock hanging above the kitchen doorway because barely anyone knew where I lived, making unexpected visitors feel almost impossible.

I was scared.

Carefully placing my mug onto the coffee table, I crossed the apartment before peering through the peephole.