𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

xii

"Mornin', Mama!" Marlee beamed at her mother, unable to contain her excitement. "What are you all dressed up for?" The girl smiled wiggling her eyebrows with a sly grin on her face.

Her mother smiled back, lifting her own eyebrows in response. "I'm just... going out for coffee this morning," she replied.

Marlee couldn't help but giggle at the thought of her mother on a date. "Who is it? Do I know him?" she teased, leaning in eagerly.

Her mother stifled a laugh, still smiling. "Actually, he's new in town. You don't know him."

"Oh, well have fun!" Marlee's mother laughed, shaking her head at her daughter's playful demeanor.

"I've gotta head to school now," Marlee replied, grinning from ear to ear.

Her mother pulled her in for a tight squeeze, her warm embrace conveying both love and concern. "You too, honey. Have a good day!" she said softly, planting a kiss on her daughter's forehead. 

"And be safe walking to school baby!" Her mother called as Marlee walked out the front door.

~Viktor~

Viktor was sitting hunched over his desk, his knee bobbing up and down anxiously beneath it. His legs were spread wide, and his elbows rested heavily on his knees, with his chin cupped in his hands. He appeared to be deep in thought, the internal conflict etched on his face. He couldn't shake the desire to see her, but his common sense was telling him otherwise. After all, she didn't even know him - how could he just approach her?

The internal struggle within Viktor continued to rage. He felt torn - on the one hand, he longed to see her, to be near her in some way. On the other, he knew better than to bring her into his complicated life. He didn't want her to get hurt, he understood all too well the dangers that surrounded him. Viktor's mind was racing as he desperately tried to come up with a solution. He considered each possibility, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. None of them seemed ideal, but his eyes kept drifting back to one option - following her. It was dangerous, he knew that. He wanted so desperately to speak to her, but the man knew he couldn't. With a pang of disappointment, he decided to resist the temptation to approach her directly. Instead, he chose to watch her from afar, hoping that it would be enough to sate his curiosity without bringing her into his chaotic world.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Viktor spent the day attempting to distract himself from his thoughts of the girl, throwing himself into work and various tasks to keep his mind occupied. As the day wore on, his desire to see her grew stronger, until it consumed his every thought. He climbed into his car and drove towards her school, his mind racing with anticipation. He pulled into a parking spot directly in front of the building, carefully angling the vehicle so that his heavily tinted windows would conceal his presence from her and her peers.Viktor settled into his seat, his heart pounding in his chest as he silently waited.

Viktor's eyes focused intently on the entrance, his anticipation mounting with each passing second. He scanned the faces of the students exiting the building, eagerly searching for her among the crowd. Disappointment gripped him as he failed to spot her, despite knowing she was there. He had eyes on her, keeping tabs not for his own selfish desires, but out of concern for her safety as a Russo member.

Viktor sat there, his patience wearing thin as he waited for her to emerge. His mind involuntarily floated to the idea of tracking her phone, but he quickly dismissed it, choosing to give her some time. Perhaps she's involved in an after-school club or simply running late.The waiting game intensified his anxiety, and he found himself drumming his fingers on his thigh in a restless rhythm. Rubbing his jaw, he exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of tension building within his entire being.