𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

xvi

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Marlee roused from her bed, her body still tingling from the events of the previous day with Viktor. She winced at the dull ache in her ribs before gingerly placing her hand against the area. A small grin curved her lips as she recalled Viktor's insistent request to ice the bruise every day. Then she glanced down to find Bri snuggled between her legs, a small laugh escaping her at the cat's adorable sleeping position.

Marlee eased her legs from beneath the warm embrace of the covers, and with a gentle grace, she padded her way towards the old white dresser situated against the wall, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floor. The room was still bathed in the faint light of early morning, with a gentle peacefulness in the air.

She began the task of picking out her outfit for the day, sifting through the drawers and pulling out the items she would need to get dressed.

Marlee slipped into a floaty white dress that ended just above her mid-thighs, the soft fabric swirling around her as she moved. She twisted her long blonde locks into two neat braids, fastening them with small rubber bands. With her hair and outfit now sorted, she added finishing touches to her look: pulling on a pair of crisp white socks and then sliding her feet into her favorite pair of lightweight canvas sneakers.

Standing in front of her mirror, Marlee took a moment to admire her reflection, a smile stretching across her face as she appreciated the way the dress looked on her. She hadn't had the courage to wear the dress before, but today, she felt different - more confident, more comfortable in her own skin.

"I look nice," she murmured to herself, twirling gently and watching as the skirt of the dress swished around her legs.

Marlee started her morning routine of assisting her Nonna, checking in on the elderly woman and helping her with any tasks she needed. After she was sure Nonna was comfortable and settled, Marlee then softly padded down the hallway to the kitchen.

There, she found her grandfather quietly sitting at the kitchen table, indulging in a morning cup of coffee. The rich aroma of the freshly brewed beverage filled the room, and her grandfather's gaze lifted to meet her.

"Good morning, Marlee," her grandfather called out from behind his newspaper, his voice warm and friendly. She hoped that he might notice her new dress and perhaps offer a compliment. However, her hopes were dashed as he barely spared her a glance before returning his eyes to the pages in his hands.

Her response was a soft murmur of, "Morning, Papa," slightly tinged with disappointment as she hoped for more reaction from him.

Marlee tried to brush off her disappointment, understanding that her grandfather was likely preoccupied with the demands of their family restaurant. Pushing aside the slight pang of hurt, she set her mind to her own task of preparing breakfast.

With practiced ease, she dropped a piece of bread into the toaster before moving to open the refrigerator and retrieve the butter Mr. Clark had generously given her. The memory brought a small smile to her face, thankful for the unexpected kindness she had received.

Marlee quietly stepped outside of her home, her grandfather oblivious to her departure, immersed in his newspaper. As she continued her journey to school, she nibbled on a piece of toast with a sense of familiarity.

A man discreetly observed her from a distance, seated in his car. He watched her with a focused gaze, silently rationalizing his actions to himself, believing that he was simply ensuring her safety by keeping watch over her.

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As Marlee walked down the corridor, Roman's voice echoed through the hallway, calling after her. He caught up to her, a playful tone in his voice as he inquired, "Hey, where did you run off to after school yesterday? I didn't see you anywhere."

Marlee chuckled at his teasing tone before replying, "Oh, I went to see a teacher. You know, just some homework stuff."

"Homework stuff, huh? Lame," Roman responded with a roll of his eyes, a small smirk on his face. He then fell into step with Marlee, walking alongside her.

The day passed smoothly, and to Marlee's surprise, there was an unexpected lack of harassment from Ava and her gang. The only incident they faced was the usual collection of snide remarks.

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The pair walked together, approaching the front doors, when Roman suddenly piped up with a playful complaint. "Are you sure I can't drive you home?" Marlee chuckled at his stubbornness. "Yes, Roman," she replied, her voice gentle yet firm. "I like walking anyways."

Roman bade farewell to Marlee, his hand lifting in a cheerful wave. She reciprocated with a smile, then turned her attention to her locker. The hallways had grown increasingly empty as the last few students left, leaving behind an eerie quietness that pervaded the school.

Mr. Lewis, her physics teacher, smiled warmly through his coffee-stained teeth as he leaned out of his classroom door. "Marlee, just the girl I wanted to see," he began, his eyes bright. "Please, come in. There's something important I need to discuss with you."

Marlee inwardly groaned, bracing herself for the inevitable reprimand. Her grade in physics was abysmal, hovering around a D. "Okay, Mr. Lewis," she mumbled quietly, conscious of the silent emptiness of the hallway. Mr. Lewis shut the door softly, then sauntered over to his desk and perched himself on its edge. He spread his legs widely, farther apart than necessary, as he settled into a relaxed position.

Mr. Lewis chuckled, his tone light yet serious. "I assume you know why I called you here, Ms. Edwards," he began. Marlee nodded slowly, her expression meek and understanding. Mr. Lewis continued, "You're just barely teetering on a D. Anything less than perfect on your next test will most likely drop you to an F."

Mr. Lewis pushed himself off the desk and stepped forward, closing the distance between him and Marlee. He now stood uncomfortably close to the girl, making her fidget nervously. He continued, his tone softer yet firm, "I wouldn't want to drop your grade to an F and have to tell your parents about it."

Mr. Lewis paused, his gaze locked on her face. "And I'm sure you wouldn't want that either, would you?"

Marlee stood frozen in place, her body tense as Mr. Lewis leaned in even closer. A wave of uneasiness washed over her, her instincts warning her that this wasn't right. She felt vulnerable as he placed his hand under her chin, his touch sending shivers down her spine.

"I can stop that from happening," Mr. Lewis continued, his voice low and almost seductive. "If you do something for me."

Marlee's brow furrowed, her confusion and fear clear on her face. She immediately backed away from Mr. Lewis, her instincts warning her that whatever he wanted was not right. "I have to go," she blurted out, her voice high and rushed. "My mom is waiting for me outside." Marlee didn't give Mr. Lewis a chance to respond, she spun around and dashed out of the classroom, leaving behind the uncomfortable encounter. An icy shudder ran down her spine, a deep-rooted unease settling in her limbs.

Marlee bolted out of the cool school corridors into the sunlight, the warmth enveloping her body and soothing her chilled limbs. She squinted against the bright sunshine. Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of a familiar car stationed directly outside the school. As she drew nearer, the window rolled down, bringing a wave of relief to Marlee as she recognized the driver.

"What are you doing here?" Marlee's laughter echoed through the air as a wide smile graced her face. She listened intently as the man spoke, a gruff tone coloring his words. "Roman told me you were walking home," he asserted, the words came out smoothly, a small lie intended to conceal the truth. In reality, he had been waiting for her, his car patiently parked in front of the school.

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Thank you for reading! <3