𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

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Marlee woke up with the dawn, her body already conditioned to rise with the earliest rays of sunlight. She slipped into a pair of worn-in work boots and grabbed a pair of old, torn overalls from her closet. Slipping on a loose white tank top, she left the overall straps undone for the moment.

Marlee descended into the kitchen, her mother's voice greeting her from over the rim of her coffee mug. "You're up early, baby," the older woman commented, her tone warm. Emmeline took a seat at the table, her thoughts briefly drifting to Viktor and their recent kiss. Before she could delve further into those memories, her mother spoke again, her curiosity piqued. "You're going to help Mr. Clark at the farm today, right?"

Marlee nodded diligently, pulling a loaf of bread from the cupboard, before focusing her attention on her mother. Her mother spoke with a gentle tone, "Do you need a ride, dear? I don't go in to work until later." Marlee couldn't help but notice the slight flush on her mother's cheeks, a subtle sign of nervousness or anticipation. She quickly reassured her mother and responded, "It's okay, mama. My friend is gonna pick me up."

A playful smile danced across Marlee's lips as she returned to the kitchen table and leaned over it, closing the gap between her and her mother. With a mischievous gleam in her eye, she fired her question, "Got another coffee date lined up with that guy, huh?"

A soft blush crept across Eleanore's cheeks as she nodded shyly. Marlee, ever eager to know the details, wasted no time in launching a barrage of questions about the date. "Was he nice? What does he look like? Do you have a picture?" Marlee asked, her curiosity piqued.

Eleanore chuckled heartily, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Slow your roll, Mar-bar," she teased, emphasizing the nickname. Marlee dramatically slumped back in her seat, feigning frustration. "Come on, mama! You can't just leave me hanging like this."

Excitement flickered in Marlee's eyes as her mother revealed that she had a picture. Her mother added with a smirk, "I stalked his Facebook." A playful glint sparkled in her daughter's eyes as she perused the image, finally conceding, "Yeah, he's cute."

Marlee studied the photo intently, taking in every detail of the man's appearance. He was older than her mother, his bronzed skin bearing a slight resemblance to her father. But despite the similarities, there were clear differences. The man's face showed signs of aging, the lines at the corners of his eyes and mouth speaking volumes. His dark brown hair was neatly combed back, revealing a hint of stubble tracing the contours of his jaw.

Marlee slid her toast from the toaster, taking a bite as she turned back towards her mother. "So... What's his name?" she asked curiously, a smile playing on her lips.

"Soren," her mother replied, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Marlee felt a pang of joy in her chest. Her mother had been alone for a long time since her father had passed, and she deserved to find happiness again.

Today was the day Marlee had been looking forward to all week: helping Mr. Clark on his farm. She sat eagerly at the kitchen table, nibbling on the slice of toast as she waited for the sound of tires on the gravel road. When she finally heard the familiar crunch of wheels approaching, she quickly tossed the remainder of the toast on the table and grabbed her sunscreen. Marlee swiftly kissed her mother on the cheek and called out a cheerful farewell. Her heart fluttered with exhilaration, her mind already buzzing with anticipation. Without a second thought, she dashed out of the house and bounded towards the waiting vehicle.

As Viktor pulled into the driveway, his eyes immediately landed on Marlee, who was practically running out of the house, her eagerness apparent in her every movement. The sight of her excitement made a small smile twitch at the corners of his lips. He watched as she stood waiting for him, her body practically vibrating with anticipation.