𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐞 || A Mafia Love Story

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Marlee lay in bed, her mind swirling with fragments of the previous night. The sunlight streamed through her window, painting golden streaks across her room, and her cheeks flushed as memories of Viktor brought a flutter to her stomach. There was something so different about him. Marlee cared deeply for her family, for Roman, but with Viktor, it was... something more. The emotions that surged within her were wild and unfamiliar—equal parts anxious and exhilarating. Whatever this was between them, she craved more of it.

The quiet hum of the house around her was suddenly broken by the distant creaking of footsteps. Her mother had been called in for an early shift at the hospital, leaving their birthday breakfast plans in ruins. Marlee sighed, tracing her finger along the pillow's edge when a soft knock sounded at her door.

"Marlee?" Soren's voice was gentle, hesitant—almost unlike him. She pulled herself from the reverie of her thoughts and called back, "Yes?"

The door creaked open slightly, and Soren's face appeared, looking uncharacteristically unsure. "I, uh... I know it's not the same without your mom, but she mentioned you guys usually go to your grandfather's restaurant for your birthday. I was wondering if you'd still want to go?"

The offer took her by surprise, but warmth spread through her chest at his thoughtfulness. A smile tugged at her lips. "Yes, I'd love that."

She quickly dressed for the day, excitement lighting her every step as she bounded down the stairs. Soren was in the kitchen, deep in conversation with her Nonna, whose face crinkled into a smile as Marlee kissed her cheek.

"Morning, Nonna," she murmured softly, receiving a warm squeeze of her hand in return.

Soren opened the front door for her, and Marlee practically skipped outside, bubbling with a happiness she hadn't expected to feel today. The air was fresh, carrying the scent of blooming flowers as they climbed into the car. Soren joined her in light-hearted conversation, though Marlee noticed he was quieter than usual. His hands gripped the steering wheel just a bit too tightly. He was lost... again.

She laughed, nudging him playfully. "Soren, you took the wrong turn again."

Soren furrowed his brow, his confusion evident. "I don't know how I made it anywhere without you or your mom," he chuckled, slowing the car as they drove down a gravel road. It seemed peaceful until—

The car suddenly jolted. The tires swerved uncontrollably as Soren slammed on the brakes. Marlee's heart lurched in her chest, her pulse pounding in her ears. The car screeched, fishtailing wildly before Soren finally managed to regain control, pulling to a stop on the side of the road.

Breathing heavily, Soren ran a hand down his face, the tension evident in every line of his body. "What the hell was that?" he muttered under his breath.

Marlee watched as he got out, the crunch of gravel beneath his shoes echoing in the sudden quiet. She heard him curse under his breath. "Tire's popped," Soren called back, offering her an apologetic look. "Sorry, kiddo."

"It's not your fault," Marlee assured him, stepping out of the car as well, the summer heat quickly enveloping her. She wandered a little ways off, spotting a patch of wildflowers swaying in the breeze, their colors vibrant against the dull gravel.

Soren made a few phone calls, his voice tense and strained, while Marlee let herself momentarily be lost in the peacefulness of the flowers. It wasn't long before one of Dylan's employees arrived, he was the local mechanic. The man arrived in his dusty old van. The man, with dark hair and tanned skin, shook Soren's hand as they assessed the damage.

But in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

Soren turned his back to Dylan, only for the mechanic to seize him in a chokehold, his arm locking around Soren's throat. Marlee's eyes widened in horror, her body frozen in shock. Soren fought back, gasping for breath as he strained against the man, but it was clear—he was losing.

"Run, Marlee!" Soren rasped, his voice frantic as he desperately tried to free himself. "Run!"

Her body jolted into action. Panic surged through her veins as she turned and bolted down the gravel road, the sound of her own breath harsh in her ears. Behind her, she heard a thud, her heart dropping as she chanced a glance back. Soren was on the ground, the dark-haired man sprinting after her, his heavy boots pounding the gravel with terrifying speed.

Marlee ran harder, her feet slamming into the loose stones, but then—a sharp pain exploded through her foot, sending her tumbling to the ground. She screamed as she hit the dirt, glancing down in horror to see the jagged piece of metal that had pierced through her shoe, through her flesh, and through the tire of the car. Blood poured from the wound, staining the gravel red.

Ignoring the pain, she ripped the metal shard from her foot, biting back the sobs that threatened to consume her. She had no time to think, no time to scream—the man was almost upon her. Desperation fueling her, she forced herself to her feet, limping and stumbling as fast as she could, but it wasn't enough.

Rough hands grabbed her wrist, yanking her backward with a force that knocked the breath from her lungs. Marlee screamed, struggling in vain against the iron grip that bruised her skin. Tears streamed down her face as she begged for mercy, her voice cracking in fear, but the man remained silent, dragging her relentlessly back toward the van.

Her legs buckled beneath her as blood continued to flow freely from her wound, her vision blurring as dizziness took hold. The gaping hole in her foot pulsed with pain, and when she looked back, she saw the trail of blood she'd left behind. The sight made her stomach churn.

The van door slammed open, and Marlee made one last desperate attempt to break free, but her captor shoved her inside, sending her sprawling into the cold metal abyss of the back of the vehicle. The door slammed shut with a deafening clang, sealing her in complete darkness. The engine roared to life, and with it, a suffocating sense of doom filled the air.

Hello Everyone! <3
I'm so sorry for such a late update!
I hope you're all doing as best you can with school starting up again, I know it's killing me! 😭🤞

Giving you guys a little drama because I feel bad. 🙈