The Mafia's Angel | 18+

𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

𝘼𝙧𝙞

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"Shit. Shit. Shit."

Ariella looked at me from her spot on the bed as I ran around like a madman, searching for my keys. And hell, maybe I was a madman because what kind of fucking father forgets their daughter's open house. I grabbed a button-up from my closet, tossing the cotton t-shirt down before I slid my arms in. "What is happening?" Ariella asked, watching as my fingers fumbled with the buttons on my shirt. She had yet to meet with Erik, his jetlag was overwhelming so he spent the day sleeping and they'd meet tomorrow. "Why are you running around like a chicken with its head cut off?"

The analogy brought a smile to my face, "I have my daughter's open house."

"You have a daughter?"

"Have I never mentioned her before?" I swear I have.

"I think I would remember you bringing up a daughter."

"Alright, that's fair," I sighed, sitting at the edge of the bed. "I do. Her name is Megan, and she's six, she was a result of a one-night stand," I ran my hand down my face. "I love her more than anything in the world, but her mother is a lot to deal with, she's convinced we're together, no matter how many times I tell her no. She's a nice enough woman, but the last thing I ever want to do is bring my six-year-old into a world of blood and gore, especially with my rank," Ariella watched me closely as I explained, "Frank had you wonderful girls, but even his protection wasn't enough to save Lily," She swallowed hard, "I just wish her mother would understand the dangers. She sees money, not the reality of what I face."

Ariella nodded, "Would you like me to come with you?"

I shouldn't have been shocked by the offer, but I was because I hadn't been fair to Ariella. I'd taken her body, her desire for me, and then I'd gotten scared and ran. And she's kept her distance, any touch we share, I start, because as much as I want to deny it, I need to feel her skin to breathe. And here she is, sitting on the edge of my bed in a pair of leggings and one of my large t-shirts, looking like a goddess incarnate. I should tell her no, tell her I'm a grown-ass man who can handle my child's mother, but instead, I placed my hand on her knee, squeezing gently. "That would be great."

She nodded, reaching down for her shoes to put on. She looked so hot in my shirt, with those tight leggings stretched across her beautiful ass. The shirt was baggy, but she pulled it off and looked like the younger moms that I saw every time I went to these events. Everyone just assumed I was with Megan's mother, Nicole, but that would soon blow up as soon as Ariella stepped into the school beside me. No one knew who Nicole was, but Ariella Abelli was a household name in New York City, all because of her father's crimes. Which I found ridiculous because she should be known for her beautiful smile, gorgeous laugh, and most of all the kindness she wore in her heart when the world had been nothing but cruel to her.

I thought I was going to throw up when Ariella and I walked up to West Heights Elementary School. I was always a nervous wreck when I saw my daughter; the weight of keeping her safe was like a solid force shoving me down.

"Daddy!"

I grinned as my little girl flew from her mother's hand and crashed into me as I kneeled down, scooping the perfect little girl into my arms. "Hey there princess," I kissed her cheek noisily as she laughed, kicking her little legs. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too!"

Ariella smiled at us, a pure, genuine smile that made her devastating to look at. I had been searching for weeks how to bring that smile forward, to make her genuinely happy after everything that had happened to her. Megan was a carbon copy of me, we shared the same eyes and nose, and her hair was the same sandy brown mine was in the summer. "She looks just like you," Ariella's voice was soft, almost like she was in awe of the little girl in my arms. I couldn't blame her, every single time I saw my little girl, it was like I was struck with a new knife.

"There you are!" My blissful bubble was forced to a screeching halt as Nicole approached, leaning up to kiss my cheek before Megans. I always took it and tried to make us look like a married front, but I couldn't stop the cringe, even when Ariella cringed for me as well. I gave Nicole a kind smile before she looked at Ariella, and then back to me. "Who's that?"

Before I could respond, Ariella held out her hand, "Ariella Abelli, nice to meet you."

I had been around Ariella enough to hear the silent venom in her words. Poison laced with candy had always been her best trait. Nicole watched her carefully, slowly putting the pieces together, her eyes widening. "Abelli, as in Frank Abelli's eldest daughter? I'm so sorry about your loss."

"Thank you."

Nicole gave a polite smile and then turned back to me, "Should I expect you home tonight?"

"Nicole," I sighed, placing Megan down so she could go run off with friends, "We're not together, how many times do I have to tell you this."

Nicole shifted in her place, glancing at Ariella before back at me. "You weren't saying that last night."

Before I could respond, Ariella stepped in front of me, and my hand instantly fell to her waist. It was a natural and powerful move. I could protect Ariella from physical attacks; no one would ever be able to touch her, but she was able to ward off the emotional attacks being thrown at me. "Did you taste me on him?"

Nicole looked shocked, looking around, making sure we were alone. Little did she know that Ariella would never say something like that if she wasn't. She may be a minx in bed, but she was classy in public. So when she crossed her arms over her chest even Nicole stepped back. "What?"

"Well you said you were with him last night," Ariella spoke with such calm I was shocked. I had never seen her like this and maybe I wasn't paying enough attention to how she handled situations, but this was by far one of the hottest things she could've ever done for me. "I just find that funny, because he was with me last night."

Nicole swallowed hard enough that I heard it from where I was standing. So when she turned me I had a mask of indifference on, although I was reeling with what Ariella was saying. "You're sleeping with an Abelli?"

"With Ariella," I replied, "Yes."

"Ari! She's ten years younger than you! And linked to the most dangerous man in the city! Not just linked, she's his flesh and blood!"

"And that's what I've been to telling you since I fell into your bed once six years ago," Everyone was looking at us now, "I can be with Ariella because she's in the world, she understands the dangers, and she sees the man that I am, not the dollar sign." I took Ariella's hand, and she smiled at me, even if her eyes were wide. "You are naive to the dangers or just refuse to acknowledge them, and I will not put my daughter in harm's way for you to have me to gloat over."

Nicole's mouth was agape, like she was trying to find the words to dispute what I said but Ariella beat her to it, "It was nice to meet you Nicole, but Ari'd like to spend time with his daughter before meeting her teachers."

I followed Ariella closely as we walked around Nicole. Part of me felt bad but the other part had great relief knowing that I was finally free of the incessant pining of my child's mother, at least for now.

Megan took a liking to Ariella instantly, dragging her off to run around the playground while I went to chat with her teachers. Watching Ariella with my daughter set off a low flame in my stomach, a yearning almost for this life. The simplicity of it. But not with anyone, not just with Ariella. And it fucking terrified me because it meant I was in way over my head and had been actively avoiding my attraction the princess of the mafia for far too long.

And I was losing control.

But when Megan ran up to me and had me kneel down so she could whisper in my ear, she's a real-life princess, Daddy, before she ran off again to Ariella, all resolve disappeared into the wisps of air around me.

I needed this life, but I needed Ariella, I needed her to have my children and be with me. I needed her smile and her laugh to fucking breathe. And I keep royally fucking it up for blind loyalty and from fear.

But I sat and watched on my knees as Ariella took the last piece of my once cold heart and melted it. Right in front of me so I was a puddle at her feet. I had to stop fucking it up, I had to stop running when I got scared.

I had to have Ariella Abelli as mine. 

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