The Mafia's Angel | 18+

𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

𝘼𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖

✦⋆𓆩✧𓆪⋆✦

Ari's daughter was healing a part of my fractured soul.

With every giggle, I'm brought back to Lily as a child. Megan reminds me of her as she dances around my legs, running between them and then bolting to her father and then back to me. I couldn't stop the smile from forming even if I wanted to. There was such pure love in Ari's eyes as he looked at his daughter that it made me melt because it was how my father looked at me. Like there wasn't anything in the world he loved more. So, when Megan ran off to play with some of her friends, I smiled at Ari, watching as he walked over to me. The usual confidence he had was replaced with nervous energy as he slipped his arm around my waist, positioning my body in front of him, my back to his chest, so he could watch his daughter yet still be close to me.

The chilly autumn breeze rustled through the trees that surrounded the playground, and I melted into the warm embrace I had come to rely on for comfort.

Ari's warm hands slid under the shirt of his I was wearing to rest on my stomach, his thumbs brushing the skin. "This isn't the place to talk about it," His voice was like a soothing balm to the ache that had formed, "But I can't ignore the way you make me feel anymore," his lips moved against the top of my ear and I closed my eyes, sinking into the familiarity of Ari Levinson. "I'm sorry," Ari whispered as we swayed in the field, "I'm sorry for running from you when I got scared."

I didn't respond, didn't have the chance because I froze as gunshots echoed down the road outside of the elementary school.

Ari instantly reached for the gun he kept inside of his pants as children bolted into the school, doors locking. The Abelli princess was here, I was a giant target. What the hell was I thinking coming to a school full of children? I was a fool, I couldn't do this, I couldn't be here.

Ari's hand locked in my hair at the back of my head, pressing my forehead to his collarbone to try and calm me down. The gunshots echoed outside the school before the air turned silent, almost a deathly calm that made me shiver. With one hand holding the gun, he held me close to him, a hand gripping my waist so tight I was sure there would be bruises. I hadn't realized Ari had managed to pull out his phone, the gun now loosely held in front of my stomach as his arm wrapped around my waist. "Elio," I shivered at the pure authority of his voice, "Is the perimeter secured."

I didn't move, everything stood still. Gunshots were the sounds I would forever hear in my nightmares.

I was jolted out of my thoughts when Ari stepped away from me, walking over to the door where his daughter was peeking her head out. "Daddy," She pouted, reaching up for him. His gun was tucked in his waistband, and his arms scooped up his little girl, who held him tightly like it was the last time she would ever see him. And Ari held her just as tight, his hand sliding into her sandy brown hair to hold her to his chest. I had to look away because the ache that formed in my chest at the sight was nearly bone-crushing. I remember the days when my father used to do it to me, and I'd never ever have the liberty of being held by my father again. But when Elio walked down the small incline I realized what was happening, Ari was going to leave with me, to keep me safe, and from the way his Megan's lip trembled she knew he was about to go.

I walked up to him, hearing him whisper I'm sorry princess over and over into her hair. So, I placed my hand on his arm, jolting him out of his spiral. "Stay," I told him, looking over to Elio, "I'll be fine with Elio, I'm sure Eliana could use the company tonight anyway."

He opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he saw the sharp look I gave him.

Instead, I smiled, seeing Megan smiling back at me already. "It was nice to meet you, Megan," I told her, seeing the smile reach her eyes.