The Mafia Queen's Obsession

Part 15

Selene's lips curve into a slight, amused smile as she looks at Ayla. "Leo?" she repeats as though it should be obvious. "Leo's my ex."

Ayla's eyes widen, surprised by the revelation. "Your... ex?" She hadn't expected that. Selene, the powerful, enigmatic leader of the Moretti mafia, had an ex? It feels strange, the idea of her having any kind of past that isn't tied to the present moment of power and danger.

Selene sits up a little, propping herself on one elbow, her eyes locking with Ayla's. "Yes, my ex. And also—" She hesitates for just a beat, her gaze turning slightly darker, "—he's the CEO of the task force. The very one that's been hunting both of us."

Ayla blinks, trying to process the weight of that information. "Wait... what?" Her mind spins, trying to make sense of the tangled web she's now caught in. 

The CEO of the task force? Selene's ex? 

The connection feels almost too complicated to unravel in a single moment, but there's no denying the gravity of it.

Selene, noticing Ayla's shock, leans back against the headboard, her eyes narrowing slightly, but there's no anger in her expression—only a cool, collected resolve. 

"I know it's a lot to take in," she says, her voice steady. "But Leo and I have history. A long one. He's the one who helped set up the task force, but he's also the one who betrayed me. I have my own reasons for wanting to take him down."

Ayla's heart races, the enormity of the situation beginning to sink in. 

"So, your ex is leading the very organization trying to destroy us?" she asks, her voice almost disbelieving.

Selene nods, her expression turning colder. "Yes. And it's not just about me and him. The task force has been hunting anyone who gets too close to the truth—my parents, me, and now you. Leo is their puppet master, pulling the strings behind the scenes. But, trust me, he has weaknesses. And I know exactly where to exploit them."

Ayla stands there for a moment, speechless, processing everything. The line between Selene's world and the government's task force is far blurrier than she ever imagined. What started as an investigation into a mafia empire has now morphed into something far more personal—and far more dangerous.

"So, what's the plan?" Ayla asks, finally finding her voice again. "Are you really going to go to him? Just like that?"

Selene's lips curl into a faint smirk as she leans back on the bed, her eyes glinting with something like quiet confidence. "Yes," she says simply. "I'll go. But not to beg or negotiate. I'm going to make him see that crossing me was the worst mistake of his life. And that you," she gestures toward Ayla, "are not someone he can easily erase."

Ayla's stomach tightens with a mix of apprehension and awe. 

She's learning more about Selene by the minute—about her strength, her past, and the dangerous game she's playing. 

The woman before her isn't just a mafia queen. 

She's a survivor, someone who's seen it all and is now determined to make the world play by her rules. 

And, despite everything, Ayla can't help but feel a pull toward her, both wary and drawn in by the complexity of her. "I don't know if I'm ready for this," Ayla admits quietly, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Selene's expression softens, just for a moment. "You don't have to be ready, Ayla. You just have to trust me. And survive."

Selene's gaze softens for just a moment as she leans forward, gently tipping Ayla's chin up with her fingers. There's a calm, quiet intensity in her movements, as though every action is deliberate, as though she's making sure Ayla understands the weight behind her words.

"I'll use my dagger if I have to," Selene says softly, her voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of determination. "If Leo doesn't stop, if he tries to cross me or you again, I'll make him. No hesitation."

Ayla's breath catches in her throat, her heart racing at the cold certainty in Selene's words. It's clear that Selene doesn't just speak in metaphors or idle threats—she's someone who follows through, someone who has the means and the will to make things happen.

As Selene straightens, her fingers slipping from Ayla's chin, she slowly stands and unbuttons her coat, revealing the sleek black outfit beneath. The room is heavy with the tension of unspoken plans and unresolved emotions. Without a word, Selene removes the coat entirely, draping it over a nearby chair, and strides over to a small wardrobe. Ayla watches her, her breath coming a little quicker, uncertain of where this moment is going but unable to tear her eyes away from the fluid grace in Selene's movements.

Selene pauses for a moment, her back to Ayla as she selects a plush bathrobe from the hanger. 

The fabric flows smoothly over her skin, the robe fitting her perfectly, exuding an effortless elegance. 

She turns to face Ayla, her expression unreadable but somehow still intensely present. Without a word, she walks past Ayla toward the door that leads to the bathroom, the soft rustle of her bathrobe the only sound.

Ayla's gaze follows her, a mix of awe and confusion swirling within her. She's unsure of what to feel—whether to question the intimacy of the moment or simply watch Selene with a kind of quiet fascination.

 It's hard to ignore the shift that has taken place, the way the power dynamics between them have evolved in such a short time.

As Selene reaches the door, she glances back over her shoulder, her dark eyes locking with Ayla's. There's a flicker of something—perhaps amusement, perhaps something more—but it's gone almost as quickly as it appeared.

"Stay here," Selene says in a low voice, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll be back soon."

And with that, she steps into the bathroom, leaving Ayla to sit in the silence that follows, the weight of everything that's happened—and everything yet to come—hanging in the air between them.

Ayla doesn't move. She can't. 

Her mind races, still trying to process the conversation, the unexpected closeness, the dangerous path ahead. She feels like she's standing on the edge of something, something she can't quite define, but something that is pulling her deeper into Selene's world with every passing second.

She hears the faint sound of water running from the bathroom, but her attention remains fixed on the door, waiting for what comes next.

As Selene disappears into the bathroom, the sound of the door clicking softly behind her feels almost final, leaving Ayla alone in the room, the quiet stretching between them. For a moment, Ayla remains still, lost in her own thoughts, still trying to piece together everything that's happened. The conversation, the tension, the strange mix of danger and intimacy that seems to hang between her and Selene.

She can't help but feel a pull of curiosity. What's going through Selene's mind? What is she planning next? And—Ayla can't deny it—what is it like to be so unshakable, to carry yourself with that kind of confidence?

Ayla stands up slowly, her gaze drifting toward the bathroom door. 

The sound of the water running, the soft, almost soothing rhythm, only amplifies the quiet in the room. The more Ayla thinks about it, the more she wonders what Selene's bath is like—what the woman behind the power, the danger, and the icy exterior, is like in a moment of peace. 

The curiosity gnaws at her, though she knows it's none of her business. But the intrigue, the desire to understand Selene, grows stronger the longer she's left to her own thoughts.