Dark Romance | Mafia

Chapter Twenty-four

Stella's POV:

Sam startled as his phone buzzed in his hand. We both looked down, Albert's name was flashing on the screen. Sam swiped to answer and pressed the phone to his ear.

I moved closer and pressed my ear to the other side of the phone, trying to catch what was being said.

"Romano is entering. Finish the job within an hour. No delays," Albert ordered, his voice cold.

Sam lowered the phone. His mouth was open, a slow, stunned curve. We stared at each other until the questions formed between us without sound: Do we have any choice? Can we back out? Will walking away cost us more than staying?

Movement at the doorway cut through the fog in my head. Mr. Romano stepped into the hall like light through a window, precise, controlled.

The tuxedo hugged his shoulders, his hair was slicked back so the light caught the angles of his face. He smelled faintly of citrus and something sharp, like winter air after rain. One hand rested in his pocket, the other hung loose, every step measured, the soles of his shoes whispering on the marble.

He looked like a man carved for praise. The crowd parted in his wake without thinking. Still, beneath that perfection I felt the constant tilt of danger, the world always envies what it loves. Maybe that's why enemies follow him whenever he goes.

My fingers went to the cold metal at my waist and traced the strap of the dagger on my thigh. Preparing myself for the mission I was never brave enough to face.

Mr. Romano's eyes slid across the room and then snagged on me. In that cut of a second, I felt my pulse spike, the sound of it thudding in my ears so loud it almost drowned out breathing. I yanked my hand back as if burned.

I was pretty sure that the mask would hide me, he wouldn't recognize me.

I mustered every ounce of courage left in me and pulled myself straight and stepped forward. The air seemed to tighten around me.

I extended my hand toward him. Despite my unsteady heartbeat and trembling fingers, I tried to mask my nerves and fake composure.

"Hello," lowering my voice and pulling it into a shape that wasn't mine. I tried to scrape away any hint of recognition.

He looked at me, didn't bother to answer, and turned his face like a curtain being closed.

Wow, damn rude, now I have to try my luck, I sighed.

My skin prickled. Gathering all the courage I  had, I placed my hand on his shoulder, the fabric smooth under my palm, and leaned in, letting my breath ghost against his ear.

He slowly turned his face toward mine meeting my eyes, his gaze cold, flat as glass and my heart skipped a beat.

His gaze was enough to make me pull my hand back. But before I could, he grabbed my arm with an iron grip, shoved me aside, and walked off to meet someone across the hall. The shove left a sting where his fingers had dug in.

Damn, Stella. You can't even seduce this man, I mouthed to myself.

My phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I sighed and pulled it out,  Albert again. I took a deep breath and put the phone to my ear.

"Don't play dumb,"Albert hissed. "Go upstairs, behind the railing, and shoot him."

"But there are lots of people now--" I tried to speak, but he cut me off.

"Just get the shot," he ordered. "After that, go straight to the room on the left. There's a window, jump out. An SUV will be waiting, and my men will pull you out. Am I clear?"

"What if someone sees me?" I whispered, my voice trembled with panic.

"Shoot them right away," he snapped, frustration cutting through his words.

I glanced toward the landing.

"Don't look... just go," he ordered through the line.

My brow twitched. Is he watching me? I  looked around, still holding a phone to my ear.

"Don't be so shocked. There's a man with a camera, I can watch your every move. So watch what you do."

My eyes locked on a man standing nearby. A tiny camera was clipped to his shirt, so small that no one else would have noticed. He stood facing me, arms crossed, his gaze steady. He was standing like a robot.

Heat crept up my neck. I slid my own phone into my pocket as if hiding it would hide the fact I existed.

I stepped forward and climbed the stairs one slow step at a time. My heart hammered in my chest.

The wooden railing was slick under my palm from the sweat there. My legs felt like overcooked noodles, wobbling with every lift. Something inside me screamed to stop right there.

At the landing I crouched behind the railing where the wood smelled of polish and lemon. I fumbled for the gun at my waist, the metal slick against my fingers.

Loading the clip was clumsy work, my hands trembled, the bullets clicking like distant beads of rain.

I raised the weapon, the weight solid and real in my trembling grip. Tears leaked hot and unwanted down my cheeks. My breath hitched, the barrel trembled in time with my pulse.

Below, Mr. Romano was speaking with someone. Looking so calm and composed.

I pointed the gun at his chest. The world narrowed into the small, steady tunnel of the barrel.

My hands shook fiercely that the gun wobbled. I closed my eyes for a moment, and when I opened them, the gun had moved a little. I lowered it, letting out a rough, shaky breath.

A warm hand rested on my shoulder, firm and strong.

I turned around. Sam was standing there.

"Come on, Stella, you can't do this. Come on, stand up. Let's go back," he said.

"But Sam, they're watching us. We can't do this," I replied. 

"We have no other option. Either you kill him or we run. So let's run." He held me hand and tried to drag me, but I pulled it back.

"What if he catches us?" I asked.

"I'll handle this, Come on, let's go and tell Romano everything," He replied.

"Sam, you've lost it. We can't do this, they’ll catch us for sure," I urged.

"So you’re not coming with me?" he asked.

"That's right. I'm not coming," I replied.

"Mr. Romano!"

Sam shouted.

Mr. Romano spun around, his eyes narrowing, trying to make sense of the scene.

"I want to talk to you," Sam said, taking a step forward. A gunshot shattered the air, and suddenly everything blurred, faces, lights, and voices all faded into a dizzying haze.

Until then...

Who was hit by the shot? Guess before the truth is revealed…