Prisoner to Mr. Mafia (Book 1 In PTMM Series)

Chapter: 15

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ~Lao Tzu

Adriano Pov~

I walked down the hallway toward the one room I knew she would be in. She held the answers to all my problems, and I needed to understand why and how she had done it.

My heavy footsteps resounded on the hard floor. As the room came into view, I didn't hesitate. I swung the door open, letting it slam against the wall.

My mother looked up at me from the bed, clearly shocked. She sat there with a book in one hand, and she was alone. This was perfect.

"Adriano, ciò che è sbagliato?" She asked, gently placing the book down on the bed. (Translation: "Adriano, what is wrong?")

I slowly walked toward her. My heartbeat quickened, an unnatural feeling for me. Usually, I was the one instilling such emotions in people.

I sat down next to her on the bed. Her face was now full of worry, and she reached out, grabbing my hand, waiting for me to speak.

"How did you do it?" I asked, my eyes locked onto hers.

"Adriano," she murmured, using my name as a warning, just like she did when we were kids. But this time, I needed to know, and her usual tactics wouldn't work.

"No, ma, I need to know," I urged, staring into her blue eyes that matched mine.

She took a deep breath and nodded slightly, patting my hand.

"It wasn't easy. It was lonely and hard. But my love for your father was undeniable. Sure, your father is stubborn and nowhere near an innocent man, but I wouldn't change anything," she replied, her words carrying a heavy weight.

As the memories came flooding back, I clenched my fists, recalling my mother's cries and my father's laughter.

"Although you are a splitting image of your father, you are nowhere near him. Adriano, as much as your father drilled it into you that love is a weakness, you still held onto it. You still have hope. It's deep within you; you just have to dig it back up and embrace it," she said, her eyes blazing with determination.

"I can't get her out of my head, ma. She's intoxicating," I murmured.

"You listen to me, my boy. You are nothing like that man, Adriano. Don't let anyone stop you from loving. It's a gift that everyone deserves, even monsters," she replied. I stared at the strongest woman I knew, seeing the unshed tears and the determination in her eyes.

I kissed her forehead and gave her one last look before leaving the room. I knew what I wanted to do, what I had been craving to do. But I had to do it at the right time, when she would least expect it. She had been through hell and back, but she was so f*cking perfect.

Gianna Pov~

I made my way back out to the garden, hoping to find Leena so she could explain what had just happened. I spotted her sitting on the bench next to Miliana and Matteo. Frustration was clear on my face.

"Whoa, Gia, what happened to you?" Matteo asked with a smirk on his face.

"Leena happened," I growled out.

Miliana looked between Leena, who had a smile on her face, and me.

"You'll thank me later, honey," Leena said with a wink sent my way.

"Can I talk to you?" Giovanni said as he approached us. I hadn't even noticed him.

Leena looked up at him and nodded. He was talking to her, since they had started officially dating last month. Well, secretly dating, because the moment anyone found out, Giovanni would be a dead man. The only people who knew were Yana and me, and we were under specific orders to keep it that way.