The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

The silver sequined dress that stopped a few inches below my mid-thigh was exquisite. The straps formed a criss-cross around my neck, satin folds adorning the slanting upper bust. It had a skin net at the side with silver embellishments beautifying it.

I know it was supposed to make me feel like a million-dollar supermodel that was about to grace the runway or even a princess of some sort, but I scoffed at the sight of myself in the mirror, irritation coursing through my veins, burning through my emotions and overwhelming me.

I clamped my teeth on my glossed lips, chewing at it until I was almost tasting my blood while I tried to rein in the beads of tears that were beginning to form in my eyes. I let out a low growl, hissing through my teeth as my hands found the zipper at my back. I tugged at it, pulling it down and allowing the dress to fall at my feet. I got out of it, leaving me in my black lace panties. I crouched on the floor, picking up the dress and throwing it somewhere across the dressing room.

I began pacing around in circles.

Maria was overly quiet but I could feel her unwavering gaze drilling a hole into my body from where she sat on the couch. I didn’t know if she was debating whether she should speak up or not, but___

“Ash__”RêAd lat𝙚St chapters at Novel(D)ra/ma.Org Only

“Fuck off, Maria!” I cut her off sharply, my eyes drifting to her tall frame that sat elegantly on the couch, staring at me with a pointed look. I stopped short, observing her seemingly calm demeanor and waiting for any slight shift in it, but I saw none, and that had me knitting my brows at her in confusion.

“Come sit with me, Ash.” Those words rolled off her tongue, coated with the silkiness of her soft voice as she kept her eyes fixed on my frame, waiting patiently for me to comply with what she had just said.

I exhaled, walking to where she sat. She sent me a cautious look when I plopped down on the seat beside her, surveying my every move before she reached for my hands taking them in hers. I kept my eyes trained on our hands.

“I know about everything,” She spoke up quietly and her revelation had me snapping my head up to meet her warm gaze. I furrowed my brows at her for a moment, then scoffed loudly.

“Yes, so you knew about how your brother came out of nowhere and took everything away from me, leaving me at his mercy! I had my whole life planned out, Maria but Arden came along and ruined the whole thing! Do you even have any idea how suffocating it has been?” I queried, retracting my hands from her and rising to my feet.

“And I am so sorry, Ashley. I am so sorry. I freaked out when Aunt Caroline told me about the whole thing because I know how hard it must have been for you. I am so sorry and I am not making excuses for him because no one should have to go through that, being stalked, kidnapped, and forced to get married to a man you know nothing about!” She threw her hands up in the air, her voice quivering.

“Ashley…please, just sit down and let’s talk.” She pleaded, her tone was so convincing. I stared at her, doubts etched on my face, but I still sat down, regardless, wrapping my arms around myself.

“Jaxon is an asshole for what he did to you. Nothing in the world can justify that, but if there’s anything else I am so sure about, he desires to make things work between you too, and honestly…that’s the only thing you can do for yourself right now. He’s complicated, a whole lot but with you, it’s like he’s a whole new person. He cares about you, Ash and even if he doesn’t know how he wants to show you, he does…” She trailed off, chuckling.

“He’s the most stubborn bastard I have ever met, but he chooses to be vulnerable to you. He wants to let you in if you are willing to try this with him and just see where it leads you guys. Fighting him won’t work and staying mad at him will only limit your happiness. He’s committed to you, Ash and if there’s anything I can assure you of, it’s the fact that he honors your vows and he expects you to do the same.” She told me, scooting over to where I was and taking my hand in hers.

“That man will go out of his way to make you happy. Heck, he will worship the ground you walk on. It’s written all over him and he can’t even hide it. Girl, have you seen the way he stares at you? He’s completely whipped!” She exclaimed and I chuckled, choking out a sob.

“The last thing he will do is to let you go, so why don’t you just make things easy for yourself and just…try to be happy. Come here,” She murmured, pulling me close and engulfing me in a warm hug. I sighed in contentment, feeling as though a heavy burden had been lifted off my chest…not completely, but I felt lighter than I had been in weeks.

“But…what about Allegra?” I spoke up, my voice holding a hint of irritation in it. Maria picked up on it and she chuckled, pressing a kiss on my hair, then she let me go, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.

“Listen,” She began, sitting up.

“Yes, we all thought they were going to end up together because Jaxon loved her and barely even hesitated to propose to her, but Allegra is just a fucking bitch, who decided it was okay to call off the engagement with him, leaving him when he was at his most vulnerable self. She said she couldn’t be all wrapped up in his burden and he had unresolved personal trauma he needed to fix.” She divulged and I could detect the trails of irritation and rage that hung in her voice.

“Allegra is his past and you, my dear are his fucking present and future. She’s all barks and no bite. You have nothing to worry about.” She said, her voice reassuring.

“I am so sorry I yelled at you. I was just so frustrated.” I apologized. It was at the tip of my tongue to ask her about her brother’s nightmares and I was so sure that that night wasn’t the first time it was happening, instead, it was the first night I had witnessed it and it wasn’t pretty. I have never been that scared of losing anyone in my life because he wasn’t even breathing. I was so freaked out. But then, it was so obvious how fragile Maria was…I didn’t want anything that would get her so worried.

It was bad enough as it is.

“It’s okay. I didn’t take it to heart.” She grinned at me, her eyes filled with reassurance.

“I don’t know how to deal with his controlling ass. He’s so possessive and dominating, and most times, it feels like I can’t even breathe in that house whenever he starts. The man is such a control freak! He wants to control everything including my life! I mean, he won’t even allow me to work.” I huffed, folding my arms around my chest with a tight frown on my face.

Maria chuckled.

“Well, have you seen yourself? You aren’t exactly the easiest person to reason with whenever you are angry. Girl, have you seen that body? I am a woman but damn!” She whistled lightly after her statement and my cheeks grew hot as I threw her the stink eye.

“Now, don’t get me wrong…” Her voice trailed a hint of amusement to it. She pulled me to herself by the arm, kissing my hair.

“I am not asking you to be a fool, but it would make so much sense if you would just pass your message across to him without yelling back at him. Being a Mafia boss, he’s so used to being the one to bark orders at people, so…he’s new to the roles being reversed. I think he’s starting to understand how that feels and his power-driven ass isn’t taking it so well.” Maria elaborated and truly, when she broke it down like this, it shed more light on things.

“And you can deny it all you want, but Ashley, I think you are just as obsessed as he is with you and you are scared that if you let go of that hatred that you feel towards him, you are going to fall so hard beyond what you can comprehend. In the real sense, I think you are the one that’s so scared of being vulnerable with him.” Maria said without mincing words and my body grew so still in her arms at her analysis.

I didn’t know how to process what she had just said. It made my throat heavy and I didn’t know how to swallow my spit without it hurting. My eyes seemed so clogged with tears and I held onto her so tightly. I couldn’t afford to fall for him. I couldn’t allow myself to grow comfortable with him. I wasn’t growing attached to him, right?

“What you two have…” She went on.

“If you two give it the room to blossom, it might turn out to be one of the most real connections I have ever come across. Something so raw, something so consuming, and the thought of it makes me so happy for you two.” She was so unapologetic about the way she sounded. She was being point-blank. She didn’t seem like she cared if I got angry or not, but I couldn’t even bring myself to be angry.

All I did was bring my hands to my face, wiping my tears.

“So, Ashley…it’s all up to you.” She concluded, stroking my arm. I bobbed my head in response and got my head off her shoulder, wrapping my arms around her in a tight hug.

“Thank you, Maria,” I whispered and she hummed in response.

“Come on, go put on your clothes, and let’s get out of here. We can go back to the Villa and stuff ourselves with food or what do you think?” She asked and I tilted my head backwards, grinning at her.

“You bet!” I squealed.

Food. The only thing that matters right now. Everything else could go up in flames and I wouldn’t care less.