Chapter 49

Mia

I couldn't believe my ears.

"What?"

Katie finished her drink and tapped the bar for another. I offered her mine and she drank it.

"I know! "He's the best boyfriend I've ever had, but I... When I saw him, I just..."

I reached out and placed a comforting hand on hers. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Just take it one step at a time. I'm sure Ivan will understand if you need time to... figure out how you feel about it."

"I just can't help thinking about what he's doing there, with those mostly naked women. If he's cheating or not..."

I winced. Katie had been cheated on before.

"I don't think Ivan's cheating on you."

She sniffled. "But I can't know for sure!"

Katie finished another drink. "This is just like Dominic but worse!"

I sighed, not sure what to say. She was somewhat right. Dominic had worked at a club and used it as a cover for all of his cheating. It wasn't that Ivan couldn't be doing the same, but I couldn't believe that of Ivan.

And it shocked me that I couldn't imagine him or Albert doing that despite my stance on mafia men in general.

I pat Katie's shoulder. "Maybe you should talk to him."

"No," she croaked, grabbing for her new drink. "I don't want to."

Katie finished three more drinks in quick succession. I tried to stop her, but she pushed my hands away and kept drinking. Each drink seemed to deepen her distress, and I felt a pang of sympathy for my friend.

"He could be fucking some hooker right now, and I'd never know."

"Well... that's true of any man you date..."

Katie burst into tears, and all I could do was pat her shoulder and think about the irony of her situation. I'd told her about mafia men, and she'd seemed unbothered. Now she was drowning in doubts about Ivan, and I was wrestling with my own doubts about my feelings about Albert.

Still, a part of me was sure that staying away from the mafia was the right choice. Albert's involvement with the bratva came with dangers I had never wanted any part of, and it wasn't like I could ask him to leave his entire organization behind just because of a month-long contract. We weren't even dating!

The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that my relationship with Albert couldn't last. The mafia's ways were inherently corrupt, and no matter how much I might care for him, I couldn't ignore the fact that his position and actions were a part of a system I couldn't accept.

As Katie continued to drink, I stayed at her side, trying not to let my own resolve and Katie's depression make me feel worse. I checked my phone, noting a text message from Albert.

Where are you?

I replied as much as I could. Katie's drunk, and we're at this bar. I think she turned off her app.

He replied. We're coming to get you.

That made me feel a bit better. Maybe she and Ivan could talk this out, or she could at least get home safely.

Okay.

I tucked my phone in my pocket and continued to watch over Katie. While the bartender was leaving with another empty glass, I looked around the bar.

My heart sank when my gaze landed on Lorenzo. His were full of surprise and he was sitting with another man with a woman in his lap. He pushed the woman off and stood with a malicious grin as he made his way toward us. Both of his hands were covered in casts and bandaged. The sight of him sent a chill down my spine, and I could feel a wave of panic rising.

We had to get out of here. Now.

I quickly turned to Katie, who was too deep in her own thoughts to notice Lorenzo’s approach. Her face was flushed from the alcohol, her eyes clouded with a mix of sorrow and anger. I reached out, shaking her lightly to get her attention.

“Katie, we need to go,” I said urgently.

"No."

"Katie, there really isn't time for this. You see that guy over there."

She rolled her eyes and pushed my hands away. "I don't care so long as it's not Ivan. I don't want to see his... stupid, handsome face right now..."

I groaned, glancing back toward Lorenzo as he just kept coming.

"Katie, I know you're sad,” I said, my voice low and tense. “But we need to get out of here. We don't have to go find Ivan, but we need to do.”

Lorenzo's grin widened as he reached the bar, his eyes glinting with a dangerous gleam. He seemed to relish the discomfort he was causing and it could only get worse.

“Well, well,” Lorenzo drawled, his tone dripping with malice. “What do we have here? Mia, I didn’t expect to see you in a place like this. I suppose that husband of yours is a worse influence than I first thought.”

Katie turned and looked at him. "Who are you? Do you know this guy, Mia?"

"No," I said flatly. "Let's go, Katie."

She pouted but tried to stand, but her movements were unsteady from the alcohol. I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, trying to keep her steady, but she huffed and dropped back onto the barstool.

Lorenzo’s gaze shifted to her, a smirk playing on his lips. “I see you’ve been enjoying yourself,” Lorenzo said, his gaze lingering on Katie with an unsettling interest. “And here I thought you were above all this.”

“What do you want, Lorenzo?” I glared at him. "I would have thought you had better things to do."

Lorenzo’s grin didn’t falter. “Just a little chat. Thought I’d drop by and see how you were doing. You left in such a rush last time. It was quite the eventful night, wasn’t it?”

I could feel my heart racing. "Don't pretend to care. We're leaving."

His eyes narrowed slightly, and his grin turned into a more calculating expression. “Leaving? I don’t think so. I’ve come all this way. The least you could do is give me a few minutes of your time.”

Before he could say anything more, I caught a glimpse of movement at the edge of the bar. It was one of Lorenzo's men. Alarm filled me. I started to look around behind him, picking out familiar faces from the night before. Lorenzo's men and a few of Elio's men, too. Was he here?

It didn't matter. Albert and Ivan were coming, but how far were they from where we were? It didn't matter. I just had to buy us some time. With a deep breath, I stood up, putting myself between Lorenzo and Katie.

"I said we're leaving."

"I think not."

“Katie, we need to go,” I said urgently. “Come on, get up.”

I pulled Katie up from her seat. She stumbled.

"Mia," she whined. "I don't want to go. Don't you want them to buy us a drink?"

"No."

I pulled her along and through the crowd toward the exit, hoping that by the time we got outside Albert and Ivan would be there, or maybe some of his men would be there to help us. Lorenzo’s men were closing in, and the oppressive weight of their presence made it clear that we were cornered. I could feel my anxiety mounting, a mix of fear for Katie’s safety and frustration at being caught in this nightmare again. Every part of me twinged with the memory of fighting to get out of his townhouse before.

As we made our way through the bar, I noticed a pair of large men drifting toward us until they stood in the way, towering over us. One of them had a black eye and looked a little familiar.

Was this the guy from the other night? Had he been in the room or somewhere else in the townhouse?

"I already owe you one, bitch," he said. "I'd suggest you go back to the bar."

I tried to stay calm, but the situation was rapidly deteriorating. I shot a desperate look toward the door, hoping to see Albert’s man or any form of help, but there was nothing in sight.

“I don't know who you are,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear that was creeping in. “Just let us go. We don’t want any trouble.”

His eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer, his expression darkening. “Trouble? You’re the one who’s brought trouble upon yourself. Back. To. The. Bar."

As he spoke, I noticed the glint of a gun holstered at his men’s waist. There was no deal with Elio in the works. We'd come her. If we ended up dead, and they left, there was no telling what would happen next. My heart pounded in my chest. What could I do?