The Mafia and Her ✔

Chapter 31

It had been a week since I got kidnapped by the ugly duckling, rescued by my Mafia boss, and kissed by the prettiest man alive.

Jose was doing much better and was in stable condition. At first, I ate myself up for his injuries because it was my fault, but I felt less guilty when he pretended he forgot who I was when I visited him at the hospital. He almost gave me a heart attack, so I ignored him for an hour until he was ready to beg for my forgiveness on the ground, but I stopped him. I was not evil.

"Eat this, and then finish your work." Izan was still a grump, but he was my grump now.

Wait, is he mine?

We did not label our relationship, and it was partially my fault.

Okay...

It was my whole fault.

Why did I tell him to wait?

I want him to be my boyfriend now, not later.

"I'm almost done! Don't be a distractor," I replied, typing away my translation of the latest contract. They didn't make billions by lazing around, and I wasn't about to neglect my duty just to eat.

"Open," he demanded as he shoved the spoon in my face, and I did as he said. This could work, too. I liked being pampered by him, but I wanted to pamper him more, and now that I was making my own money, which was coming from his family's fortune, I wanted to take him on dates.

"What's your favorite thing?" I asked absent-mindedly, finishing up the last paragraph. He arched his eyebrows in confusion, and I rolled my eyes. "Food? Dessert? Place?" I clarified, and he shrugged.

Oh, for God's sake!

I pinched his bicep, but he didn't flinch. Not a single reaction. He was made of rock and iron. "Come on! It's not that hard."

"Lemon ice cream," he replied after thinking and fed me the last bits of my food.

My eyes widened. "I thought you were more of a chocolate guy," I remarked, and he grimaced, looking like a child. He had become more laid back around me lately, and I enjoyed his company more.

"Too sweet. Besides, I have enough sweetness in my life now," he answered with a smirk, and I felt that I should understand what he meant. It took me a few business days to realize that I was the sweetness in his life.

I coed and slapped his arm. "Oh, stop it. That's adorable!"

"Do you want to visit Jose?" he asked, changing the subject. I spared him the embarrassment that he hid so well beneath his cold stare and nodded.

I hit send on the email and closed the laptop. "I need to wash the dishes first," I pointed to the dirty plates from our dinner, but he beat me to it. "Stop, you puta!" I grabbed his shirt and tried to pull him back, but he was dang strong. I slammed into his back, and he chuckled, turning around to face me.

"Why are you so tall?" I cranked my neck up to stare him in the eyes.

"I drank camel milk as a child."

"Really?"

"No." he rolled his eyes at my excitement, which died away quickly. "Genetics," he stated and kissed my nose. It seemed to be his favorite body part to kiss.

"Do you have a nose fetish?" I really didn't think before I spoke. He sighed and dropped his chin to the crown of my head. "I get it. I am short! Stop proving this point, dude."

"I'm not trying to prove anything. You're perfect. And I love your nose, your cheeks, and your lips, so I think I have a fetish for your whole face," he said so casually, making me flush like a toilet.

Why are you so weird, Verena?

A toilet? Really?

"The cat got your tongue now? That won't do. I would like it back," he exclaimed and dove down, catching me off guard. 

He kissed me so passionately, claiming my tongue in the process, and I almost slipped under him. My knees were weak. But my heart was weaker. He wrapped his hands around my waist, keeping me in place. "You taste so good," he whispered against my lips, and I giggled.

"That's probably the chicken sauce," I commented, laughing at my own joke. He sighed, so done with me, and then kissed my forehead one last time. "Let's clean the kitchen together and then go," I suggested, and he nodded.

"To answer your previous question, my favorite place is everywhere you are."

This smooth son of a female dog!

~~~

"Heya, Jose! Como estas?" I greeted him the moment we entered his hospital room. Izan sat on the chair next to the bed, ignoring his friend and typing on his phone. "That's rude, Izan," I commented, and he grumbled something under his breath and turned off his phone.

"Whipped," Jose coughed the word, and I laughed, high-fiving him. "You look ravishing today, Verena."

"She always looks ravishing, and don't fucking flirt with my girl!" Izan snapped as he made me sit on his lap since there was only one chair available.

Jose's eyes sparkled, and I wiggled my eyebrows. "Oh, this is gold! Since when? Our boss has finally settled down! I can't wait to tell the boys," Jose was giggling like a schoolboy, and I felt incredibly happy he was looking and feeling better. 

The picture of that knife penetrating his body did not leave my mind. It was a nightmare.

"It's none of your damn business. All you need to know is that she's my girl now, so fuck off." Izan tightened his grip on my frame, and I rested my head on his shoulder.

"Does that mean we are girlfriend and boyfriend now?" I asked, feeling good since Jose paved the way for this topic. This didn't make me a hypocrite. I shouldn't have told him to wait to label our relationship.

Maybe I am a hypocrite.

"Yes, we are whatever you want us to be, amor."

"Awe, he called you amor!" Jose snickered, and I smiled at Izan's scoff. He threw a pillow at Jose the moment Henry, Camila's husband, entered the room.

"Now, this is not how you treat a patient who died and came back to life. Izan, behave." Henry was the only man on earth, besides Dario Romano, with the balls to call out on Izan's bull-crap. I guessed it was a doctor's superpower. 

Surprisingly, Izan did not snap at him; he just sat silently and played with my hair.

"How are you feeling now, Jose?" Henry asked him after, greeting me.

"The same as half an hour ago. The drugs you're giving me are keeping me sedated and relaxed. Hopefully, I don't become an addict," he joked, but I glared at him.

"Sorry, I'm kidding. I actually hate the drug's effect. I don't feel like I'm in control of my body, which terrifies me. I can't wait for it to wear off so I can feel pain. It keeps me sane." His explanation actually made sense. 

I had been there, with the pain, not the drugs. 

I got up from Izan's lap and hugged Jose, who was startled but didn't push me back.

"Pain does make you feel alive...."

~~~

"Are you okay?" Izan asked as he tucked me into our bed and under his arms. I felt secure and protected.

I knew what he meant and just shrugged. "I will be someday."

He nodded, kissing my nose. "I will be with you. Always."

~~~ 

2/02/2024 

This was one of my favorite chapters to write! 

Did you like it? 

I will post ch.32 later today, stay tuned!