Page 77 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

“Where would you like to go, miss?” The guard in the driver seat questions a moment later, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I think about it for a few seconds before answering. “The bookstore, if there’s one around.”

I see him nod slightly, and in no time, the car pulls up in front of a bookstore.

We get out of the car, and as I walk to the door, I notice one of them remains by the vehicle while the other follows me at a close distance. I don’t give it much thought and step inside, the smell of old books and polished wood wrapping around me comfortably. The storekeeper, a tall young lady, acknowledges me with a smile, and I nod in return.

Wandering through the aisles, I run my fingers over the spines of books. My heart skips a beat when I spot a book that undoubtedly is about the mafia. I chuckle softly to myself,marveling at how odd it is to be living in a world I never once imagined I’d find myself in.

I take the book from the shelf and open it, flipping through the pages. I’m halfway into browsing through it when a thud echoes a few meters away. I look up and catch a glimpse of a blonde man in the distance, hunched over as he picks up a book from the floor.

My breath hitches as I recall the events of last week. It’s him! The strange man from the pharmacy—the one who seemed to know everything about me.

I look at the guard who stands at a distance, pretending to check out a book so he probably does not look suspicious.

I take the chance to step closer to the blonde man.

“Excuse me,” I say, tapping the man on the shoulder.

He turns around, and my eyes widen slightly. It’s not him. “Sorry! I mistook you for someone else.” I blurt out, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Hastily, I make my way to the checkout counter and pay for the mafia book in my hand. In the other line, I see a mother cradling her child, tenderly hushing the baby to sleep.

I can’t help my next thoughts. Is that how I’ll be when I eventually give birth to this child?

Oh, wait---no, that won’t happen if Ezra finds out. Instead, I’ll be locked away forever.

A frustrated groan escapes my lips as the dilemma of whether to tell Ezra or not dances through my mind once again.

As I leave the store and head back to the car with the guard, my gaze lands on another man with blonde hair. I shake my head slightly, a small groan exiting my lips.

Why am I even searching for him? It’s not like I can just up and leave the man I love and carry a child for?

Hold on…

I come to a slow stop before the Rover. Suddenly my heart starts to race as just one emotion circles my heart.

Love?

I let out a shaky breath, reaching forward to steady myself against the vehicle. I can’t seem to wrap my head around the fact that I truly do love him. How do I even know it’s real and not some twisted trick of Stockholm syndrome?

“Miss, are you alright?” I hear one of the guards ask behind me, his voice distant, barely registering.

I ignore him, my gaze fixed on the car window.Freedom is just within reach—Harper.

I could run, disappear, and reclaim my life. But the truth is, I’m not even considering it. Not really.

Because I don’t want to leave him now.

Because I think…I love him.

Chapter twenty-four

Ezra

The soft thud of her heels sinks into the tiled hallway, each step barely audible but steady, sending a ripple of tension through me. It hits me just how much I’ve underestimated the effect Raven has on me.

I told her to dress up tonight, but nothing could’ve prepared me for what she’s wearing − a black, sleeveless dress that hugs her body. The fabric clings to every dangerous curve, the slit revealing far more thigh than I’d ever want anyone else to see.