Page 44 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

Could this be Ezra’s way of finally getting rid of me? My body freezes, the realization slamming into me like a freight train: I’m not getting out of this alive.

Suddenly, a deafening crash shatters the room. My body jolts as the door flies off its hinges. My eyes snap open.

It’s him. Ezra. And two more men.

“Get away from her!” Ezra’s voice is a snarl, and his teeth clenched as the other two flank him with guns drawn. My mind barely registers the chaos before Ezra raises his weapon. The intruder moves to react, but it's already too late. Ezra fires, the shot ringing out like thunder in the room.

The man crumples to the floor with a hole in his chest, the knife falling from his hand.

My eyes widen in horror as I lay there, calming my ragged breathing. I can’t believe what just happened. I…almost died.

Somebody tried to kill me. That's the only thing that fills my mind as tears burn my eyes.

Ezra steps over the body on the floor to where I’m still trembling. His face is grim, but his eyes tell a different story. Something about them reveals… concern?

I can't tell because the thoughts now overwhelm me.

“Are you hurt?” he asks, bringing an arm to my shoulders.

My breath comes out strained. That's the only response I give as I sink into my own head. The man had come for me… for me. Is there now someone apart from Ezra involved in my affair?

“Raven.” Ezra’s soft whisper brings me back to reality as he lightly grazes my cheek.

I wince, then swallow in an attempt to compose the tremor in my voice. “I- I don’t know.”

He glances at me, then at the body on the floor. “Come on,” he says, stepping toward me. “It’s not safe here anymore.”

Once again, I don’t respond. Ezra waits a little before curving an arm on the back of my knees and the other under my shoulders, then carries me out of the room.

I can't help but notice he seems protective in a way I’m not used to. Why did he even save me?

We step into the hallway and I can see Ezra’s men hurrying back and forth in the hallway to take care of the situation.

One of them yells something about closing the gates and not letting anyone leave the premises. I look up at Ezra, who says nothing but looks forward with furrowed brows. There’s a deadly gleam in his eyes.

I curl more into myself and start to wonder. Could this have been an attempt on Ezra’s life instead? But the man clearly came for me… It must be because of Ezra though.

This only deepens the realization that every time I try to get out of this mess, something somehow drags me deeper into it. The tears stream down my cheeks.

Without a doubt, Ezra’s universe is swallowing me up…and now, someone wants me dead.

By the time I realize where we are, the don is using a shoulder to push open the door to a large bedroom without a word.

I bring my eyes back to this space. The room is cold and dark, as intimidating as Ezra himself.

“Stay here tonight.” His tone leaves no room for argument.

I nod, but my nerves are still buzzing.

Safe. I’m not sure I believe it. Not anymore. I haven’t been safe since I crossed paths with him.

He lowers himself and slowly eases me onto the bed. I sink down on the plush mattress, my body growing somewhat limp under the weight of this new face-to-face encounter with death.

He stands there for a moment, watching me, and in that moment, my tears turn into loud sobs. This is messed up… all of this is so messed up.

Suddenly, I feel Ezra’s calloused thumbs brush my cheeks. “You’re safe now.”

But it’s only fuel to my tears. One second, I’m barely holding it together, and the next, I’m completely falling apart. Everything—fear, anger, confusion—crashes over me all at once, and I can’t stop the sobs from taking over.