Owned by the Mob (Bianchi Crime Family 3)

When I finally lift my head, I see two of my regulars: Aria and an older woman. They’ve been coming in twice a week for the past couple of months.

“A large mocha, hot?” I ask her, remembering her order. It helps with the customers and builds a good relationship even if I don’t actually know her. From her card, her name is Aria Bianchi, which matches her beauty.

Some people are just born with everything. I’m not so unfortunate, other than the parents I’d been born with. I have looks that could kill according to every boy I’d met in school, but that’s the reason I stayed away from them. They all wanted the same thing—a quick lay.

“Sure. I’m so predictable.” She smiles and giggles, so I smile back. She’s a friendly woman, but we clearly come from two different worlds.

I look at the other elegant woman and ask, “A small chai latte?”

“Yes, please, dear.” I handle them and then they take a seat at a table, waiting for their drinks, and that’s when they spot my guy. A gasp comes from both of them and then they stand, grabbing their waiting drinks before walking over to him.

The women take a seat in front of him with smiles on their faces. It pisses me off that he returns their smiles. Socializing for only a few minutes, they all stand and take turns hugging. Then, the women leave after he gives them each a kiss on the cheek. A wave of hatred for both of them works my nerves because they haven’t done anything to me, and the bastard and I don’t even know each other.

Once they’re gone, he returns to staring. “Girl, Mr. Hottie Professor is back.”

“Is he a professor?” I ask, feeling an irrational urge to punch her for getting him to speak to her.

She shrugs, keeping her eyes on him. “I don’t know, but he’s got that sexy-yet-smart-guy vibe, so I’m betting something nerdy.”

“Well, it’s not my business, anyway. I have to get back to work, or I’ll be in a bigger mess than I’ve been.”

“You work so hard. I want to be like you when I grow up,” she says with a giggle.

“You’re older than me.”

“Well, I mean, I haven’t matured yet.” You could say that again. If I could find another employee, I’d fire her. She’s not good at her job and slacks off too much for my liking. It wasn’t even me that hired her; that was my stepfather who thought she’d be a good fit, big tits and tiny waist. It helps the business if she didn’t fucking call off at least once a week.

“Let life fuck you, and you age quickly,” I huff, taking my ass into the back to check on the muffins in the oven. The next time I come out, he’s gone. Damn it. It’s for the best that I keep my distance, because a man like him looks like he has himself put together and I’m a pretty damn hot mess.

When I finally close the café, I work on the day’s sales. The numbers look great. Another killer awesome day, and yet that doesn’t make a difference because we’re fighting back from massive crippling debt and late fees. I look at the bills, knowing damn well I’m still not sure where the bleeding is coming from. I have enough supplies for the next week, and I won’t be able to get more unless I pay the vendor. From the money I’ve stored, I’ll have it by tomorrow, which is so freaking good. We can’t make money if we have nothing to sell.

I close up and head home. Feeling someone’s eyes on me, I turn and don’t see anyone standing there. Damn, I’m officially losing it, but that’s when I collide with a large frame. “Ms. Ivy. It’s a pleasure running into you here.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m one of the people your father owes a pretty penny to, and if I don’t get my money, well, bad things are going to happen. Maybe not so bad for you,” he says, wagging his brows up at me with lecherous intentions. I’m freaking out because there’s no way I can outrun this guy.

“Why don’t you take it up with him?”

“You’re the one here. So you have a week to have my money, or your pussy will be working off that debt.” I move around the big brute and thankfully, he lets me. Rushing to the Blue Line Station and sprinting up the stairs, I breathe a sigh of relief as I see the train coming my way. Tears fill my eyes, knowing that my life just got a lot more fucked up.

When I reach the two-bedroom apartment I share with my stepfather, I feel a sense of dread because I have no idea if he’s in there and if anyone else is with him. Given the situation I just found myself in, there’s no guarantee he doesn’t have assholes waiting there for him.