Gemma: A Mafia Forbidden Romance

As I turn my truck into my apartment complex my phone begins to ring through the speakers. I tap the button on the steering wheel to accept the call. “What’s up?” I answer.

“It’s happening.” Declan’s voice courses through the speakers of my F-150.

“Today?” I ask, forcing the panic in my voice down.

“Today.” He confirms. “Sending the Iceman over now.” Iceman is the nickname for our hitman, Robert Fitzpatrick. Robert has never let us down, never missed a shot. He’s quick and efficient, but normally he spends a week watching the target and preparing. He’ll be under-prepared if he does the hit today, which might be good for me. Maybe he’ll miss, or fuck up.

“Why so quick?” I ask. It takes effort to sound like I’m not worried.

“Da wants it done today. Fuck ‘em.” He tells me. His words lack feeling. He’s disassociated from life and death. Everything for Declan is a game and the winner is the one with the most money and the most followers.

I think that’s a fucked up way to live.

Fear courses through my veins. There’s no more time for me to torture myself over who I’m going to betray.

“Okay.” I tell Declan. “Let me know when it’s done.”

I click the button to end the call and spin the car around.

I’m going to Providence.

I drive faster than I should, thankful for the large truck that navigates the highway smoothly and quickly.

I call Gemma’s phone only to get her voicemail over and over again.

My hand is thrumming against the steering wheel and my foot presses harder against the gas pedal.

I need to get there, and I need to get there soon.

I let my mind wander with the endless possibilities. Maybe the DelGados will see the Iceman and shoot him first. In that scenario I haven’t betrayed my family, but we do lose one of our best men and we’ve already lost Cain this week.

Maybe Iceman will miss, but I know this is unlikely.

The worst scenario that flashes through my head is that Gemma gets caught in the crossfire.

If she goes down today I swear I’ll go down with her.

I would have never guessed that the spoiled princess that walked into my bar would change my fucking life like this, but she did. She inserted her presence into my mundane world and now everything has changed. I no longer just go through the motions.

Fire is coursing through my veins and I feel alive.

I’m fighting for something.

I punch the gas pedal and hurry to Providence, winding through the streets until I get to hers. I slow then, if I move too quickly I risk getting myself killed.

I don’t see Iceman’s car, but then again he wouldn’t be parked in plain sight and probably not in his own car. I’m on the lookout for anything suspicious.

I dial Gemma again, praying she answers.

“Who the fuck is this?” A male voice blasts through the speakers.

“Gian, I’m assuming?”

“You motherfucker.” He’s angrier than he was in the hotel that day. He was calmer then, more calculated.

“Listen—” I try to tell him.

“No, you listen. You need to stay the fuck away from her.”