The Mafia And His Angel: Part 3 (Tainted Hearts 3)

“I only remember playing…the piano. I don’t even remember the song or how I played. It…just…happened,” I said quietly.

“Open your eyes, Ayla.”

My eyes snapped open at his demand. “It’s okay. Take your time. I will wait for you,” he soothed.

He palmed my cheeks. “Hearing you play, that was the most beautiful thing ever. I feel like I can finally breathe, Angel.”

He was the same as me. I pinched my eyes closed when they stung. Alessio swept me up in his arms and carried me out of the room.

On the bed, I burrowed deeper into his chest. His lips touched my forehead softly.

This was how we fell asleep. In each other’s arms.

And nothing hurt.

***

“You know, I’m feeling very jealous right now. You talk to Alessio and even spoke to Mom a few days ago. How is that fair?”

The woman with dark hair wrapped her arms with mine. Her name was Maddie. She was always with me if Alessio wasn’t. She took me everywhere around the house. Maddie spoke a lot too.

“You still won’t speak to me,” she muttered.

My chest grew tight at her pained expression. “Why won’t you talk to me? Are you angry with me?”

I shook my head quickly. Swallowing hard, I looked in her eyes. She seemed familiar, but I just couldn’t remember her.

When I didn’t say anything, she sighed and gave me a sad smile. I didn’t like the sad smile on her face. She was nice and sweet. Just like Alessio and Lena.

Maddie started to walk again, but I didn’t. She turned around and faced me. “What’s wrong?”

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Opening my eyes again, I looked at her. “I…don’t remember you.”

Her mouth fell open. We stared at each other in silence before she started laughing.

I didn’t understand why she was laughing. She wiped away tears from her eyes and pulled me into her arms.

“Ayla, you just made me the happiest woman,” she said in my neck.

I hugged her back.

Her laughter died, and I heard sniffling. My heart stuttered when I felt wetness on my neck. Was she crying?

I went to pull away, but her arms tightened. “I’m sorry, Ayla. I’m so sorry. If only I knew,” she cried.

What was she talking about?

Maddie continued to sob. “It hurts, Ayla. It hurts so much. Sometimes it feels like I can’t breathe. I lost him. I…lost…him. I’ll never hold him.”

Confused, I just hugged her. I didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t know how to help, so I just held her. Like Alessio held me when I was hurting.

I hoped it was enough for Maddie.

When Maddie finally calmed down, she pulled away. She gave me a sweet smile. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I needed that.”

Bringing my hand up, I wiped her tears. “Okay,” I replied.

Maddie’s lips wobbled, and she pinched her eyes closed. “Damn it, Ayla. Don’t make me cry again.”

“I don’t…like…it when you cry.”

“You really are an Angel.” She laughed.

I nodded. “Alessio calls me Angel.”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because he is such a romantic at heart.”

She raised an eyebrow at me. “I will tell you a secret.”

“Okay,” I said as she pulled me closer.

“If it wasn’t for me, that hard-ass Mafia man and his Angel would have never been one. Let’s just say, I’m the captain of the ship.”

Maddie winked and smiled. She was really pretty when she smiled.

“I don’t understand,” I finally said.

“You don’t have to understand. Just know that this ship will never sink under my watch,” Maddie replied.

We walked down the stairs, but my steps froze when I saw who was standing at the bottom. Maddie stopped beside me too.

“Ayla, how nice to see you again.”

The woman with blonde hair smiled at me, but it didn’t look nice. She was the same woman who was with Alessio before.

I felt a sudden surge of emotion inside of me.

I didn’t like her.

“Nina,” Maddie growled beside me.

The name sounded so familiar. I felt like I knew her before. But I couldn’t remember.

“Fine, I won’t say anything this time.”

“Please don’t. Nobody wants to hear your bullshit,” Maddie snapped.

Nina rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs. She kept her eyes on me, and I almost shuddered at the cold look she gave me.

“I don’t know why Alessio is still interested in you,” she muttered, walking past me.

You are so…stiff

Do you really think you can keep Alessio interested for long?

I’m more like him. We have always been compatible.

My lips parted as the memory crashed through me.

“I remember you,” I said, turning around. Nina stopped and faced me.

“Oh really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

I didn’t understand the memories, but they were there. She was there.

I rubbed my forehead, trying to get rid of the small ache.

“I don’t like you,” I whispered.

I saw Nina smile. But it was quickly gone.

“I know,” she said before walking away.

Maddie huffed beside me and started to pull me down the stairs. “I swear I will kick her one day.”