Indebted to the Mafia King
Bold Plan

Chloe

It astonishes me how a human being so small and who barely stands on her feet can make such a mess in my house. For the last twenty minutes, I've been putting away all of Ellie's toys spread across the floor, her crayons and drawings, and the cushions from the couch she threw around the living room carpet.

Today was supposed to be a cleaning day for me, but I'm not really in the mood for it. Maybe I should accept Mom's offer to hire someone to do it for me, but even though I hate it, I need to do something with my free time, otherwise I'll go insane. My brain needs to be kept busy so I don't think of bad things twenty-four-seven.

I didn't tell my mother about what happened at Lou's Deli the other day with Tony. I didn't want to worry her, although maybe I should, since she is acting like nothing is happening. But I still don't know if it was all paranoia on my part. Even though I want her to take things more seriously, I don't want to alarm her unnecessarily either.

A car screeching to a halt in my driveway puts me on high alert immediately. I drop the stuffed elephant I'm holding, my breathing becoming erratic and my eyes widening. I don't have the time to panic before someone pounds heavily on my door. Shit.

I consider calling the police. Ellie is upstairs with my mom. Whoever is outside can't replace them. But if I don't open the door right now, they could break it down and barge in. I don't have the time to wait for the police to come here.

In a flash of clarity, I remember I have a gun hidden in the top shelf of the coat closet. I rush there, reaching for it under a few pieces of clothing I used to cover it, and cock it before heading for the door.

Taking a deep breath, I use my free hand to grab the doorknob and twist it, pushing the door open and pointing my gun straight into... Tony's chest.

I gasp as I take him in. He looks...furious, his icy blue eyes darkening. Maybe it's because I'm pointing a gun at him, or maybe it's something else, judging by the way he parked his car in my garage and banged loudly on my door as if his life depended on it.

"Holy shit, Tony," I hiss, dropping the gun to my side.

"What is going on?" my mom asks from behind me as she rushes down the stairs.

I am asking myself the same question, so I turn to look at Tony again, replaceing him still staring at my hand holding the gun.

"Go upstairs, Nicky," he orders in a low, but firm voice. Then he steps forward, grips my arm and pulls me inside, his foot kicking the door closed behind him.

My mother looks from him to me, then back at Tony, and as if she's realizing he's not joking, she nods slightly and turns on her heels to go upstairs again. Hopefully, Ellie is still sleeping. I don't hear her crying, so this is a good sign. That's when I notice Tony is still holding my arm. His grip is firm, but not violent. However, it still brings back memories I wish to forget. I wince, pulling myself away from his grasp, my eyes still on my arm.

When I look up to ask him what the hell does he think he's doing, his gaze is also on my arm where he held me. He seems upset for acting the way he did, but he doesn't apologize. Instead, he rushes inside, heading for the kitchen.

I follow him, my brain scrambling to replace potential explanations to why he's here. Did something happen? Did he replace out anything on my cell phone and the private number that was calling me?

I set my gun on the kitchen counter, making sure I have uncocked it. Tony is pacing from side to side, his fingers running nervously through his curly, dark hair. It was beautifully styled with gel when he arrived, and even though he has ruined it completely now, he still looks effortlessly handsome. "Tony, wh-"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me that your ex is Mateo Morales?" he snaps, his icy blue eyes darting at me in a deathly gaze. "The head of De La Cruz cartel?" he hisses, lowering his voice so the neighbors don't hear him.

I'm so shocked-although I don't know why; it was a matter of time until he figured this out-that I'm speechless as I stare at him.

"Didn't you consider this to be important information to share when you came to me?" Tony carries on angrily. "Fuck, Chloe!"

"I didn't know at first," I try to excuse. It would be better if I had stayed quiet. This is a lame explanation, even I know that.

Tony sneers, turning his back to me and resuming his pacing all over my kitchen.

"He was just this rich guy I met in Miami. He showered me with gifts and attention, and I fell for it. When I realized who he was, it was already too late," I carry on, hoping I can make him see and understand my side of the story. "How could you not have known? Someone like him must have given you a hint. And even so, why did you continue seeing him after learning the truth?" he asks, his voice dripping with accusation.

I swallow down the bile threatening to replace its way up my throat. I feel sick. I don't need Tony to remind me of the mistakes I made in the past. He has no idea what I've been through. What I am going through. I know he's trying to help me, but he has no right to point fingers at me right now.

"I tried breaking up with him, but you probably know that he is not someone who takes no for an answer. Let alone a rejection," I reply, looking away from his accusatory stare.

Tony is silent for a moment, and I plop myself down in one of the kitchen stools, suddenly feeling weak, as if my legs have turned into mush.

"Is Ellie his kid?" he finally asks after what feels like hours in utter silence.

I'm glad I'm not looking at him, otherwise I'd have given myself away with my shocked expression. I was not expecting this kind of question. I don't know what to tell him. I feel cornered, like an animal face to face with its predator. I can feel Tony's eyes on me, but I don't dare look at him. Instead, I just nod, not trusting my own voice.

He remains silent, so I don't know if he interpreted my nodding the right way. So, I look up, replaceing him studying me.

I need to say something.

"He never showed any interest in Ellie though. Not until I made it clear that we were leaving him," I explain. "He's always been possessive over me, and when he realized I'd do anything for Ellie, he started to control me through her." Tony's jaw clenches, his muscles ripping under his cheeks.

"He's threatened to take me back to Columbia to live at his compound, but I'd rather die than go anywhere near him again," I carry on, my voice breaking a little at the thought of living with Mateo again. "I don't want to be his potential next victim."

"What do you mean?" Tony asks, his brows creasing with confusion.

"I'm not convinced my dad died of a heart attack."

The tears I've been struggling to hold back overflow as I remember the moment I found my father dead in our house. I remember holding him in my arms, his skin still warm as if he had just been sleeping.

The first thought that crossed my mind at that moment was Mateo.

A sob escapes my throat, and I cover my mouth with my hand, not wanting to make a scene in front of Tony, or risk my mom hearing it from upstairs and scare her.

"Mateo was threatening my father," I continue, my voice shaking. "I don't know why, but there was something going on between them. My father didn't trust him. Mateo could have poisoned my dad or something. I don't know..." I trail off, too worked up to say more.

Tony stops pacing and leans forward on the kitchen counter across from me, both hands steadying him, his head hanging forward. His chest is moving up and down so fast that it scares me.

But I don't say anything, afraid to worsen the situation.

He inhales sharply, his eyes looking up at me. The intensity in them is so much that I can't think straight anymore.

"You're not safe," he tells me bluntly. As if I didn't know that already. "Mateo is the worst of the worst when it comes to crime bosses. You probably know that better than I do. Even if I shipped you both off to Greece to live with Dante and Eleni, I'm sure he'd still replace a way to get to you."

I nod, swallowing hard. My mouth and throat are dry as if I have gulped down a handful of sand. He isn't wrong. Mateo would move to hell and back to have what he wants.

"I just want to protect Ellie. That's the only thing I care about," I murmur.

Tony's eyes instantly soften as he takes me in. I must look so weak and vulnerable. I hate that he has to see me like this, but what else can I do? I'm lost, unable to take a single step without fearing for my life or my daughter's. Feeling incapable and out of control is the worst feeling someone could ever have.

"I know," he breathes, his tone calmer and softer this time. "I'm afraid I might have fucked things up even more now."

"Why do you say that?" I frown. What did he do?

"Because now Mateo thinks I claimed you as my woman."

I must confess I wished I could have heard these words in another, better circumstance. I'm sure it'd do things to my core that I would not be prepared to deal with. But right now, all it does is scare the shit out of me. Because I simply realize I put Tony in danger too.

"Why would he think that? What did you do?" I ask, needing clarification. I don't want to overthink this, so it's better to be sure first.

Tony shakes his head, straightening up. "You know what? It might have been for the best. You're safe with the Saints, but you will be safer with me. By my side. It's a good thing he thinks you're mine now."

I clench my teeth hard so as not to drop my jaw. What the hell is he saying? What does he mean by his side? Does he mean figuratively or literally?

"So, you're saying...that I am yours, like..." I raise my brows, encouraging him to complete the sentence.

"We have to make it real, so he knows I wasn't joking," Tony clarifies, but I don't feel clarified at all.

"What are you saying? We'll fake date now? Is that what you want us to do?" I ask, exasperated. Tony shrugs as if this isn't a serious matter. "Why stop there? We will get married." What. The. Actual. Hell?