The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

“Have a great day, Mrs Gray,”

The chauffeur’s voice drew me out of my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. I looked through the tinted glass of the Bentley, exhaling softly. I hummed a response to him and picked up my Chanel bag, then made to get out of the car but he was quicker than me, holding out the door for me with his head bowed in respect.

I took off my shades, tucked them in my hair, and then I stepped out of the car, sending him a warm smile in the process.

“I will send you a text when I am done here,” I told him, averting my gaze from the gigantic building. He replied to me but I was too distracted to keep track of what he was saying and began walking away. I was glad Maria understood the fact that I was prone to losing my mind in that house, all by myself. Arden was on a trip to Russia, something about him sorting out some shipment of some sort and meeting up with one of his allies. I couldn’t care less. Heck, I didn’t give a damn. He could live there all his life for all I cared.

It was none of my fucking business.

You didn’t say that when he had you bent over the desk in his study, fucking your brains out a few weeks ago.

That tiny voice in my head mocked me.

Well, that’s not the point here!

And the days after that?

I grew red in the face.

I scoffed to myself, clutching the handle of my bag in my hands. Maria had asked me if I wanted to go shopping with her, and God, I would take anything I could get to be away from that house. Dawn was swamped with work and Ivana wasn’t in the country. She had a big event she was planning and it was coming up very soon. So yeah, I was all alone.

I stepped through the sliding doors and wasn’t prepared for the impact of the bright lights that filtered through the huge chandelier in the middle of the vast space that was filled to the brim with designer shelves and racks, containing varieties of fashion items. One amazing thing about Bev Luxe was the fact that the whole building was used for their boutique, so there were different sections for every form of clothing there was.

My eyes had barely wandered around the vast space for a few seconds when a high-pitched squeal flowed into my ears. The screech almost had me jumping out of my skin and I swung my head in the direction of the black-haired beauty that raced in my direction, in heels that looked like they could drill a hole into a rock. I didn’t understand how she could run in those death traps. Heck, the slip-on glass heels I was wearing felt like a truckload of work for me.

I knew I couldn’t brace myself for the impact of the bone-crushing hug she engulfed me in, no matter how hard I tried to. She wrapped her arms around me so tightly, her sweet scent invading my nostrils and her rich laughter sounded like music to my ears. I giggled, hugging her back but not as tight as she did me.

“Maria, I can’t breathe!” I groaned, patting her back gently and she chuckled, whining afterwards.

“I am so sorry. I am just so excited to see you.” She freed me from her death grip, sporting a large grin on her face, her eyes glittering with a warmth that made me feel at ease.

“Girl, you are turning heads in that outfit! You look amazing!” She threw me a compliment, unable to hide her astonishment. I scoffed playfully, looking down at the dark blue jeans I paired with a cropped white thin-strapped inner that stopped a little inches above my belly button, coupled with a black leather jacket.

I was under-dressed, compared to how exotic she looked in her crimson thin-strapped midi dress that had a slit at the side and was sort of a high-low dress. The contrast between the material and her skin was bedazzling. She looked so badass, sporting flawless makeup on her face. Maria was that girl and she never hesitated to show it off.

“You are the one looking like a million bucks, not me.” I countered, a smile dancing on my lips and she rolled her eyes, latching her hands onto mine, and began leading me to the section I presumed she was shopping.

“Baby!”

I looked up, my eyes anchoring a muscular man that looked like he was in his mid-twenties, cradling a baby to his chest. My eyes widened in realization when it occurred to me that it was Maria’s husband and God, he looks so young! I knew it wasn’t my business but I was tempted to ask the duo when they got married. Maria untangled our laced hands, skipped over to him, and dropped a kiss on his lips.

The guy didn’t hesitate to slip his arms around her waist, pulling her close and deepening the kiss. I couldn’t fight the grin that was slowly forming on my face. I couldn’t help it. The duo was so cute. Even after they broke the kiss, the intensity in their eyes when they stared at each other was incomprehensible to me. I felt a light pang of jealousy hit me, my chest constricting in pain when I glanced at my ring finger. I scoffed, tucking my hair behind my ear.

“Ash, meet Andrew, my husband.” Maria’s warm voice pulled me out of the trance I seemed to have gotten tossed in at the sight of them looking so in love. I looked up at them, false cheerfulness creeping up to my face and I sauntered forward, holding out my hand for a handshake, but he surprised me by pulling me in a side hug, kissing my cheek before he took a step back.

Maria just clung to him, grinning from ear to ear.

“Families don’t do handshakes.” He grinned at me, his blue eyes gleaming with utter softness. I chuckled in amusement, nodding my head.

“Got it,” I giggled.

“It’s nice to meet the woman who’s the newest addition to the Gray family.” He spoke, his voice thick with amusement. I sent him a tight-lipped smile and he turned to his wife, kissing her cheek.This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“I am just going to take Xyra home,” He patted the back of the sleeping girl on his chest. Maria bobbed her head in response and the duo shared one last kiss before he let her go. I heard them mumble “I love you” to each other and then, he turned to me.

“I will see you around, Ashley.” He smiled cheekily at me and I sent him a little wave, watching him strut out of the boutique.

I met Maria’s warm gaze when my eyes were averted off his retreating figure and she walked forward, looping her arms around me and kissing my cheek in the process.

“Well then, let’s go spend our men’s money!” She squealed, wiggling her body and I giggled, nudging her on the shoulder with a silly grin on my face as she led us further into the store.