Indebted to the Mafia King

Angelo

I pull myself from the bed and get dressed, still feeling the rush from my quick encounter with Tatiana. As much as I want to spend more time with her, I know I can't afford to linger. Work's been piling up, and I've been slacking lately-ever since things started getting heated between us. The Saints need me, and I can't ignore them.

Keeping an eye on Tatiana, as per Tony's orders, has also taken a lot of my focus. I haven't had a chance to personally discuss with him yet what Tatiana shared with me about her past and her involvement with the Rominas, but I know that Sal and Dice have already filled him in. I just hope Tony doesn't see her as a liability or a potential threat, but instead, as an ally.

"Can I ask you something?" Tatiana's voice pulls me from my thoughts. She's lying there, looking up at me, her lashes fluttering in that way I know always gets me.

"Sure," I reply, trying to sound casual. I walk back toward her but keep my distance so we don't end up going for round two and delaying my work further.

She hesitates, and I can already feel it the tension. I know what's coming, and I don't think I'm ready for it. Maybe it's another argument about Oleg or her obsession with bringing him down. Frankly, I'm not in the mood for that today.

I stepped out earlier, trying not to say the wrong thing and wreck what we have. But I can't just stand here and watch her try to fix everything on her own. The idea of Oleg or Yakov laying a hand on her makes my blood boil. There's no way in hell I'm letting her out of my sight, even if it means being the bad guy and keeping her locked in this house for her own safety.

She's still staring at me. Her voice is quieter this time. "Do you think you could lend me a laptop or maybe a phone?"

I raise an eyebrow. That's not what I expected.

She seems so unsure, like she's testing the waters. "I just... I can't stand being in this room anymore. I feel useless. If I had a device, maybe I could do some research. Try to remember something-anything."

I pause. It makes sense-she wants to piece together her past, maybe jog some memories she's lost or overlooked. But letting her access the outside world? That's a tricky move.

My mind races. Would she really call for help? Would she try to escape? Am I overthinking this, or am I being cautious for the right reasons?

She doesn't have anyone else. She doesn't even know this city. She's not going anywhere. And right now, I'm the only person she can trust. I just hope she sees it the same way.

"I promise I won't do anything drastic," she adds, almost pleading. "If I find something useful, I'll tell you. Remember when I mentioned Chinatown? Maybe I can uncover something else online."

I take a deep breath, trying to stay rational. "Where would you even start?"

She shrugs, her fingers playing with the edge of the blanket. "I don't know... I can look up maps of the city, check Oleg's name. Maybe something will come up that triggers a memory. I just need to do something, Angelo. I can't sit here all day. It's driving me fucking insane."

Her frustration is palpable. I can see it in her eyes, hear it in her voice. If I'm feeling like this, she probably is really losing her mind.

I sigh, knowing there's no perfect solution here. It won't hurt to let her do some research. Besides, anything in this house can't be traced. Oleg won't know if she's looking up his name or diving into his business.

"All right," I finally say, stepping away. "I'll get you a laptop, but you need to promise me you won't do anything without running it by me first." I look into her eyes, trying to be firm.noveldrama

"I promise," she says, and for once, there's no hesitation in her voice.

Her determination is almost admirable. I can't blame her for wanting justice hell, I want the same thing for Luca. But I can't let her act on impulse. Not after everything she's been through.

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"I'll grab it in a little bit" I tell her, moving toward the bathroom. I have time for a quick shower after all, and I need one. "Sal and Dice are downstairs. If you're hungry, go eat. I'll be down in a bit."

I turn on the shower letting the warm water heat up as I strip and step inside. The warmth rushes over me. I lather up, trying to wash away the stress and the lingering tension. My head's a mess right now, and my heart's no better. I need to talk to Tony soon, figure out what to do about Tatiana. If I betray her trust, I don't know if I can live with that. But I can't risk everything for her-no matter how much she intrigues me. I need to stay focused. There's too much at stake for me to lose concentration even for a moment.

After my shower, I throw on some black slacks and a white button down, deciding to forego the jacket since I won't be leaving the house. I have a video call with Tony soon, but there's no need to be dressed to the nines.

I head downstairs, finding Tatiana in the kitchen with Sal, Dice, and Kian, who looks like he's just walked in from the cold. He's holding car keys in one hand and rubbing his red cheeks with the other.

"Hey," I greet him.

"Hey, man! Good to see you." He grins, glancing toward Tatiana. "You've been keeping her all to yourself, huh?"

I grunt in response, not in the mood for Kian's teasing. "Any updates?" I ask, moving

to the counter for a cup of coffee.

Sal and Dice shake their heads, equally frustrated.

"Nothing in Chinatown?" I press, glancing at Tatiana.

Her eyes widen, and she shifts in her seat, clearly interested in what Kian has to say.

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"We've got some establishments under surveillance," he says, grabbing a piece of bacon from the plate in the middle of the table. He shakes out of his coat, hanging it on the back of his chair before sitting down. "We're almost sure they belong to the Rominas. We can't go in guns blazing yet. We're planning something more subtle hit them where it hurts without tipping our hand. Take enough to hur them."

"Stealing from them?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "What's the point of that?"

Sal chuckles. "It's not as satisfying as killing them, but it's a start. At least we'll hit them where it hurts."

I feel the familiar weight of frustration building. I want more. I want blood. But I don't want to risk Tatiana's safety.

"That's fucking ridiculous," Tatiana mutters, fists clenched. Her voice is low but filled with fire. I can't blame her-she's as pissed as I am. "Are we just going to sit here and do nothing while Oleg does whatever the hell he wants?" she adds, looking from me to the others. "He's got to pay for what he did. To me. To us."

I feel her pain, I do. But I also understand the importance of keeping her safe. "We've talked about this," I say softly, not wanting to argue.

"But I want to help," she insists, her eyes desperate for my approval. "I can't just sit here."

"You will help when the time is right. For now, let us do our job," I reply, my tone brokering no further discussion.

Tatiana opens her mouth but then closes it, looking away from me. She crosses her arms, clearly disappointed and angry.

I run a hand through my hair, exhausted. I hate this. I hate seeing her upset, but I won't

let her jeopardize everything we've worked for. Sal, Dice, and Kian are watching us, judging, no doubt, but I don't care anymore. The truth is out in the open now, and there's no going back.