Flash Marriage With The Mafia Lord

MELANIE

"Oh, my God! Is he dead?"

My voice echoed off the brick walls of the narrow alley, trembling as much as my hands. The man lay crumpled on the cold concrete, a dark pool spreading beneath him. My heart raced as I crouched closer, desperately hoping for any sign of life.

His shirt, once white, was now streaked with red, soaked through to his skin. I held my breath, staring at his chest, waiting for movement. There-a shallow rise and fall. Relief rushed through me, though it did little to quell my panic.

"Sir?" I called out, my voice barely a whisper. He didn't respond.

I had to do something, but what? Call an ambulance? The police? My finger hovered over my phone, trembling, but then his eyes flickered open, and a weak, bloodstained hand reached for mine.

"No..." he croaked, his voice almost lost in the cold night air. "No... hospital..."

"You've been shot!" I said, my voice shaking. "You need help. I can't just leave you here."

He groaned, his head lolling to the side. "They'll... kill me..."

And then he lost consciousness again. I cursed softly under my breath, my mind racing. Whoever had shot him could still be out there. If I took him to the hospital, whoever wanted him dead might finish the job. But if I left him here, he wouldn't last long.

"I'm going to regret this, I know I will," I muttered.

There was no way I could carry him on my own. He was much bigger than me, his body heavy and muscular even as he lay there limp. I bit my lip and dialed the number of the one person I knew would help me, no questions asked.

["Mel!"] Spencer's voice came from the other end of the line.

"I need you to come pick me up... by car. It's really urgent!"

["What's wrong? Are you having one of those days?"]

"Spencer! Please, just come! I'm at... Melrose and 152nd St. Please, just come. I'll explain it later!"

Spencer, as always, complied with my request, and not long after, we were putting the strange, semi-conscious man into my best friend's car.

"You better explain this to me very well, Melanie Walton. There's a man shot in the backseat of my car!"

"Sorry, Spencer! He... he said he couldn't go to the hospital, he was in danger..."

Spencer shook his head and sighed, looking at me through the rearview mirror. "Your soft heart is going to get you in trouble. And I'm going to get in trouble too, because I can't say no to you!"

I smiled and winked, which made Spencer snort. He couldn't resist my cuteness, even when we were doing something this crazy.

Once at my apartment, Spencer helped me put the stranger to bed and clean the wound. He was a nurse, for which I was immensely grateful.

"You owe me one, cutie. Wow, look at those ripped abs! And those tattoos add the finishing touch..."

"Spencer!" I scolded him. Yes, the stranger had an enviable body, but please, that wasn't the moment!

Spencer shrugged. "I'm not blind, thank God. Now, I have to go to my shift at the hospital. If you need anything, call me and I'll see if I can help you, okay?" He kissed my forehead. "As soon as he wakes up, Mel, talk to him and send him away. If someone is after him, they'll come after you too."

Spencer left me there, alone with the stranger.

I decided to make something to eat, hoping he'd wake up soon and I could get some answers. When I returned to the room, the 'patient' was stirring, his eyes fluttering open. He put his hand on his waist, feeling for something, but his eyes narrowed when he found nothing there. His gaze moved to me, sharp and suspicious, as if he could see right through me.

"How are you feeling?" I asked, after all, things like 'wow, you're awake' or 'are you okay?' didn't seem appropriate.

"Who are you?" His question was full of suspicion and... accusation?

I raised an eyebrow. How dare he?

"I should be the one asking you that," I snapped. "After all, you're in my house. A stranger I found shot in an alley, in the middle of the night, and who refused to go to the hospital," I placed the bowl of soup and juice on the bedside table. "I'm Melanie Walton. Who are you, sir?"

"Where's my gun?" he asked as if he was asking where his phone was. I swallowed hard.

"You didn't have a gun when I found you," I replied, my voice shaky. So, he wasn't just a victim of an assassination attempt-he was dangerous.

"Cazzo!" he muttered under his breath. Okay, I wasn't fluent, but I had studied a little Italian. Italian, weapons...

"Are you from the mafia?" I asked. Why beat around the bush?

His eyes narrowed further. "If you don't know who I am, you better keep it that way. I need a phone," he said, his breath labored. It was obvious he was in pain.

"Okay. But first, eat something. I made potato soup with chicken. I blended it in the blender. It's pretty easy to digest," I said, following Spencer's instructions. The man looked at me suspiciously and I rolled my eyes. "Sir, if I was going to poison you, it would have been easier to kill you when you were unconscious, don't you think?"

I clicked my tongue and grabbed the spoon, tilting my head back and pouring some of the soup into my mouth, not touching the utensil. He was hurt, and I didn't know if it was safe to transfer the bacteria from my mouth to his. I glared at him, daring him to say that the food was poisoned.

He moved his mouth and motioned for me to bring the plate closer to him. I filled a spoon, sat on the edge of the bed, and brought the soup to his mouth. The man stared at me in a disturbing way, because at the same time that he was a little scary, he was very handsome, and I had to admit that I was enchanted.

He ate in silence, not answering any of my questions.

"You've been shot. Are you sure you don't want to go to a hospital? My friend took the bullet out, but I still think it's best..."

"Who's your friend?" His eyes darted to the door and then back to me. I touched the man's lips with the spoon, and he opened his mouth and sipped the contents.

"My friend is my friend. And he's not a dangerous person!" I shook my head. "You should be more grateful!"

He said nothing and looked at his soup, indicating that I should serve him more. He really was insufferable! But he was hurt, and I would be a good Samaritan and swallow the harsher words stuck in my throat.

"I need a phone," he repeated, and I wiped his mouth. The man looked at me and narrowed his eyes. "What's your name?"

"Mel," I replied. "And yours?"

"How many hours have I been here? I need a phone," he said, ignoring my question.

I pressed my lips into a thin line. "First, answer what I'm asking you!"

His gaze darkened, and he leaned forward slightly, wincing from the pain. "If you think I won't do anything to you because I'm hurt, you're wrong."

MELANIE

I felt a chill run through my body, because the look he was giving me was not even close to being a joke. I remembered that he had mentioned having a gun, so he was not someone I should provoke too much.

I cleared my throat and reached out my device on the bedside table, finally handing him the phone and he made a call, speaking low and in Italian.

"Someone will come and get me soon. Thank you," he said calmly.

At least he said thank you, right?

And when he said it would be soon, he wasn't joking, because in less than ten minutes someone was knocking on my door. I frowned. The intercom hadn't rung... How unsafe!

"He has a scar that cuts across his face and lips. Bald."

"Okay," I said slowly and walked into the living room. I looked through the peephole and saw a man just like the stranger had described to me. I opened the door and if I had found him scary before, now that the door was no longer between us, I just wanted to get away.

"I came to get my boss." He said, without saying the name of the man whose life I had saved. What the hell, why so much secrecy? Was he really from the mafia?

I didn't say anything and took the man to the injured one. In less than two minutes, I was alone in the apartment. The bald man had taken out the trash, where his boss's bandages were discarded.

I sat down on my couch and threw my head back. It was over. Whoever it was, I had nothing to do with that person anymore.

I thought that was the case, until the next morning, when my intercom rang.

"Delivery?"

"Yes, ma'am. Melanie Walton, correct? I was asked to make a delivery to this address."

I sighed and let the delivery man go upstairs. I signed for the delivery and closed the door, placing the box on the table. It was a pretty black box, with a black ribbon too. There was no card on the outside. I opened the package. Tissue paper. Black. Inside the paper, a black fabric, with sparkles. And then there was a note.

["Wear it tonight. Be ready by 9 p.m."]

I turned the card over in my hand, but there was nothing else.

"What the hell is this?"

I wasn't going to do whatever was written there! No one I knew would send me that kind of thing, so I would just sit there and wait. Maybe it was a joke!

Curious, I took out the contents of the box and came across the most beautiful dress I had ever seen in my life! It was one-shouldered, with a stiffer bodice, a more open skirt, and the fabric was fine and beautiful, very shiny.

I was tempted to try it on, but I decided to put the dress back in the box. I took a shower and lay down on the bed, ready to watch a movie on streaming. It was my day off and I just wanted to enjoy it.

In the middle of the movie, my doorbell rang. I got up, practically jumping up and down. It must have been the pizza delivery. Or Spencer. Or both. That would be great, because I loved food and the presence of my best friend!

However, what I saw was the same man from earlier, with the scar. He didn't look happy at all. And I was so stupid not looking through the peephole before opening it!

"Ah..."

"Miss, please take the box with the dress and follow me,"

"I'm not going anywhere," I replied with all the courage I had inside me. The man showed no emotion.

"Miss, I'll be straight with you: either you do what I tell you to do, or I'll take you anyway. And believe me, no one will come to help you," he said it like it was nothing! "No one will hurt you. My boss just wants to talk."

"Well, your boss can go to hell, because I'm not going to..." I felt a sharp pain in my neck and then, only darkness.

I started to regain consciousness and heard some murmurs. What had happened? And boy, my head was hurting!

I tried to sit up and realized that I was already sitting, with my head resting on something soft behind me. I opened my eyes and two greenish orbs were watching me.

"Ah!" I said as I tried to move away, only to realize that I was trapped. "What... what is this? Let me go, now!"

"Miss, there's no point in struggling, you'll only hurt yourself," the dark-haired girl said, her voice low. "Since you were sleeping, we had to tie you up so that you didn't fall and hurt yourself."

I looked at the woman in disbelief. She couldn't have been more than twenty years old and looked shy. I took a deep breath.

"Are you really trying to make it seem like tying me up here was a favor?" I asked and she swallowed hard. "Untie me. I'm awake now, right?"

She bit her lip and before she could move, the door opened. I saw the dear 'patient' standing there, wearing a tuxedo. Damn, how could that bastard be so handsome?!

"Okay, Marana, you can go. I'll take care of her from here,"

She didn't wait for another order and almost ran out of the room.

The door closed and I stared at the charming stranger.

"Is this how you thank me? By kidnapping me?"

He pouted slightly and looked me up and down.

"The dress is perfect. I knew it would look great on you," he said, as if talking to himself. I narrowed my eyes at him. "And you are not kidnapped, you're 'under arrest' because you disobeyed an order."

My jaw would have hit the floor if it weren't stuck to my face.

"Sorry, can you repeat that?" I asked and let out a snort of mockery. "Order? I disobeyed an order?"

He stepped closer to me, and my breath caught in my throat.

MELANIE

He was dangerous, there was no doubt about that. I frowned and looked at his clothes. Wasn't he hurt? How could he look so well?

No, he was a little pale. As soon as he got closer, I could tell.

"I said you should be ready by nine, but something in me told me you would be a rebel. So I asked my men to go looking for you. And you refused to obey me."

I struggled in the chair, which was one of those you see in beauty salons.

"You... let go of me! I want to go home, now!"

He placed his hand on the chair and looked at me. The amber eyes looked like pure liquid gold.

"I'm going to let you go, but you're going to be good and listen to me, okay?"

"Okay," I replied, but I had no intention of being nice at all! He started to untie me and I looked at the door, but he held my arms. Not much strength, but enough so that I couldn't escape.

"There's a party going on right now. I need you to be my date. It's a favor. One more. I know I owe you,"

"At least you have that awareness, right?" I sighed. "I'm not going to run. You can unhand me."

He did so, but he didn't move away.

"And why do you want me to be your date at this party?" I asked, rubbing my wrists. "It must be very important to ask a favor to a complete stranger... No, no. To kidnap a stranger!"

He stood up straighter and put his hands in his pockets, without taking his eyes off me.

"Yes, it is important. I was attacked and almost killed. If it weren't for you. I want you to stay close to me, because it's the best way I can protect you."

"Protect me? Being close to you is dangerous, so I should stay as far away as possible!"

I get up and look around, with no sign of my belongings. I needed my phone!

"Look, with all due respect, I don't want to get involved in whatever it is you're tangled up in. Good luck to you and excuse me. Ah... where are my clothes? Well, I'm going home with this dress and you can come by and pick it up tomorrow. I'll leave it at the reception."

I tried to pass by him, but the man got in front of me. I went to the side and he also moved. I looked into his face and it was obvious he was finding our little 'dance' amusing. I pressed my lips into a thin line.

"I'll pay."

"Sorry, what?" I didn't care if I was being rude. I should, though. Come on, the guy kidnapped me!

"I'll pay you. I'm not calling you a luxury escort, before you feel offended. But I will pay you for your time and dedication,"

"Dedication?" I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yes, because I need you to pretend to be in a romantic relationship with me."

I opened my eyes, and he was looking at me with the biggest cynical face. It wasn't possible that that man needed that kind of trick to be with a woman!

"I'm leaving."

"Wait!" he stood in front of the door. "I'm serious. I'll pay for you... service."

"I'm not going to pretend to be your girlfriend!"

"I didn't talk about being a girlfriend."

I crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"And what are we talking about then?"

"I want you to pretend to be my fiancée."

We stared at each other in silence, for what seemed like an eternity. Then, I let out a laugh.

"What a joke! Is this your profession? You are... Ha, ha! Are you a comedian? Got shot for making... a joke with the wrong person?" And I continued to laugh, until I saw his smile dying.

In the next second, I was pressed against the wall, him right in front of me, his arms on the wall, at the sides of my head.

"Do you think I'm a joker, Miss Walton?" he asked in a low, hoarse voice. That proximity turned my brain into a knot, because his perfume invaded my nostrils, I could feel the heat of his body, he was so close. His lips almost touched my ear. "I can make you laugh, for sure. You just need to be behave,"

I didn't even know what to do: whether to close my eyes and let myself be carried away by the sensations, or to act rationally, kicking that man's nuts and running away. My brain told me to choose the second option, however, my body didn't want to obey.

"You and I will go down and greet the guests. You will smile and pretend you love me. As if I were the only being in your entire universe. Then we'll leave and, if you want to stay by my side tonight, we can go up to my room. If not, I'll ask someone to take you home. One way or another, you will be rewarded. And protected. You and your people."

By 'my people' he meant... shit!

I was definitely out of luck! That bastard, if he wasn't from the mafia, was involved in some big trouble and I, of course, had to get into it simply for helping someone!

I swallowed hard. If I said no, I might not even get out of there alive. And what's worse, depending on how crazy that man was, he could actually go after my family. After Spencer!

'He drugged you and kidnapped you. Do you really think he wouldn't hurt other people?', the voice of reason asked inside my head and I ended up letting out an air of frustration.

"Besides, there's that shelter... it's about to close its doors, isn't that right?", the smile on his lips, even though it still made him look handsome, was scary! "You help me and I help you. Whatever you need. But if you refuse my offer, I swear I will make your life difficult and that of anyone who has had contact with you."

Bastard!

"Very well," I said and took a deep breath and lifted my chin. "But don't even think you're going to take advantage of me."

He smirked while his eyes darted to my lips.