Married To The Mafia Tyrant

"You think I'm stupid, don't you?" Seraphina's voice cracked as she stood at the center of Nate's sleek penthouse apartment, her chest rising and falling in short, panicked breaths. "You think I don't see what's going on?"

Nate stood across the room, arms folded, jaw clenched so hard the muscles in his face twitched. He didn't answer.

"I'm tired, Nate!" she shouted, her hands shaking as she jabbed a finger toward him. "Tired of being treated like a f*cking option! I'm not some emotionless doll you can cheat on, walk away from, and come back to like nothing happened! I am human! I have feelings!"

Still, silence.

Nate blinked slowly, his brown eyes dull with indifference. "Are you done?"

"Am I done?" Seraphina flinched. The sharp, clipped tone of his voice cut deeper than she'd expected.

"No," she whispered. Her voice trembled as she stepped toward him, her hands curling into fists. "No, I'm not done."

She stopped inches away from him, staring up into the face of the man she had loved for three long, humiliating years. A man she had defended. Sacrificed for. Betrayed herself for.

And he stood there... unmoved.

Tears blurred her vision, but she didn't blink them away. She grabbed the front of his crisp designer shirt - a white button-up that reeked of money and cologne - and yanked him slightly forward.

"Why, Nate?" she demanded, her voice breaking. "Why do you keep doing this? Why do you keep cheating on me? What the hell did I ever do to deserve this? Am I not enough for you? Is it because I'm not rich? Because my dad works two jobs and my mom prays every morning the power doesn't get cut off?"

Nate grunted and pulled her hands off his shirt with a harsh jerk. "Stop," he snapped. "You're going to wrinkle my shirt."

Seraphina blinked. Her breath caught in her throat.

"That shirt?" she echoed. "That's what you're worried about right now?"

"It cost five thousand dollars," Nate said flatly as he smoothed the fabric where she'd clutched it. "Unlike you, I care about the things I work for."

"F- five thousand dollars," Seraphina repeated hollowly, backing away.

Her lips parted. Her eyes scanned the pristine room. Glass furniture. Leather couches. A marble kitchen island gleaming in the soft afternoon light.

Everything in here screamed luxury. Except her.

She'd always known she didn't belong in his world. But hearing it? Feeling it confirmed in the most humiliating way?

It shattered her.

She wrapped her arms around herself and let out a bitter laugh - part grief, part hysteria. "Do you even hear yourself?"

Nate rolled his eyes and walked past her toward the sofa.

"Since you feel cheating is normal and you have no remorse, I should definitely do the same. Don't you think?" Seraphina asked through gritted teeth. She simply said it out of anger but deep down, a part of her wanted to know how Nate would react to her sleeping with other men.

Nate paused, he turned to face her, "What did you say?"

"You heard me."

To her surprise, he burst out laughing with his hands tucked away in his pocket. His gaze was filled with intense mockery, "You? Cheat? On me? Nah. You won't . You love me too much to do such a thing."

"Just because I love you doesn't mean you get to cheat me like this." Seraphina was clearly tired. She ran her hand through her blonde hair. "But it doesn't mean I can't."

Nate scoffed as he walked back to her. He grabbed her chin forcefully and said, "You are not allowed to think of sleeping with another man. Your body is mine and mine alone."

Seraphina ignored the pain and smirked, "Yours? I doubt it. It is mine and I will sleep with whomever I choose to sleep with. You shouldn't have a problem with that."

"You are playing with fire, Sera. Don't test my patience." He bellowed, "I'll skin whoever sees you naked. I don't give two shits if it's a male child or an old man. So, get that dumb thought out of your f*cling mind."

His phone vibrated on the coffee table, and he picked it up without a word.

She watched him answer it, her heart already anticipating the worst as she massaged her aching jaw.

"Hey, babe," he said, voice suddenly light and sweet. "Of course. I'll be there in fifteen."

He glanced at Seraphina, then snorted - a short, cruel sound.

She staggered back a step, like his laugh had physically hit her.

He hung up and turned back toward the door. "I've got somewhere important to be."

"You mean 'someone' to be with," she corrected softly, voice trembling.

Nate paused at the threshold. "Semantics," he muttered with a shrug.

She stared at his back as he moved toward the kitchen, casual as ever, untouched by the mess he'd left behind.

He reached out, picked up the tiny cake box she had carried through the pouring rain earlier that morning - the one with their anniversary cake inside - and opened it.

Seraphina couldn't breathe.

With a lazy swipe of his fingers, Nate scooped out a bite of red velvet and placed it in his mouth. He chewed, hummed in approval, then looked back over his shoulder with a smirk.

"Tastes great," he said. "Don't eat it all before I get back, else you'll have yourself to blame."

Then he walked towards the door. Seraphina watched him helplessly as she struggled to hold back the loud sob that was threatening to break out from her throat.

Suddenly, he stopped but didn't look back. "Happy third anniversary, babe."

Without adding any other statement, he left.

The door closed behind him with a hollow click, and Seraphina stood in the silence that followed, her lungs heaving with the weight of a thousand words she never got to scream.

Her finger nails dug into her palms, almost causing her to bleed. Shutting her eyes, she collapsed to the floor.

The silence wasn't peaceful. It was deafening. Thick. Violent.

"H- happy a- anniversary?" It pressed in on her like a weight on her chest, squeezing out the breath she didn't even realize she'd been holding since Nate slammed the door behind him.

Seraphina sat there on the cold marble tiles, the hem of her skirt pooling around her knees, her trembling fingers hovering over the spot where he'd stood.

She blinked. Once. Twice.

And then the tears came.

Not soft. Not pretty.

They came in gasps. In guttural sobs that clawed out of her throat like they'd been buried for years.

"Happy anniversary??! Y- you- h- he just left! He just left! He went to tangle with another woman a- and he- he still said happy anniversary?" She didn't cry like a heartbroken woman. She cried like a damn fool. Because that's what she'd been.

"Three years," she whispered to no one. "Three f*cking years..."

"Three years of walking on eggshells. Three years of being good enough to sleep with, but never good enough to commit to. Three years of turning my back o- on my own reflection in the mirror, because every time I looked, all I saw was someone trying too hard for someone who never tried at all! I- I'm such an idiot."

She curled into herself and pressed her forehead to her knees, nails digging into her thighs as if pain would bring her back to earth.

"You skipped college for him," her voice taunted in her head.

"You gave up scholarships. You lied to your friends. You-"

Her chest heaved, and she slapped the floor, needing something - anything - to anchor her to the moment before she drowned in the memory of the past.

"You chose him over your best friend," the memory whispered.

"You let her die."

"No," Seraphina whispered. Her voice cracked. "No, don't go there..."

But her mind already had.

Flash back.

It had been a year and a half ago.

"I really don't this is a good idea, Sera." Ivy, Seraphina's only bestfriend and sister figure whispered as she clung to her arm.

Seraphina smiled as she patted her hand and said, "Everything will be fine, Ivy. It's just a night party and moreover, Nate said there is security so we don't have to worry."

Ivy clenched her fist, "I never liked Nate. I don't trust him! That guy is a cheater! He doesn't deserve you..."

"Don't start..." Seraphina bellowed as she cast a side glance at Ivy who retorted.

"But it's true! I don't get why you still stick with him like he is the only man in the world! His family is into shady business! Rumors say that he is part of the mafia! Don't get involved with-"

Seraphina cut her off again, "We came here for a party, Ivy. And That's what we are going to do. I won't have you talk bad about my boyfriend."

Ivy flinched under Seraphina's gold gaze and didn't say anything. She couldn't mutter inter breath, "I hope you wake up from what ever spell he cast on you."

"Babe!" Nate's excited voice rang out from the crowd ahead of them.

Seraphina turned to face the source of the voice as a smile found it's way to her face. She let go of Ivy who frowned and ran to hug Nate.

"You came." Nate noted as he disengaged from the hug and took in Seraphina's outfit. She was donning a deep blue shirt sequin gown. Although it was thrift, her curves made the dress give off a luxury vibe.

Seraphina giggled shyly, "of course. You had invited me so why wouldn't I come."

Ivy snorted in the background, "let's just go in already." She walked to Seraphina and pulled her aside, "I'm leaving here in exactly 30 minutes."

"Don't be a worrywart-" Seraphina was about to chide Ivy but Ivy shut her.

"30 minutes, Seraphina."

Seraphina hugged and said, "Fine." Holding Ivy's face, she teased, "don't look like that. You are scaring away your potential partners."

Ivy rolled her eyes, "Heaven knows im not going to take a partner from a club that reeks of alcohol and cigarette"

Seraphina chuckled. With that, the trio walked further into the club.

However, not up to ten minutes later, disaster struck.

A loud bang shattered the music, followed by a second, sharper crack that made the floor vibrate.

Then the chaos began.

A group of armed men, dressed in black tactical gear with their faces covered, stormed into the club like a hurricane of death. Red laser sights danced along the walls as they raised their rifles toward the ceiling and fired several deafening shots. Shards of glass from the chandeliers and light fixtures rained down like glittering shrapnel, sending partygoers into a frenzy.

"Everybody get down!"

A deep voice thundered across the club - commanding and cold, belonging to a man with broad shoulders and a six-foot frame, clearly their leader. He stepped forward through the fog of confusion, his rifle pointed not at the ceiling anymore, but at the terrified crowd.

Screams erupted.

Shoes slipped on spilled liquor. Someone was sobbing. Another was praying. Phones were dropped. People dove under tables, some ducking behind speakers, others too frozen to move.

Seraphina's heart stopped.

In one reflex, she grabbed Ivy, pulling her close, her hands trembling as she scanned the chaos.

Nate pulled them behind him instinctively.

But they weren't hidden for long.

One of the armed men paused, his head tilting as he squinted toward Nate.

"Boss!" he hissed to the leader as he pressed a finger to his earpiece. "We got the kid. He's here. With two girls.

The boss strode closer, the crowd parting for him like prey sensing a predator.

His cold eyes landed on Nate - who still had his arm locked around Seraphina protectively, while Seraphina clutched Ivy like a lifeline.

The boss didn't flinch. He gave a short, chilling nod.

"Take him."

"No, wait!" Seraphina cried as they surged forward, dragging Nate out of her grip. "He didn't do anything-please-"

She held on, her nails digging into his arm. Ivy clung to Seraphina, desperate to pull her back. "Let them go, Seraphina! Those guys are from the mafia! Don't get involved!"

"Let him go! Please!" Seraphina sobbed, fighting the men off. One of them slammed her against a speaker to wrench her free, but Ivy caught her again.

"Damn it Seraphina! Stay down!" Ivy hissed as she tried to separate her.

Their resistance only seemed to seal their fate.

The men gave each other a look, then nodded.

"Take them too."

"No!" Ivy screamed. "We're not part of this!"

But it was too late.

They were already surrounded.

In seconds, their wrists were zip-tied behind them. The music was gone. The lights flickered above them. Blood-curdling cries echoed around the club, but Seraphina heard only the sound of her own pulse pounding in her ears.

As they were dragged through the panicking crowd, Seraphina's eyes locked with Nate's.

That was when she saw it.

He wasn't shocked. He wasn't confused. He was terrified. But not surprised.

And that terrified her more than anything.

The warehouse reeked of metal, sweat, and something rotting.

Nate was slammed into a chair under a harsh hanging bulb, blood dripping from his nose.

"Where is it, Nate?" one of the masked men growled, punching him again. "Where's the drive?"

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

CRACK!

Another hit. His head snapped sideways. Blood sprayed the floor.

"Leave him alone!" Seraphina screamed from where she was held. "He doesn't know anything! Please!"

"Seraphina, shut up!" Ivy hissed, struggling against the ropes. "Stop talking! Don't give them a reason!"

But Seraphina couldn't stop. "He's innocent! Please!"

"He's not worth it-just let us go! Please, I'm begging you, shut up!" Ivy yelled through gritted teeth, clearly annoyed at her dumb best friend.

One of the guards lifted his gun and aimed it at Seraphina. "Keep running that mouth, sweetheart, and you'll be next."

Her voice died in her throat. She shook in silence.

Nate spat blood. "You've got the wrong guy."

"You're Roman Callahan's kid. That makes you the right guy," the interrogator sneered.

Seraphina froze, "R- Roman Callahan?"

"See? I told you his family is into shady business!"

The steel door creaked open.

Everyone paused.

A man stepped in - older, composed, dressed in all black. Not masked. Not rushed. He had authority in his silence.

He whispered to one of the guards.

Then he turned to Seraphina and Ivy, his tone surprisingly calm.

"I'm sorry you girls had to go through this. Truly. This isn't about you."

He turned to Nate. "But your boyfriend and his family... offended someone important. Now, they have to pay and somehow, you were with him in that moment which also makes you an enemy."

"W- Wait-what? What does that mean?" Seraphina cried. "What are you going to do?! We didn't do anything!"

Ivy who had tears running down her cheeks yelled, "You cowards! We are innocent! You should have just take that bastard alone! Why take us? Now you're using that dumb excuse to justify the fact that you kidnapped two young girls?"

The man didn't answer. He simply nodded.

The guards moved fast.

Three logs were dragged in - thick, splintered, old.

One by one, Nate, Seraphina, and Ivy were separated and tied to them, arms bound tightly behind their backs.

"What are you doing? L- let go of me!" Seraphina yelled as she struggled to break free from their grip.

On the other hand, Ivy thrashed around until she was silenced by a hard slap.

Seraphina thrashed. "Don't touch her! Don't you dare touch her!"

A guard slapped duct tape over her mouth.

Ivy screamed behind her gag as they strapped her to the far side of the room. Seraphina was in the middle. Nate to the left.

Then came a container. Although it was sealed, it reeked of fuel.

Sloshing sounds.

A match was struck. The flame flickered like a devil's grin.

"Light it," one of the men ordered.

A lackey obeyed. The fire was set. Smoke curled around them. Heat pulsed against Seraphina's skin. Her lungs screamed. Her eyes burned. But her mind was sharp.

"This was it. Fight or die."

She remembered everything: the metal bracelets under her sleeve, the broken nail that loosened the rope just enough.

Her wrists bled, but she freed herself.

She yanked the duct tape off her mouth with a cry of pain.

"IVY!" she gasped. "Hold on!"

Ivy's eyes widened in hope.

But then-

"Sera..."

Nate's voice came, weak. "Help me. Please... I can't breathe..."

Seraphina froze.

Ivy thrashed, screaming through the gag, shaking her head violently - don't you dare. The flame gree intense, making it hard for either of them to breathe.

"Seraphina, don't listen to him!" Ivy sobbed inwardly. "Please, help me! Don't let me die! I don't want to die!"

But Nate groaned louder, coughing blood. "You love me... don't leave me. I need you. You said you'd never leave me. You promised."

Seraphina stood between them, amidst the black smoke. Torn. Heart racing. Eyes wet.

"Ivy-" she whispered, tears falling. "I'll come back for you. I promise."

Ivy's face crumpled. Betrayal. Horror.

Seraphina turned.

She chose Nate.

She ran to him, sliced his ropes, yanked him to his feet.

"Come on!"

They limped toward the door as behind them, Ivy's muffled scream pierced the smoke.

"SERAPHINA!!"

She looked back.

Just once.

But she didn't go back.

They crossed the threshold-

BOOM.

The shed exploded, heat throwing them forward, fire roaring into the night sky.

Ivy's scream was gone.

And in its place, silence.

Seraphina lay on the ground, trembling.

Smoke in her lungs.

Ash in her soul.

Nate clutched her hand, "we survived. We survived, babe."

But Seraphina didn't feel like a survivor.

"I- Ivy..." she staggered as she stared at the burning shed. "N- no no no! I'm coming for you..." she gasped as she dashed for the shed but she was stopped by Nate.

"Are you fucking crazy! That shed is engulfed in flames and you are just running into it? Don't play hero, Seraphina. Save yourself first!" He yelled as he held onto her shoulder and shook her but Seraphina was long gone in her head.

"Eh- sh- she... my best friend!" She panicked, "I need to go in! I want to go in!" Tears trickled down her face. "Please! I want to save Ivy!" She struggled to break freee from Nate's grip but she couldn't.

He held her face tightly and glared at her. "You dumb friend is dead! Damn it! She is gone!"

"No she's not!" Seraphina yelled as she broke down in tears, "leave me alone!" She shoved him away as she turned to face the shed. The heat did nothing to her compared to the pain she felt im her heart. "I should have saved her first. I should have at least cut her rope..."

Nate heard her and scoffed as he angrily grabbed her arm, "are you seriously regretting saving me? I can't believe you!"

Seraphina panicked, "No! No I'm not regretting. I- it's just..."

"Don't stand there stuttering. We need to get out of here!" Nate hissed as he pulled her away from the scene. Seraphina, although had escaped the fire, she didn't escape the trauma of allowing her best friend to die.