Ruthless Mafia Daddy (Alpha Mafia Daddies)

Five years.

Sixty months.

One thousand, eight hundred and twenty-six days.

Forty-three thousand, eight hundred and twenty-four hours.

And each one has felt like a lifetime.

The pain of loss is as strong today as it was when I first learned about it.

A pain that shatters my insides every minute of every hour of every day.

And the worst part is I lost more than just her. I lost the whole life I had planned for us. Marriage, kids, grandkids. She was my happily ever after.

Now all I have is an empty ever after.

But every day I have to get out of bed because I have people depending on me. My men, my siblings.

I don’t have time to break down. I don’t have time to mourn. I have to be there for all of them. Because their survival, their well-being is my responsibility.

This day is the only day I allow myself to feel.

I gulp down my second double scotch on the rocks and wave a passing waiter for another. It’s going to take close to a whole bottle to help my mind get fuzzy enough to not remember as clearly that my life is over.

Part of me hopes that with each passing year, the weight of the grief will lift, even just an inch. Enough where the world isn’t clouded in darkness, where I might see past the veil.

But no amount of drinking or fucking or killing seems to help.

Death is everywhere.

At this point, I’m pretty sure if someone were to cut me open, darkness would spill out and all that would be left of me was an empty shell and a blackened heart.

The only thing that keeps this shattered thing somewhat beating is my family. Or what’s left of it.

I lean back in the plush velvet chair and scan the room once more, my eyes finding the stunner sitting at the bar once more.

She’s checked her phone six times in the past two minutes alone.

I clench the glass of scotch in my hand, watching as the fuckwit opposite her rattles on and on about god knows what, paying more attention to the beer in his hand than to the absolutely drop-dead gorgeous woman sitting opposite him.

And I mean gorgeous.

The way she’s crossed her legs has made her short black dress ride up, exposing tanned thighs that make my hands itch to run all over them.

Fuck, if I was sat opposite her, I’d find a way to have my hands on her immediately. To confirm that her skin is as warm and as soft as it appears to be.

Her long brown curls are loose around her slim shoulders, practically shimmering under the low orange lights of the bar.

She glances around. Her demeanor is tight, like she is nervous. Her back is straight ramrod-looking, her eyes wide and restless.

Shit, is this guy making her uncomfortable?

Why do I care? I should be drinking myself into oblivion tonight and stumbling home to my little brother and sister.

Speaking of, I check my phone.

Seven messages from Marco complaining about our sister.

I can’t hold my chuckle in. Rosa may be the youngest at fifteen, but she is a force to be reckoned with.

I glance at the goddess at the bar once more.

Maybe I should indulge tonight. Let myself go. She looks like she could help me forget.

Before my brain registers what is happening, I’m out of my chair and crossing the distance between us.

As she tries to climb off the stool, I reach for her elbow, her skin as warm to the touch as I imagined it. My fingers tingle from the contact.

Her muscles tense under my hand, and eyes of the palest blue meet mine.

Fuck, she is even more gorgeous up close. I can’t help but flick my gaze to those pouty red lips.

“I’m terribly sorry to interrupt,” I start, letting the corners of my mouth lift into a smirk, “but if I have to listen to this fuckwit talking about stats and battles and whatnot for one more second, I may just start killing people.”

The woman lets out a nervous laugh, glancing sidelong at her date.

I lean in a little closer until her perfume hits my nose, and I bite back a moan. Vanilla and orange blossom. Delicious, just like her.

“You look incredible in that dress, by the way.” I let my eyes fully take her in, appreciating the way her clothes hug her curves.

Her pale blue eyes widen, and she hides a smile as her date jumps to his feet.

“Hey, you can’t talk to her like that,” he growls, fists clenched as he confronts me. “We’re in the middle of a fucking date, man.”

I let out a long breath, letting my eyes flick to that sensual mouth once more before I turn to face the dickwad who thinks he has a chance against me. I scoff. “Are you?”

This gamer boy who looks like he’s barely out of adolescence is at least half a foot shorter than my six-foot-four. It’s pitiful at best.

“Because as I see it, you’ve been so self-focused that you haven’t asked her a single question about her life or interests.” I shrug. “If you’re so happy talking to yourself about yourself, don’t let us stop you, but the lady deserves a compliment and to be part of a real conversation.”

He sputters, red in the face, but no words come out.

I shake my head. “No wonder you’re still living with your parents, Dirk.”

He blinks, gasping.

I ignore him. I’m here for the goddess, not him. Turning my back on him, I get lost in the icy blue of her eyes. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”

“L-Lila.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I reach for her hand and bring it up to my lips.

I revel in the way her breath catches as I press my lips to her smooth skin. “I’m Andre.”

I don’t fail to notice the way goosebumps cover her bare arms at my touch.

Dirk’s hand lands on my shoulder. “What the fuck⁠—”

I round on him before he even has a chance to utter another word, grabbing him by the shirt and slamming him against the bar. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“And why is that?” His eyes spark with challenge.

“Because I own this place, and I will have you thrown out on your ass if you don’t back the fuck off.”

Dirk scoffs, rolling his eyes. “That’s bullshit. You’re lying.”

“Does it look like bullshit to you, Lila?” I glance at her.

Lila is wide-eyed as she glances between Dirk and me, but she shakes her head.

“She’s my date,” he seethes, fists clenching, spit flying everywhere.

“Was. She was your date. You lost your chance when you acted like it didn’t matter if she was even there. She’s deserves better, so she is my date now.”

Dirk’s eyes flash as he looks to Lila, and I bite back a laugh.

Does this poor excuse for a man really think that she will choose to stay with him?

“What time was your ‘out’ supposed to call?” I ask Lila over my shoulder.

Those icy blue eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve been looking at that phone of yours throughout the entire date.” I smirk. “Not that Dirk here would’ve noticed. I assume you’re waiting for someone to call. A call where you’ll learn about an emergency that is sadly going to cut your date short. So, again, what time?”

She flushes, biting on her lip, eyes dropping to my chest. I like that a little too much.

“Eight,” she mutters under her breath.

I chuckle, nodding. “I think it’s time you get some better friends.”

A ghost of a smile makes her pouty lips even more appealing.

I tear my eyes from her and aim them at Dirk as I tighten my grip on his shirt.

Holding tight and turning toward the door, I start dragging him toward the exit. “Now, I think it’s time you leave Lila and me to our date.”

I glance back to Lila who’s clearly trying not to laugh at the sight of Dirk trying to bat me away. “I’ll be right back, sweetheart.”

“I’ll be right here.”

Her eyes flick over my body, and everywhere it touches, it leaves a trail of fire on my skin.

I can’t help the feral grin that spreads across my face.

Holding on to my hands as he tries not to lose his footing, Dirk doesn’t protest much as we reach the door.

Jerry, one of my men, is waiting right outside the door. When he sees me, he unfolds his arms and smiles at me. “Oh, hey boss. Taking out the trash?”

“Yeah, mind seeing to it? I can’t stay. Have a gorgeous woman waiting for me at the bar.”

“Sure thing, boss.”

I toss Dirk at Jerry. “Enjoy your night, asshole.”