The Vow: The Mafia Proposal, #3

By Talia Ellison

When I couldn't trust anyone, I trusted my judgment. But now... Now I can't do that anymore. I'll have to put my faith in my instincts and hope like hell they aren't wrong, because if they are, I'm going to end up dead.

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This is the third and final installment in The Mafia Proposal series.

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Reading order:

THE DEAL (Book 1)
THE GIFT (Book 2)
THE VOW (Book 3)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Talia Ellison
• Release date: Jul 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386961499

Talia Ellison

Talia Ellison is the author of Hold Me, Unfold Me, the Loving Your Enemy series, the Your Love Is Dangerous series, Destroying the Billionaire, The Mafia Proposal series, the My Broken Hitman series, the Her Dark Mafia Heart duet, the Owned by the Mafia Queen series, the Never His duet, the Taking Revenge on Her Bully series, the Varano Mafia series, and Arranged: Cassaro Mafia. She loves to read and write all kinds of romance, and she has a thing for broken, tortured heroes and fierce heroines who aren't afraid to take what they want. When she’s not busy with a book, she likes to watch TV shows and listen to music. Never miss a new release! Sign up for Talia’s newsletter: https://taliaellison.weebly.com/newsletter.html

Book preview

Chapter 1

I WOKE UP WITH THE worst headache ever. Cracking my eyes open, I squinted at the painfully bright light above me. Oh God. Where was I? What the hell had happened? I averted my gaze from the bright ceiling and let out a small moan as I turned my head, which was throbbing.

A bed. I was lying in a bed in a small room. My long dark brown hair was splayed on the pillow, and I lifted my hand to touch the sore spot on my head and touched a bandage. I had been hurt, but why couldn’t I remember what had happened to me?

A shuffle on the other end of the room drew my attention, and I spotted an armed man dressed in black standing in the corner next to the door. My whole body went still as my eyes met his. I didn’t think I’d ever seen him before, and I expected him to go for his weapon that was in the holster at his belt, but when he moved, he pulled out a phone and typed something.

Who are you? I asked, trying to push myself up, but my muscles ached, and the room was spinning around me, so I had to settle back on the pillows and close my eyes for a moment.

It’s alright. You’re safe, the guy said. The doctor will be here soon.

The doctor? Am I in a hospital? What happened? I asked, eyeing the man carefully. The room was bare and empty aside from the bed I was in, and the white walls looked as if they’d been freshly painted not too long ago, so I didn’t think it was a hospital. But where the hell was I then?

This wasn’t one of my safe houses. Where were my men? I wasn’t tied up, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t a prisoner. Why would an unknown man be guarding me? My stalker... I gritted my teeth as another wave of pain washed through my head. What was the last thing I could remember? Everything was so damn hazy.

Please stay calm, he said. You’ll find out everything you want to know soon.

Huh. I didn’t know if that was a good or a bad thing. Why wouldn’t he just tell me or was doing that above his pay grade? All of that made me think that I was probably someone’s captive. What else could be going on here? The guy wasn’t one of Marianta’s men. And where was everyone? Where was Meg? Where was James? They wouldn’t just leave me.

Maybe the best thing would be for me to get out of here, but I didn’t think I could get up. I must’ve hit my head pretty badly. Some guy... I had gone to meet with someone, hadn’t I? I’d had to save James from... the Santanos? Oh shit.

Was the guy who was keeping me here working for them? Had I failed? What if something had happened to James? My heart was thudding like crazy in my chest, and I tried my best to stay calm. Yeah, I had to get out of here, but I didn’t think I stood a chance against the guard in this condition. If only I could...

The door opened, and a man in a white coat and a woman entered the room. Shit. Too late for escape plans now. Not that I’d be able to come up with any, since my head was killing me. The man’s lips spread into a soft smile that didn’t reach his eyes, and I assumed he was the doctor. The woman with long dark brown hair and dark brown eyes had a worried expression on her face. Who the hell was she?

Arianna, how are you feeling? the doctor asked, approaching me. I recoiled as he placed his hand on my arm. Was this guy really a doctor?

Where am I? What’s going on? I looked from him to the woman, who gave me a small smile.

You’re safe, my dear, the woman said. Let Pierre take a look at your wound.

Pierre? The doctor? Well, it wasn’t like I could go anywhere or fight all of them, so I didn’t move as Pierre reached for the bandage.

Why are you looking at me like that? the woman suddenly asked. As if I were a stranger.

I frowned, which yeah, only made my head hurt worse. The doctor had pulled a new bandage out of his pocket and had tossed the bloody one that had been around my head to the floor. Yeah, this was definitely some shady doctor in some hideout or something. The only thing I didn’t know was who the woman was. You are a stranger. I don’t think...

Oh. She brought her hand to her lips, her gaze flitting to the doctor.

It’s okay, ma’am, Pierre said. She hit her head pretty hard. Some memory loss and confusion is normal.

The surprised look faded off her face. Of course. How could I have forgotten? I’m Patricia. Your aunt.

Wait, what? Just because I might have trouble remembering what the hell had happened to me didn’t mean I’d forgotten that I didn’t have an aunt. Had the Santanos captured me and were trying to confuse me so I’d reveal some information that they needed?

I know. It’s a lot to take in, Patricia said. I moved to another city after getting married, and circumstances didn’t permit that I meet you, but I’m here now. If you need proof, such as a DNA test to confirm that we’re indeed related, we can do that too.

I stared at her because I wasn’t sure whether to believe her or not. Hell, maybe I was hallucinating. How was it possible that I had an aunt and that no one had ever mentioned her? Not my family and not Hugo, who had raised me after my family was slaughtered since I was the last living member of the Monti family. Unless she wasn’t a Monti. So you’re...

Your father’s sister. She flashed me a smile.

You’re a Monti?

Yes. Well, I was. Now I’m an Avano, but yes, I have Monti blood in my veins. Are you sure you don’t remember anything we’ve talked about?

No, I don’t remember anything, not even meeting you. How did we...? What happened to me? I wasn’t going to believe anything just yet. Where’s my husband? Where are my men?

The doctor had finished with the bandage and glanced at Patricia, who gave him a barely perceptible nod, and then he headed for the door.

You don’t have to worry about that right now, she said. You need to get better first.

No, I need to know. I met her gaze.

She let out a sigh. Okay, if you must, but promise me you won’t agitate yourself unnecessarily.

Just tell me.

You went to meet Alberto Santano. Your husband made a deal with him, so they tricked you into believing James was their captive. You went to the Santanos all alone because you wanted to trade yourself for him—I wish you hadn’t done it, but I know love is a dangerous affair. Anyhow, Alberto attacked you. I was nearby because I was looking for the best way to introduce myself to you and get to know you, so as soon as my men informed me that you were in danger, I had to act. We got there at the last moment. As soon as I reached you, I told you who I was, and we were planning to escape that place, but my men and the Santanos were fighting, and one of the Santanos found us in our hiding spot. You didn’t have a gun. Mine jammed. He grabbed you and slammed your head against a supporting column. You fell to the floor. I was so worried, but luckily, one of my men got to us in time and handled the attacker. Then we managed to get you out of there.

What? Was that really what had happened? How did you know where I’d be?

I told you. I have spies. I’m just like you. A queen of her little empire. The Avanos are mine now. Her face grew serious. It had taken me a long time to free myself of my husband. He... He was a cruel and terrible man who wouldn’t let me see my family. When he died, I had to do everything to keep the family from crumbling and I knew you might need my help. I wasn’t sure how to approach you, because I didn’t want your men to think I was a threat...

My stalker. Someone was watching my every move. Was it you? I held her gaze. If she knew everything about me and was observing me, then maybe...

A stalker? What do you mean? I had my men watch you, yes, but I’m not sure I understand what you’re talking about.

So you weren’t the person who hacked into my systems and tried to separate James and me? Why couldn’t I remember what had happened? Had we discovered who the stalker was? Meg knew, didn’t she? Where was she? James and I... We’d figured out something, hadn’t we? Ugh, why couldn’t I recall any of that? Someone had betrayed me. Felipe and a few others. But what else had happened?

She shook her head. If someone was trying to do that, then they were doing you a favor, but I believe it was all part of your husband’s game with Alberto Santano. I can tell my men to investigate if you want me to.

I don’t understand. And really, I was having trouble following all this. If I was going to trade myself for James, where is he? Is he okay?

Oh, you poor child. She gave me a pained look as she took a seat on the bed and placed her hand on my cheek. I flinched at the touch, but she still caressed my skin. I’m afraid your husband has betrayed you.

No. James would never do that. He loves me.

I wish that were true, but I’m afraid it’s not. I told my men to capture him, but he’d escaped, and the Santanos didn’t try to kill him and were protecting him. It looks like he forged some papers with Alberto’s help and now he’s pretending he’s the leader of the Montis. That’s why I had to take you with me to my safe house. He’s looking for you, and he won’t rest until he kills you because you’re a threat to his rule.

That doesn’t make any sense. I signed something so... Had I really done it? Hadn’t I intended to give James the power to lead until I was back?

You might have. Maybe that’s why he didn’t have any trouble convincing your men that he’s their leader now, especially if he has a few people backing him.

No. If James is a traitor, my men would know. Meg would know. They’re probably looking for me... How long was I out? It couldn’t have been...

He probably convinced them that you’re dead. They won’t be looking for you, but he’ll try to find a way to kill you so he can make sure you don’t ruin his plans. You were asleep for about a week.

A week? No. If I’d gotten hit on the head, that couldn’t have taken me out for a whole week. What the hell was this woman talking about? Do you have a phone? I need to talk to Meg or anyone. If she was pretending to be helpful, then she’d have to give in to my request. If I call Meg, she’ll know I’m alive and then...

There are more traitors among your men than you think. Your husband’s a sneaky bastard. If you call them, they’ll use it to track you down... to track us down... and I can’t let that happen. I don’t think they’d believe you. The doctor kept you asleep because he thought that was for the best. We didn’t know if we’d have to move and we didn’t have all the equipment to make sure you were fine... but yesterday, we finally got here, and he made sure it was safe for you to wake up. I know you’re still confused, but I’m sure you’ll remember everything soon. I can help you get what’s yours back. But first you need to get better.

The door opened again and Pierre came back in, holding a small bottle and a syringe. He started toward me, and I recoiled.

Don’t worry. It’s just some meds for the pain, Patricia said. They’ll only make you feel better and won’t put you to sleep. Okay?

I didn’t have a chance to answer, because the doctor had already taken hold of my arm. As the syringe pierced my skin, I was sifting through my memories, but there was no way for me to tell if Patricia was telling the truth. If she was really my aunt, would she want to hurt me? I supposed I was going to find out.

Chapter 2

THERE WAS A TINY CHANCE that my aunt—yeah, it looked like Patricia was really my aunt—was telling the truth. I didn’t want to jump to any conclusions, so I’d been taking things slow. It didn’t look like she was going to hurt me, at least not yet. More than anything, I wanted to talk to and see James, but what if he had betrayed me?

Why would my aunt lie about everything and what did she want? If she was the stalker, then she would’ve had a deal with the Santanos, so there would be no need for all this. Over the past few days, I was getting better and the pain was subsiding, but my memory was still full of holes. Well, I remembered everything up to the point where I was supposed to save James, or at least I thought I did.

James had wanted me to save his family, and if I wasn’t wrong, I’d done that and they were at my house now, but so was James, and I supposed there was a tiny possibility that he’d played me. He could’ve made a deal with the Santanos and manipulated me into handing him over the power, but even though I was sure I’d been talking to Alberto Santano, I couldn’t for the life of me remember what we’d been discussing.

At times, my aunt’s words seemed to be true, and I could see glimpses of what might have happened, but I couldn’t be sure if the memories were real or if they were fueled by my thoughts or my aunt’s story.

My mind was trying to fill in the holes, and I supposed that whoever had attacked me had whacked me in the head really, really hard. According to the doctor, my memory was likely to return, but it might take days or weeks, depending on how much trauma my brain had suffered.

I strolled down