Not Safe

By Olivia Ashers

I witnessed something that I shouldn't have. Something so terrible that it plagues my nightmares.

I know that if I tell someone about it, my life will be in danger, so my plan is to keep my head down and hope the whole thing blows over.

But the more times passes, the more I'm sure someone's watching me and following my every step. And then I find proof that my stalker is real and not a figment of my tortured imagination.

His name is Nero Tirelli, and he's the son of a notorious mafia boss.

Even though his father is set on killing me, Nero has a proposition for me. He wants me to marry him in exchange for his protection.

His darkness and his obsession with me terrify me, but his mysteriousness intrigues me and his magnetism makes me crave him more than anything else.

I may be safe from his father.

But my heart is not safe from him.

.


A standalone mafia romance. Mature language and content.
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olivia Ashers
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201174774

Book preview

Chapter 1

victoria

I RACED TO THE DOOR, my keys jingling in my hand. As soon as I unlocked it, I burst into my family’s apartment.

While I kicked off my shoes and slid on my slippers, I tossed my black purse and the keys onto the cabinet in the hallway. I padded over the dark red carpet as I shrugged out of my jacket.

When I reached the kitchen, my sister looked up at me, one of her hands resting on the open fridge door. Her hazel eyes narrowed at me as she observed me, her straight light brown hair tied up into a tight ponytail.

Hey, I said. I’m sorry I’m late. My boss wanted me to stay—

Yeah, I know. She closed the fridge. It’s like you work for the president, not at a clothes store. Will he at least pay you extra?

I sighed. I don’t know. I hope so.

With my boss, it was hard to tell. He usually found some excuse not to pay me for any extra hours, but if I didn’t do them, I’d get fired, and I needed my job.

You look like shit, she said.

Thanks, Layla. I really appreciate that, especially when it’s coming from my baby sister. I flashed her a smile.

She shrugged. Sorry, but it’s true. Do you think you could get me the employee discount? I need a new sweater. She lifted the sleeve of her light purple sweater that was already ripped at the seam.

I could swear things broke or got worn out way too quickly these days, or maybe time was passing by too quickly.

One day after another.

Always the same.

Yeah. Sure. I’ll get you a new sweater. It looked like I was going to make my boss happy because I was sure he’d give me the discount in exchange for the extra hours I did.

A smile spread across her lips. Thanks.

Where’s Nana? I put on an apron and strode to the fridge to grab the meal I’d prepared last night.

I’d have to heat it up and add a few more things, but it would be done quicker than if I were making it from scratch.

Um, she’s in her room, watching some stupid show.

How’s school? Did you do your homework?

It’s fine, and yeah, I did. She furrowed her brow. I’m not a kid anymore. You don’t have to ask every time.

My sister was sixteen, and even though I was only five years older than her, we barely even had anything in common to talk about.

I was at work all day. She was at school.

We only got to see each other for a few hours every day, and sometimes, she went out with her friends or studied at her best friend’s house, so I saw her even less.

But since I was the only person in my small family who worked since Nana had retired, and I wanted my sister to fully focus on school, I figured we just had to survive this period of our lives, no matter how difficult it seemed.

I’d always known things wouldn’t be easy, but I intended to save some money and maybe get a promotion and a better paycheck.

If Layla’s grades stayed the way they were, she’d get a scholarship and she’d be able to go to college.

Maybe I’d had to give up on my college dream because I had to take care of her and Nana, but Layla deserved to have her chance at a better life.

My nana deserved better too. She was walking with more and more difficulty, and while Layla and I were away, she spent her days watching TV. Soon, I’d have to find someone to help her out and keep her company.

And yet, whenever I checked my bank account, my dreams and goals seemed less and less realistic. But I wasn’t going to give up.

I couldn’t.

I’d do anything for my sister and my nana.

Without Nana, Layla and I would’ve had no one to take care of us when Sophie had abandoned us. Sophie might have given birth to Layla and me, but she wasn’t our mother.

She’d never be. She hadn’t even bothered to tell us who Layla’s and my father was, not even if it was the same man.

Not that it mattered, because I didn’t think anyone was desperately trying to find us, and my sister was always going to be my sister, even if we didn’t share a father.

Sophie had grown up in this apartment, which belonged to my nana, and she’d lived here until she left. My sister and I had always lived here too, so it was impossible not to find us.

Is the food going to be ready soon? Layla’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I’m starving.

Yeah. Give me a few minutes. I crouched to grab a pan from the cabinet. And please help Nana to the dining room.

Okay. Layla’s lips spread into a small smile before she strolled through the door.

I focused on preparing the meal.

When I opened the fridge, I groaned. We were almost out of tomatoes again. I’d have to go shopping soon or maybe send Layla to do it.

Tori! Your phone’s ringing! Layla yelled from the hallway.

Crap!

I wiped my hands on a dishcloth and hurried to get my phone that was in my purse, but when I reached it, it stopped ringing.

My boss’ number was on the screen.

Well, my other boss, Sam.

At night, I usually cleaned Sam’s restaurant after it closed for extra cash, but Sam’s closing hours varied a lot, especially if someone rented the restaurant for a party.

Sam’s place was very popular for anniversaries and birthdays. For those who could afford to throw a private party, of course.

I was about to call him back when a text popped up on the screen.

9 pm.

It was all the text said.

He just expected me to be there and hadn’t even asked if I had anything else planned.

But he didn’t need to ask. He knew I’d be there. It wasn’t like I had anything better to do or that I could afford to lose the money.

I returned my phone to my purse.

Tori! Layla yelled again.

What now?

Something’s burning!

Aw crap!

I raced back to the kitchen.

My sister was holding the frying pan.

It’s fine. I took the pan from her, and she scrunched her nose. I’ll take any burnt pieces for myself, okay? You’ll get all the good ones.

Whatever. She disappeared through the door.

I kept glancing up at the clock on the wall that relentlessly ticked as I hurried to get the meal done as quickly as possible.

But some things just couldn’t be rushed.

Layla! I called as I poured out a mix of vegetables onto a plate.

What? She poked her head through the door a few moments later.

Help me with the plates. I grabbed two and headed to the dining room.

There you are, honey, Nana said.

Her lips were spread into a smile, her brown eyes watching me carefully as I placed the plates on the table. She tucked a thin strand of her dark brown hair behind her ear.

I have to be at Sam’s at nine, I said. Do you need anything before I go?

Will you have the time to go to the cemetery? It’s the anniversary of your grandpa’s passing. I wish more than anything that I could go myself, but I know you’re busy and I can’t stay on my feet too long. The corners of her eyes filled with unshed tears.

Grandpa died when I was very little, and I didn’t really remember him much, but Nana did. She still missed him every day.

Yes, of course. I’ll get the flowers and visit his grave on my way to Sam’s.

Thank you, honey. She placed her hand over mine, squeezing lightly. You don’t know how much that means to me.

I spread my lips into a smile.

For my family, I’d do anything.

Anything.

I GLANCED AT THE TIME on my phone as I raced out of the flower shop. It had taken me longer than expected to find the flowers, and now I didn’t have much time left if I wanted to get to Sam’s.

The sky had already turned dark, and the chilly air seeped through my old jacket, but I strode forward, toward the cemetery.

I’d made a promise to Nana, and I was going to fulfill it.

It was a good thing I could find my grandpa’s grave with ease because I already knew exactly where to go, even with only the moonlight lighting my way.

I placed the flowers on my grandpa’s grave and whispered a prayer like my nana would’ve done if she were here.

A chilling scream pierced the air, making me jump, a gasp escaping my throat.

My heart rate sped up.

What was that?

I rushed in the direction of the sound. Maybe someone was in trouble. It was dark, and someone could’ve tripped and fallen.

Or some kids had gathered again to have a party and get drunk or stoned, and one of them had gotten hurt.

I zigzagged through the graves until I saw a group of people standing in car lights.

My eyes widened when I took in the scene in front of me, and I stopped, frozen on the spot.

Three bodies lay on the ground, and two of them were missing their heads.

Some of the men who were watching the bodies had rifles or some similar weapons in their hands.

One of the men held a machete and brought it down on another body that was missing both arms.

My brain was having trouble processing it all when a pair of piercing eyes of one of the men lifted to me.

And then others looked at me too.

I gasped, spinning around, and broke into a run, pushing my legs as fast as they would go.

My heart thudded loudly in my chest.

I ran faster than I’d ever run.

If I stopped or tripped, I was going to die.

I didn’t stop or slow down.

Chapter 2

nero

MY GAZE LIFTED TO MY father’s before I raised my hand to signal to everyone to stay put. I could handle the woman who’d seen us on my own.

I liked a good chase, and she’d taken off and was racing through the cemetery. But she wasn’t going to get far.

Gripping my gun in my hand, I broke into a run and rushed after her.

Her long dark brown hair was flying behind her as she reached the street. It was dark, and this area was usually deserted at night.

Sometimes, a few drunks who didn’t know any better lurked around, but almost everyone knew to stay out of this area on a Monday night.

Everyone who knew dangerous people prowled the cemetery.

Except her.

There was no way she’d find someone to help her, and she’d raced right past the empty parking lot, which meant she didn’t have a car.

She was just unlucky.

In the wrong place at the wrong time.

And she was going to die for it.

My father and I didn’t want to risk her going to the cops and telling them what she’d seen, and she’d seen plenty.

The three drug dealers who’d thought they could steal from my family and get away with it had learned otherwise tonight, and their bodies would end up in whatever grave my father picked for them.

It would be easy to clean up the mess and get rid of any evidence.

Not that anyone would care about that scum.

Most would be glad they were gone, and their competitors were going to be happy to take their place.

But first I had to catch the woman.

She was surprisingly fast.

Instead of going in the direction of a more populated area or the nearest police station, she was running somewhere else.

Stupid decision on her part.

If she could even think under pressure.

Some people’s brains froze in situations like this one, and they did stupid things.

But it was good for me. Less chance someone would see me once I grabbed her.

She didn’t turn around.

Didn’t look back.

Her black sneakers were slapping against the pavement.

I lifted my gun, trying to get in a shot to end the chase before she reached one of the brightly lit streets.

She slipped into a dark alley before I could pull the trigger.

Fuck.

But she wasn’t going to outrun me. I was getting closer and closer.

I followed her into the alley, and when I reached the end, I mumbled a curse under my breath. She was racing across the street toward a restaurant that was still full of light.

A chubby, bald man stood in front of the door.

I pressed myself against the wall in the shadows, watching. Now I’d have to kill them both before they called the cops.

You’re late! the man yelled at the woman.