Her Desire: A Dark Whychoose Mafia Romance by Eve Newton

Author:Eve Newton [Newton, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catin Publishing
Published: 2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00

22

RYAN

Arhythmic pound echoes through the crisp air as the ball slams against the asphalt. Laughter skitters across the church grounds like wayward sparks. “C’mon, Ryan! No mercy!” a kid taunts, his eyes alight with the pure joy of the game.

“Careful what you wish for, Harry,” I chuckle, dribbling past him with ease born from years of avoiding far more than youthful jabs. The orange sphere sails from my fingertips, arcing towards the hoop. Nothing but net. A chorus of groans and cheers erupts around me, the simplicity of the moment a welcome relief from the intensity of the past few days.

For a second, I let myself bask in it.

Then it all comes crashing back down, and reality strikes like a snake in a tree.

Valentina.

Her appearance hits like a sucker punch to the gut, a vivid reminder that innocence is just a fleeting guest in our world.

Noticing the way her shoulders hunch, as if she’s carrying more than just the weight of her slender frame, her eyes are glazed over and dim. Her steps are tentative as she makes her way across the court.

“Time out!” I call, ignoring the collective groan from the kids. “Take five, guys.”

“Damn, Ryan, we’re on a roll here!”

“Life’s got its own game plan,” I say, a half-hearted attempt at humour, but my gaze stays locked on Valentina. As she nears, I see the dark circles haunting her porcelain skin, the way her lips press into a thin line, sealing away secrets I can only guess at.

“Valentina.”

There are no more words after this. Her name is everything and nothing all at the same time.

She forces a smile as brittle as dry autumn leaves. “Father Ryan.”

We remain quiet for a few seconds, the sound of the ball hitting the court the only sound puncturing the silence.

“Do you want to sit?” I gesture towards a bench overlooking the graveyard a few metres away.

“Sure.”

She follows me, moving with the kind of grace that hasn’t been tamed despite everything.

“Ryan, I...” She trails off, biting her lip. It’s clear she’s wrestling with words too heavy to carry alone.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.” I offer her a reassuring smile, though inside, my thoughts race with what is on her mind.

“Ryan, I—” She chokes on her words, the tremble in her voice a tightrope about to snap.

We sit next to each other on the bench, and her shoulders sag as she drops her head into her hands.

“What’s on your mind?” Usually, I wouldn’t press, but I have a feeling time is running out, and her husband will be along shortly to find her.

“Nothing... Everything...” She hesitates, and then she crumbles. “He’s suffocating me. Every day, it’s like I’m drowning in a life I never chose, marrying a monster I don’t love.”

Running a hand through my sweaty hair, I wish I could yank her out of that abyss. “I know you’re tangled up in some messed-up crap, but if you need a way out, I can help you find one.” The risk

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