The Mafia Contract Series

ALESSANDRO

It makes me so proud bringing Winter to Club Mafia. Now it’s complete. We are all back together and I can’t wait to discover what that means for her memory.

We head inside and I nod as Roberto meets us as always, and from the number of soldiers crowding every exit, I’m guessing we’re the last to arrive.

This time Roberto doesn’t direct us to the main hall. The one Angelo usually prefers to greet us. We are heading to a much more personal place that I’m anxious to visit with the woman holding my hand so tightly.

“Where are we going?”

She stares around her in awe, and I tease, “You’ll see.”

Her eyes widen as she senses a shock coming and I laugh softly. “Hopefully it will be a pleasant surprise, perhaps even something that will bring your memory back.”

She appears curious and as we reach the end of the long marble tiled corridor, Roberto opens the door and announces our arrival.

“Mr. Majerio and Miss. Sontauro.”

I don’t do emotion but I’m experiencing every bit of it now, on hearing our names spoken out loud, announcing we’re together at last. If I’m feeling it, God only knows what the people inside must be thinking and as we pass Roberto into the room, it’s as if time has re-winded and we are back at our house at Rockwell Academy.

Every inch of it is exactly as we left it. The layout, the furniture, even the paint on the walls. It’s a replica of the first home we ever shared together, and it’s as if we’re walking from the present straight back to the past.

Angelo looks up from the couch and grins, the pleasure in seeing his sister evident in his usually guarded eyes. He stands and I note Flynn watching from his usual position in the corner, crouching in his favorite chair, the emotion pushing away the madness in his eyes for once.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Ivan turns around from his preferred position in front of the television and Malik glances up from his laptop placed on the nearby table.

As we head inside, Angelo growls playfully, “What took you so long? We nearly ate all the pizza.”

Winter tenses beside me and openly stares at the familiar scene. It’s as if the past two years never happened as we are transported back in time. My friends have managed to even dress the same as they did back then, and it means a lot knowing they have gone to so much trouble.

Winter appears lost for words and for a moment, I think every person in this room holds their breath.

Then she says with a quiver in her voice, “Maybe someone had better call Emma from upstairs. Not Flynn though, promise me that at least.”

As the tears spill from her eyes, I sense the relief from every last one of us. At least one thing worked. She remembers something and as Angelo reaches his sister, his arms wrap around her so tightly I’m sure she can’t breathe. For a moment, we let them have this. Brother and sister–twins, where they should be, looking out for one another, ready to take on the world. There’s a lump in my throat that shouldn’t be there. I don’t do emotion, which is noted by Ivan, who growls, “What’s this? Have you become a weak pussy since we last met?”

He steps forward and thumps me playfully and as we hug it out, I don’t ever want to be anywhere else than with these people, back in time when we still had everything to play for.

Winter

The relief is overwhelming. I remember. It’s as if I only stepped out for a class and now I’m back with the men who mean the most to me in the world. They’ve always been my guys and I remember everything. The fights they had and the arrogance they wore like a favorite sweater. I remember being so angry when they tried to control me and yet I loved every last one of them for just being them.

When I saw Angelo heading toward me, I almost fell into his arms. It’s so good to be back among the people I love, and I only wish I could shake the pain I’m living with right now. It’s not over. I know that for fact, and I wish like crazy I could remember something that is so important to me.

As Angelo pulls away, another worried face comes into view, and I stare at Flynn with tears in my eyes.

“I won’t break, you know.”

He steps forward and wraps those strong arms around me much like my brother just did and as I hug him back hard, he whispers, “Good to have you home where you belong.”

“I missed you, Flynn.” I tighten my grip and he laughs softly. “You’re just saying that. I’m guessing you don’t even remember me.”

I pull away and stare up in astonishment because I do remember him, very well, in fact. I also remember a meeting where he was accompanied by a woman who looked a lot like Emma, and it confuses me a little and I say with a curious edge to my voice, “Did you marry Emma?” He laughs out loud and shakes his head. “Not quite, but Louisa shares certain similarities with her. What can I say? I have a type.”

He winks, which causes me to grin, and then a rough arm drops around my shoulder and a low growl whispers in my ear, “My turn now.”

Spinning around, I fall into Ivan’s arms, and he brushes his lips against my cheek and whispers, “Welcome home, my angel.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

He says abruptly, reminding me he isn’t one for sentiment.

“For helping me come home.”

The ever-present tears stream down my face, which he wipes away with his fingers and says softly, “Did you really think you’d get away from us, angel? Your brother gave us strict instructions, remember?”

I nod, laughing, “I do remember. I remember how happy I was here living with you guys. Not all the time, but most of it.”

I turn when another familiar face steps into view and I say slightly shyly, “Malik. It’s good to see you.”

Of all the guys, he is the least emotional, and it surprises me the most when he pulls me roughly into his arms and sighs with relief. “At last. Welcome home princess, we missed you.”

As we hug it out, four more men force their way in, and we must look a disturbing sight all huddled together like a football team at the Super Bowl.

After a while, I say slightly breathlessly, “Did somebody say pizza?”

As the others drift off, one man remains and as I fall naturally by his side, I’m so happy I could cry. I’m back where I belong, with the people who love me the most but there is an overwhelming sadness that is reminding me this isn’t over yet.