Mafia Obsession

Kane

I watch Rick, waiting for the signal. He gives me a nod and Leo cracks his neck, ready to charge in there. My fingers find the handle of my gun and I draw it, and flip the safety off. I give Leo a quick nod before bursting through the door, aiming the trigger toward the first body I see.

It’s not Alex. A large muscled guy is standing there in black, his hand goes for his gun, but he’s too slow. I pull the trigger, shooting his hand and forcing him to retreat. I glance over to Leo to find his gun pointed at Alex, eyes narrowed.

Alex drops to his knees with his hands in the air. “Please, don’t shoot. I beg you to show mercy,” he sobs, making me sick to my stomach.

The guy is the biggest coward I’ve ever met. If you don’t want any shit, don’t fuck with the strongest mob in North America. There’s no fucking chance this man is leaving these woods alive-not this time. Rick steps in behind us, gun out and aimed at Alex too.

I walk passed Alex without a word, leaving my brothers to keep watch over him and the guy whose hand I shot. Jasmine is all that matters right now. The blood is pumping through my veins, as I open each door, finding every room empty. The longer I search, the more frustrated I get.

I growl deeply, returning to the living room. I’m ready to kill the little prick sobbing his eyes out, but I need to find her first. “Where the fuck is she?” I ask, picking Cavino up by his neck.

He shakes like a leaf as I pin him against the wall, glaring at him. I frown as I feel warm liquid soaking into my trousers. “Fucking hell,

Cavino.” I drop him to the floor, staring at him in disgust. He just pissed himself and on me. This is getting worse by the fucking minute.

“Kane,” a distant shout from below catches my attention. I wait in silence for a moment and hear it again. It’s Jasmine, and she’s beneath us. He’s got her in the basement of this cabin. I notice the door in the corner of the kitchen and rush toward it.

The blood pumping hard and fast through my veins, setting me on edge. I fling it open, rushing down the steps into a cavernous darkness. It’s pitch black down here. How the fuck can this asshole treat his own step-daughter this way?

“Jasmine,” I shout her name, trying to squint and see through the darkness.

“Kane, over here,” she says, weakly.

I follow her voice and find her on the floor, the white of her dress visible in the darkness. I relax, seeing her alive and okay, sitting there staring up at me. Her blue eyes cut through the darkness. I wrap my arms around her waist and hoist her up, lifting her. Jasmine wraps her arms my neck, sobbing gently as I carry her up the stairs and into the cabin.

I set her down on a small sofa in one corner and my body tenses at the state of her face. A large gash runs from her mouth up her cheek and she has multiple bruises. I see red and don’t even say a word, as I rush toward Alex with my fists clenched.

“You hurt my woman,” I yell, punching him hard in the face, so hard the crack echoes around the cabin. His jaw goes slack and he can’t even speak, because I’ve broken it. I keep punching, losing all control over my restraint.

A small squeal from behind me stops me in my tracks. I turn around to see Jasmine staring at me with wide eyes, her mouth ajar. It takes all my strength to claw back some control, as I glance back at Alex’s bloodied face. I intend to kill him, but she doesn’t need to see this level of violence.

“Rick, take Jasmine to the car,” I say steadily.

She stands to her own feet. “No, I want to see the bastard die for what he did.” I watch her as she walks toward me, shaking her head. “Give me the gun.” She holds her hand out.

I shake my head, stepping away from her. “Jasmine, I’m not bringing you into this life.” The thought of her pulling the trigger, turning her into a monster like me makes my chest ache. Jasmine is good, pure and sweet everything I’m not. As I look into her eyes, I realize I’m corrupting her- this is all my fault.

“I’m already part of this life, Kane.” She takes my hand in hers. “I want my life to be with you and that makes me part of this.”

I squeeze her small hands in mine. “Yes, but murdering someone changes you. I don’t want you to go through that, not today or ever.”

Her jaw clenches slightly, and she glances between me and her step- father. “Fine, I won’t do it, but I’ll stay.”

I pull her close to me, kissing her forehead gently. “I’d rather you don’t witness it, baby girl.”

Her eyes soften as she gazes into my eyes. “It won’t change how I feel about you.”

I swallow hard, wishing that were true. She doesn’t realize what murder really does to you, witnessing it or carrying it out, either way it changes you. “Please, for me,” I say, trying to beg her to step outside.

Her eyes search mine for a beat, and then she nods. “Okay, I’ll step outside and wait for you.”

Relief floods my chest as she walks away, opening the door and leaving the scene behind her. My attention returns to Alex, lying on the ground in a bloody mess.

Alex is on his knees, crying like the coward he is. It is proof that I should always trust my instincts. The first time I let him live, I knew I was making a mistake. Jasmine and I would have found each other somehow, that’s something I’m sure of. “Please, have mercy,” he holds his hands out, squinting through his busted-up eye.

“No chance in hell, not after what you pulled.” I shake my head. “The first time you fucked with us, I thought you would have learned your lesson. No one gets a second chance with the Romano family.”

I step toward him, feeling angry that he would ever do this to a woman so sweet as Jasmine. It proves to me how much of a low life he really is. My hand closes around his throat, lifting him from the floor. The moment he’s on his feet, I punch him in the face again and again, unable to contain my rage.

It’s not until Rick steps to my side, placing his hand on my shoulder that I snap out of the brutal rage I’d flown into. “I can do it for you, brother.”

I shake my head, knowing it has to be me that ends this son of a bitch. Once the word spreads about this, everyone will know not to fuck with my woman. They’ll know how much I care about her, but also what I’ll do to anyone who goes near her again. “It has got to be me.”

Rick nods, slipping his hand under my jacket and grabbing my gun. “There’s no need to do it with your bare hands. End it quick.” He passes the gun into my hand and then stands by the door, guarding it.

I lift my gun, fixing a silencer to the end. Blood coating my knuckles and clothes. The moment I point it in his direction he attempts to make off, but I’m too quick. The gun shot rings out, and he drops to a heap on the floor. Blood flowing like a river from the headshot wound, staining the wood floor crimson.

I hate how desensitized I am to murder. Every time I kill I feel another part of me being torn away. I sell my soul to the devil every time I do something for this family. Even though I know I couldn’t have let Jasmine’s step-dad live, not after what he did, I wish I never had to kill anyone.

Leo’s hand lands on my shoulder, making me jump. “I’ll get the men to clear up the mess.”

I nod but don’t make a move to leave, my eyes still fixed to his lifeless body. This is my life and I’ve been at peace with that for a long while. Deep down there’s a part of me that is guilty-guilty for bringing Jasmine into this world. There’s no escape now, she’s part of this. The guilt feels like it will swallow me up and eat me whole.

“Are you okay?” Leo asks.

I turn to face my brother, noticing the concerned look on his face. “Yeah.” I shake my head. “I just wish I hadn’t brought Jasmine into this life.”

Leo sighs heavily, patting my back. “Jasmine loves you, it’s obvious.”

I feel surprised at my brother expressing such a sentiment. He’s normally always joking about.

“You’ve got a good one there, Kane. Hold on to her as hard as you fucking can.”

I nod, trying to let his words sink in. The thought of her seeing me like this, splattered in another man’s blood and broken inside, scares me. Jasmine would be the first person, other than my brothers, to see that vulnerable side of me. The side that is badly affected by the things I do day in and day out.

I sigh heavily, allowing myself to relax. Leo’s words easing some of the anxiety. If she loves me, she won’t care-at least, I hope that’s the case.

The one thing that scares me more than anything is losing the woman I love.