The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

“I don’t want to talk, Noah. Get the hell out of my sight!” I snapped at the photographer in front of me, who watched me with dull eyes and still tried to speak to me.

“Ashley__”

“Oh fuck off,” I growled and walked past him. I didn’t know how someone could be such a pest. Like dude, get the fucking hint. I don’t want to speak with you. I don’t want to hang out with you. I don’t want to go on a date with you. Just leave me the hell alone. I was tired and needed a break. I had so much on my plate and I didn’t need him adding to it with his childish infatuation.

I got into my car and slammed the door shut. I ignited the engine and made to drive out of the parking lot when my phone sounded with a loud ding. I groaned and picked up my handbag, searching for my phone. I took it out and unlocked it.

And then, my blood ran cold at the text that popped up on my screen.

???????

?????, ?? ????h,

???? ? ?????? ??? ?h?? ????? ?? ???????? ? ???’? ???? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ?h???? ??? ??????’? ????, ????h. ? ???? ?? ??????. ??’? ???h?? ? ??? ?? ???.

What the fuck?

How did he even get my number? I sat up in my seat, my eyes wandering around the parking lot that looked as normal as it could ever be. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, fear crawled up my spine and my eyes glistened with hot tears. My hands gave the phone away and I shuddered, heaving a bruised breath. I squeezed my eyes shut and the tears dropped. I soon broke down into loud sobs, occasional sniffs, and hiccups leaving my lips.

I knew I couldn’t hide this from them anymore. Ivana and Dawn needed to know what was going on. So, I picked up my phone and sent a text to them.

Me.

There’s something you two should know. Meet up at my place in thirty minutes.

I hit the send button and threw my phone on the seat beside me. I fastened my seatbelt and drove out of the parking lot. An unnerving silence reigned in the air and I could feel the air on my nape starting to erect, a metallic taste rolling off my tongue, which made it so difficult for me to swallow my spit because it tasted like toxicity. I could feel my heart in my mouth as I looked down at my fingers, tugging at the hem of my sweatshirt. After dropping the bombshell and telling them what went down, without holding back any information, they just became frozen, not uttering a word and leaving me a nervous train wreck.

A tear dropped on my hands and I looked up to meet Dawn’s teary blue eyes, but that wasn’t what scared me. It was the pure, undiluted, and chilling rage that clouded her eyes, alongside hurt and disappointment. Ivana’s expression was just blank. I couldn’t read it. A shaky sigh escaped Dawn’s lips and she rose to her feet, punching her palms and pacing around in circles.

“Dawn…” Ivana trailed off.

“Please, don’t speak to me, Ivana. I might lose my shit if you say a word to me… just let me be. Let me think.” She shunned Ivana, who didn’t look like she was going to back down from trying to talk to her.

“Dawn, sit down, and let’s talk.” Ivana urged, and she scoffed.

“Oh really?” Dawn chuckled, mirthlessly.

“Daw__” I barely spoke before she came for me.

“Not one word from you, Ashley Evaline Miller, and fvck you!” She bellowed harshly at me and I let out a shaky breath, tears streaming down my face. This was it. My worst fear finally came to pass. My friends see me as a whore. A fvcking bitch that opened her legs for any man that gives her a nickname.

“DAWN DAWSON, SIT THE FVCK DOWN!” Ivana commanded, audaciously, her stern tone giving no room for argument. I watched as Dawn plopped down on the couch that was far away from where I sat, looking straight ahead. Ivana shifted to where I sat and cupped my face so I could look at her, but I couldn’t bring myself to. I was so ashamed of myself.

“Ashley, please, look at me.” She urged, her voice breaking. I shook my head, tears streaming down my face.

“Ashley, please…” She pleaded and when I finally looked into her amber eyes. She still had a smile on her face but they were so glassy as she was trying so hard to rein her tears in.

“Did you guys at least use protection?” She asked me.

“I…I… yes, yes, he did. I don’t know what to do, Ivana. I’m so screwed. I slept with a Mafia boss, who wouldn’t let me go until I became his wife. I don’t want to marry him, Ivie. I can’t marry him. This man is so ruthless and has not even the tiniest bit of human feelings.” I spoke, sniffing.

“We are going to fix this, but Ashley, have we ever made you feel like you are alone? Like we are going to judge you for something you had no control over? You got drunk and lost your V card, Ashley. So? Shit happens! We are your best friends. Why do you always keep things from us?” Ivana asked, her voice drawn to a whisper.

“I don’t think we were ever her friends, Ivana.” Dawn snorted.

“Shut the fuck up, Dawn! If you are not going to be a supportive friend right now, you might as well leave. She made a mistake! She knows! There’s no use in getting mad at her!” Ivana rose to her feet. She was yelling now! She rarely lost her cool.

“Look at the girl for goodness sake! She’s vulnerable, Dawn and all she needs right now are her best friends! Not someone whining into her ears to make her feel more terrible than she is.” Ivana continued, her rage still evident in her voice.

I hated this. My best friends were fighting because of me.

“When exactly are you going to realize that being angry isn’t always going to solve the problem? It will only worsen the whole thing. God, Dawn, you are just so hard to understand. I get that you are hurt and angry at her. Heck, I am too! But you don’t see me screaming her ears off and that’s because there are certain orders to things,”

“This? You can do better than this, Dawnie. You can do better.” Ivana uttered softly. I watched Dawn drop to the couch and buried her head in her palms, sobbing so hard.

“I’m just so mad because she has been going through something this bad and wouldn’t speak up about her feelings. I’m mad because my best friend is in so much pain and I can’t do anything to help her when she won’t even open up to us.” Dawn sobbed, and Ivana squatted in front of her, rubbing her legs.

“She’s opening up to us now, so why don’t you give her a shoulder to lean on right now?” Ivana asked. Dawn heaved a loud breath and got up from where she sat, sauntering over to my place and throwing herself in my arms, crying so hard.

I broke down. Again.

“I’m so sorry. I know I say this all the time but I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you, girls. I was just scared of dragging you into a fight that wasn’t yours, to begin with.” I sobbed and Ivana took my hands in hers, smiling at me.

“We are not just friends, Ashley. We are sisters and we don’t run off when the going gets tough. We face it together. As a family. We’ll figure this out. I promise you.” Ivana answered. Dawn got out of my arms and wiped my tears, dropping a long soft kiss on my hair and I sighed.

“Thank you,” I told them, patting my tears off my face.

“I just feel so light-hearted.” I chuckled and they giggled.

“Do you want to move in with me?” Dawn asked, peering at me.

“No, Dawn. I will be fine. I promise you. I will be very careful.” I countered, shaking my head sideways with a smile on my face.

“Are you sure? Or do you think we can talk to the police about this?” Ivana shifted closer, picking up her phone from her bag but I was so quick to snatch it from her grasp.

“No police,” I said sternly.

The duo looked like they were going to protest, but I shook my head.

“Girls, promise me. No police.” I frowned, stretching my pinky forward. They stared at my finger for a while, then I arched a brow at them before they finally intertwined their pinkies with mine.

“Fine,”

“Whatever you say,”

I giggled and enveloped them in a hug, smiling with teary eyes. I was extremely grateful that I had these girls in my corner because I wasn’t sure what I was going to do without them.

“I love you, girls.”

“Aww, Ashley boo. We love you too.” They responded and we giggled, nudging each other like idiots. Nothing could be better than this. Facing my problems squarely with these girls by my side. There was nothing that could go wrong with them by my side, but how wrong I was….

So wrong…