Chapter 1
TWISTED MAFIA VOWS
CHAPTER ONE
SERENITY CICHELLO
GAME ON
“Let’s go, Stallions!” I cheer, waving my pom-pom in the air, shaking it wildly grinning from ear to ear. Holding that fantastic plastic smile everyone loves to see during the heat of the game. Especially when we’re winning.
We look amazing in our white cheerleading uniforms trimmed in navy and orange. Our orange and navy pom poms make the uniform pop as well.
“Is it me or is Jayden looking this way?” Melissa asks still looking forward.
“Serenity, Nico has looked at you twice now,” Nore says between our cheers on my left.
Melissa elbows me. “A junior’s checking you out. Nice.”
She fans her pom-poms and yells, “Go team.”
“Go Jayden,” she whispers under her breath.
He just so happens to look her way. She has a crush on him. But she plays hard to get so he has no idea.
Nico, number thirty-five, sprints toward the end zone, eyes over his shoulder, gloved hands raised. The quarterback launches the ball—it spirals through the air like magic.
Everyone in the stands shot to their feet, roaring. “Go, go, go!”
The football smacks into Nico’s palms just as a pack of Panthers closed in. His cleats kiss the goal line the same second a defender dove for his legs. Nico crashes to the turf, arms locked tight around the ball.
“Touchdown!” he shouts.
The field explodes. Total chaos.
We jump, scream, wave our pom-poms like maniacs. “Way to go, Stallions!”
Then Nico’s eyes met mine—right there from the end zone. Or at least it felt like it.
I’m probably reading way too much into this whole Nico-likes-me thing.
After the game, I laugh and chat with my friends from the cheer team en route to the locker room.
“Serenity, Serenity,” I hear from behind.
I glance over my shoulder and notice Nico jogging toward me. Eyes wide as saucers, I turn my head and focus on the building. My heart races in my chest. What is he doing?
Melissa tugs my arm. “Play it cool, Serenity.”
I wasn’t imagining him staring at me from the field goal line.
“Serenity,” he calls again and gingerly grabs my arm.
I halt and take a deep breath.
“Great game, Nico,” Nore says.
“Thanks.”
“Tell Jayden, I have a boyfriend,” Melissa states.
Nico chuckles. “Yeah, let him tell it he’s your boyfriend.”
Melissa rolls her eyes then curls an arm around my neck. “We’ll see you in the locker room.”
She snickers under her breath as she struts toward the building whispering to Nore.
Nico steps in front of me, gripping his helmet in his hand.
His short inky hair is tousled all over his head in this way that makes him look even more gorgeous, if that’s possible.
Grass stains litter his white, navy, and gold uniform.
The shoulder pads under his jersey shirt only intensifies how hot this guy is.
I’ve never let my eyes linger too long on him.
That’s a lie. I’m discreet. I stare when he’s looking ahead in class or when he’s in the hallway walking to class.
Getting caught up in guys isn’t something I can do.
They’re a distraction. Not to mention they can be pure evil.
Sometimes sugary sweet to get what they want.
You know they’ll say all the right things.
‘You are the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.
I want to spend every waking moment with you.
’ All lies. My friend Candice will never be the same after a boy tricked her into sex with his sugary sweet words.
I can’t fall for these boys’ tactics. So I keep my guard up.
But this guy. This guy I happen to be attracted to. Laughing and joking with him has to seem innocent so I don’t let my guard down.
Serenity, look away before he thinks he can have you. Own you in ways guys do in romance books and movies.
“Hey,” he says staring down at me.
“Great game.” I flash my megawatt smile.
“Thanks.” The angular jaw on this guy could cut stone. His grin is beautiful.
“I feel like you’ve been avoiding me.” He brushes a stray hair that’s escaped my ponytail behind my ear.
And my heart beats a million miles a minute.
“I speak when I see you.” My smile is pleasant.
“Throwing up a hand while staring straight ahead says I’m speaking because I feel like I have to but don’t want to,” he adds.
I have no idea what he’s talking about. I’ve known him since I transferred to Mercy High in Elizabeth, NJ back in ninth grade. We’ve always run in the same circle—same friends, same parties, same everything.
Not to mention we’re from the same world.
The mafia underworld. But lately I’ve noticed he’s watched me with longing in his eyes.
I try to ignore it. It’s probably a boy thing.
Noticing me as more than just a cool person, but more for my curvy body and pretty face.
He wants what all guys want at his age. Sex.
That’s why I wave and stare straight ahead.
To avoid this. The obvious attraction we have to each other.
The magnetic pull between us that causes cheerleaders to perform back flips in my belly.
“Again, great game. See you later.” I step to the side.
He steps with me. “Now you can’t say my name.”
I can still feel his eyes on me. My eyes bore into his chest.
“Nico.” I visibly swallow. “I have to go.”
His index finger raises my chin until our eyes meet.
“Stop avoiding me. Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he growls.
I take a step back because his fingers on my flesh twice in less than six minutes is too much.
“I’m starving. And my friends are waiting for me,” I tell him.
“Yeah, like every week after a game, we go to Tony’s pizza. I will see you there, Serenity. And tomorrow night we’re going out alone.”
I chuckle. “You can’t make me go out with you.”
He inches closer, getting in my space. A smirk kicks up at the end of his lips. “I can because you’re mine now.”
My heart plummets to my feet.
His gaze cuts across the parking lot as he throws his helmet in the air. “Hey Felix, what a win tonight, huh?” His deep voice rattles my insides because I’m so close to him.
And with that, he places a hand on the small of my back, guiding me toward the building as he talks to his friend like I really do belong to him.
I walk faster and he grabs my cheer uniform, pulling me back to his side. This time his hand clamps down on my hip.
This overbearing jock thinks he’s going to keep me glued to his side. Absolutely not. I have news for him.
Finally, he releases me outside the girls’ locker room.
“Great game, Felix.” I smirk.
“Thanks, Serenity.” Felix runs his fingers through his blond strands.
I attempt to turn on my heels and Nico whispers in my ear. “See you at Tony’s. Tomorrow, I’ll be at your house at five in the evening.”
I exhale. “Nico, I’m not going out with you.”
He walks backwards. “We’ll see about that.”