Reckless Games (Reckless Mafia #1)

Prologue

12 Months Ago; Angela: 23, Lorenzo: 30

Lorenzo

I stood amidst the crowd, my eyes fixed on the casket as it descended into the waiting earth. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow, but I remained cold. My exterior was a facade of stoicism. Inside, my emotions lay dormant, buried beneath layers of ice. In the world of the mafia, showing vulnerability was akin to signing one's own death warrant.

My father—the former Capo of the Sicilian Mafia—now lay at rest. I could not afford to mourn. To do so would be to expose a chink in my armor—an invitation for rivals to strike. Not like I felt the need to anyway. Growing up in the mafia, emotional detachment becomes ingrained in our very essence. It flows through our veins like an unyielding current, shaping our every thought and action.

Although Sicily was my hometown, my roots ran deep throughout Italy. My name and reputation were well-known, and people were wise enough to turn and walk the other way when they saw me coming. It was safe to say that my mafia held dominance over both Sicily and Italy, realms that were not so different from one another.

I watched as the final clods of earth covered the casket, sealing my father's fate. In the unforgiving landscape of our reality, tears were the only luxury I gave up on at the age of twelve. Weakness was not an option.

My mind drifted to my father’s final words: 'In the harsh reality of our world, to reveal weakness is to court one's demise.’

He had expected me to follow in his footsteps and carry on his legacy. And so I did, for I was his only son.

“Lorenzo,” I turned to see Declan—the leader of the Irish Mafia—standing a few steps away from me. “I'm sorry for your loss. Emir and Leonardo couldn’t make it. However, they asked me to forward their condolences as well.” I gave him a single nod. Emir was the head of the Turkish Mafia, while Leonardo was leading the Spanish Mafia.

“Thanks for coming all the way. I appreciate it.”

"No need for formalities. There's a reason I established the order ," Declan said. He was the mastermind behind the Obsidian Order—an alliance, or, in other words, a peace treaty, between the four Mafias, obligating us to join forces in times of need. It was a strategic move, minimizing internal conflicts and bolstering our strength against a common threat. The rules were straightforward: no attacks or territorial disputes among us, and mutual defense in the face of external threats. We initially formed it to keep the trouble off of our heads, but over the years, the alliance developed into a friendship. “I wish I could stay longer, but there are a few things that need my attention.”

“Very well then,” we shook hands before he took his leave.

The funeral had ended, and my men were beginning to resume their duties when Giovanni—my right hand and most trusted man—interrupted me. “Antonio has been trying to reach you for a while.” I sighed, rolling my eyes. Of course, I just needed that. Note the sarcasm. I was about to tell Giovanni to let my uncle know I was busy, but he beat me to it. “Before you tell me to get him off your shoulder for the umpteenth time, know that he said it’s important.”

“Of course that snake would say that. He couldn’t be bothered about attending his brother’s funeral and expects me to see him.”

“Ok then,” he dismissed the topic. “I got a call from the base. The shipment has been received; the money was transferred.” Giovanni continued to follow me as I drove back to the mansion. The ride back was short, a total of five minutes, if not less.

“Good.” I entered my room, taking off my coat and loosening my tie before pulling it off and discarding it on the bed. “And the update on the weapons?”

“They have been cleared on the border. The truck will arrive at the base in two hours,” Giovanni answered. Dismissing him, I went to take a soothing shower.

Once done relaxing my muscles under the warm water, I came with a towel hanging loose on my waist when my phone’s ringtone broke the silence of the room. I frowned, looking at the fact that it was from an unknown number. Upon receiving it, I stayed quiet until the person on the other end finally decided to break the silence.

"So now I’m not even worthy of your greetings?" I rolled my eyes, realizing it was my greatest uncle calling from a different number. Probably because I never answer his personal one.

“How can I help you?” I was not in the mood for bullshit.

“Straight to the point, I see. Well, then have it your way since you are so unwilling to have a civil conversation. I thought I should let you know that I might have news on something that belonged to your father.” Could it be possible?

“What are you scheming thi—”

“The address and time will be texted. You know what to do after that,” he cut me off before hanging up. That rat.

***

"What if he's bluffing?" Giovanni's voice was laced with skepticism as we stepped into the dimly lit club.

"I know he is," I reassured him, my strides brimming with confidence. With each step, the crowd seemed to part effortlessly, granting us a path through the pulsating chaos of the club.

“Then why are we doing this?”

“There is something I want to find out.” The thumping bass of the music reverberated through the air, but it couldn't drown out the aura of authority that surrounded us. “Keep the men on alert.”

As we made our way through the club, one of my uncle's men recognized us from across the room. With a nod of acknowledgment, he approached, his eyes giving us a once-over before gesturing towards a secluded corner. Following his lead, we headed towards a private booth, the thumping bass of the music fading into the background as we stepped into the relative quiet of the secluded area. But just as Giovanni was about to enter, the man halted him with a firm hand on his chest.

"Boss only wants to see his nephew." Giovanni scowled, his annoyance evident, but I offered him a reassuring nod. "Wait here," I instructed him before following the man into the private booth. What surprised me, however, was the existence of another secret door inside the booth, leading to a room underground. As I stepped through, I was met with the sight of my uncle engaged in a game of cards with a few associates. Smoke from cigarettes hung in the air, and the room was surrounded by his armed men. My eyes did a quick glance at exactly how many were stationed where.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Four inside the room, and three were waiting outside as I entered.

"Ah, the guest of honor is finally here,” Antonio said, getting up from his seat and dismissing his game buddies with a wave of his hand. “Please, make yourself comfortable,” he gestured towards the couch across from him.

“I’m not here to feel at home. Cut to the chase,” I demanded.

“Come on, son. We are all grieving our loss. Let us at least take a moment to mourn and remember my brother over some drinks.”

“We all know that’s a lie, Antonio. Just give me what I want.” Let’s see how far he will take this.

“That’s not how I would put it. It is you who has something that belongs to me.” There we go. His conniving, son-of-a-bitch personality was out. “But I do have something to offer you. A deal. Let’s sit down first, shall we?” Sitting down across from me, he signaled his man to pour us wine. I waited for him to take a sip first after taking my place as he twirled the crimson liquid in the glass before I repeated the action.

“I can understand the loss that you are suffering; it must have shaken you. You were, after all, very close to my brother. His precious little boy, he used to call you. So obedient, so striving, would do literally anything at a single command of his.” I had a gut feeling about how the night was going to end. And it was not a good one.

“To lessen your burden, I have a deal. Let me take over the gang. And I promise I'll find for you what was rightfully yours but snatched from right under your nose.” I sighed, mentally scoffing at him for even thinking I would believe any of his bullshit. “I have a lead on the diamonds,” he added, to make his point clear.

“You know, you really don't have the gift of the gab. A side advice: don't try selling anything to anyone,” I remarked. “They won't buy it.”

“Well then, I thought we could do it the easy way. But guess not.” That was all it took for shit to go down.

Chaos broke down as gunshots were heard outside the room we were in. Antonio sprang up from his position, ready to fire at me, before I quickly ducked beneath the center table, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. I found the narrow gap beneath the table and swiftly retrieved my gun from its holster. With a steady hand, I aimed at my uncle's leg and fired, the sound reverberating through the room. The action only taking milliseconds.

His painful scream filled the air as he collapsed to the ground, the gunshot echoing against the walls. Outside the room, the commotion escalated, signaling the eruption of violence throughout the club.

Through the earpiece concealed in my ear, every word exchanged between my uncle and me had been transmitted to my men stationed strategically throughout the club. The door to the room burst open with a bang as Giovanni stormed in, his blazing gun taking down my uncle's men one by one. I watched as they fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground.

Antonio aimed his gun at me and fired, the searing pain ripping through my left shoulder. "Fuck!" I gritted my teeth against the agony but maintained my focus, returning fire with a barrage of bullets aimed at him. He collapsed to the ground, his eyes closed. As the bullets flew, we made a hasty escape from the room, only to be greeted by the chaos of a full-blown war zone within the club. Antonio's and my men were everywhere, engaged in fierce combat with each other, while people scrambled to flee the escalating violence.

“You're bleeding. We need to leave!” Giovanni yelled over the chaos as we continued to shoot down the enemy.

The chaos of bullets intensified; we lost count as Antonio's men continued to pour into the club. That bastard was well prepared for this. Giovanni sprinted towards the left wing, while I darted behind a nearby pillar for cover. Peering out periodically, I took aim and fired at the advancing men.

Amidst the turmoil, something caught my eye—a dark-haired girl with silver streaks cowering under one of the tables, trembling in fear as she tried in vain to block out the deafening gunshots with her hands to her ears. Without hesitation, I charged towards her, dispatching two men who had set their sights on me before crouching down beside her.

Her head snapped up to look at me and her eyes widened in fear as she took in my presence. My heart seized in my chest, and I was left staring in awe. It was a sensation I was not accustomed to and one I don’t quite understand. Or like . Her beauty left me breathless. Time seemed to stand still as I gazed into her doe-like blue eyes, emotions swirling within me like a tempestuous sea. How could someone exude such innocence and allure at the same time? “Wh...what are you—”

Before she could utter another word, her eyes widened in alarm, and she pointed behind me frantically. I turned just a fraction too late, a searing pain ripping through my shoulder as another bullet found its mark. "Fuck!" I cursed, stumbling momentarily before swiftly shooting the man who dared to harm me.

Despite the pain, my focus remained on protecting the girl and ensuring her safety. Taking her hand in mine, we rushed out of our hiding, and she followed me like a scared child. Then something heavy landed on my feet—cold metal against my shoes. A grenade. Without the safety pin. "Shit!" I hissed as I pulled the girl in the opposite direction. Seconds later, the tables and chairs exploded behind us, the blast sending heat and debris our way. I lost sight of my men in the chasm, but my priority was her safety.

We sprinted until we reached a dead end, panic rising within me. Thankfully, her voice cut through the chaos. "The backdoor! I know the way." I nodded, grateful for her clarity even amid the turmoil, and we darted towards the exit, dodging danger at every turn. I heard multiple grenades going off behind us, lighting the place on fire. The pain in my shoulder flared, reminding me of the bullet wound I sustained earlier. I was losing blood, and time was running out.

Finally, we reached the back door, bursting out into the night air. But as relief washed over me, I realized the gravity of our situation. My hands reached my pants’ pocket, only to find it empty. I had no way to contact my men, no way to know if they were still alive. My phone and earpiece were lost in the chaos. I dropped them in the frenzy to escape.

Frustration and fear gripped me as I scanned the darkness, searching for any sign of my men. "We need to take you to the hospital, or else you'll bleed to death." The urgency in the girl's voice snapped me back to reality; her eyes were filled with genuine concern.

"No, not the hospital. I can—" I attempted to protest, but a sharp pain ripped through me, stealing my words. Black spots danced before my eyes, signaling impending unconsciousness. This couldn't be happening! Not now!

Struggling to stay upright, I felt myself falter, on the brink of collapse. Two hands shot out, steadying me just in time. The girl's grip was firm, grounding me while my own body was on the verge of betraying me.

"We need to go to the hospital right now!" Her words pierced through the haze of pain, and I released a ragged breath. The weight of impending doom settled over me. I couldn't risk going to the hospital. It would only lead to trouble for her, not me.

“No.”

"But—" her protest was feeble, drowned out by the overwhelming darkness that swallowed me whole. As consciousness slipped away, I surrendered to the void.

***

I was pulled back from the depths of darkness. As my eyes fluttered open, I found myself in an unfamiliar room, bathed in the harsh, sterile light of a hospital. The beeping of medical machines and the antiseptic smell confirmed my location.

Attempting to sit up, a wave of dizziness washed over me, accompanied by a sharp jolt of pain that radiated from my left shoulder, coursing through the middle of my chest. Gasping, I glanced down, only to be met with the sight of my body swathed in layers of pristine white bandages, my shirt nowhere in sight.

And everything finally started coming back to me. The meeting, the attack. I had been injured badly. Memories of the grenade blast flooded back; everything was etched into my mind. But how did I end up here? And then it hit me.

The girl!

Struggling against the throbbing ache in my shoulder, I surveyed the room, searching for clues. There were medical charts and equipment surrounding me. I definitely looked out of place here.

The door creaked open, and a figure appeared in the doorway with concern etched into her features. The same girl who left me breathless at such a crucial time. "You're awake," she breathed, her voice soft and soothing. I had a look of confusion plastered on my face so she went on explaining. "You took two bullets and were out for twelve hours after the surgery. But don't worry, you're safe now."

Safe . I wanted to laugh at the irony. If anything, she was the one who needed saving from my world. As she approached, my eyes remained fixed on her and I took her in greedily. The way her blue eyes sparkled. The way her soft lips moved while forming words. The way her sweet voice was music to my ears. Everything was irritating me to the core. Because I was enjoying looking at her when I shouldn’t.

“How are you feeling?” she asked. Now, the problem was that I never talked to anyone much about anything to begin with. Most of the time, I don't even acknowledge the person talking to me. But right now, right here, my heart wanted to make an exception for her. So, I nodded. Of course, I wasn't in the best shape, but I was still better.

“Before you ask, the bullets were removed. You've got five stitches. I know you said we couldn't go to a hospital. But I had no other choice. The senior surgeon is a friend here, so he took care of your case. He said you could pay once you wake up.” She smiled sheepishly at me. I raised a brow in question.

“I always wanted to become a surgeon. This was the very ward I was appointed to. That’s why I know a few people from here. I was almost done with my training, but I couldn't afford the expenses anymore since I was really tight on money after my parents’ deaths.” Her aura was literally radiating innocence. I could practically see the invisible, glowy ring of an angel suspended atop her head. “Umm... also, this might become a police case.” Her words hung in the air, and I heaved an exasperated sigh. This was exactly why I hadn’t wanted to come to the hospital. It wasn’t that I couldn’t handle the police; I could make them disappear with a snap of my fingers. But I had no patience for their fake concern and their insufferable meddling. They’d pretend to care, hoping to get on my good side, and I had no time for such nonsense.

But what I didn't understand was, why the heck was I waiting here, listening to her explanation in the first place? Oh yeah, because I was fucking shot!

“If you don't mind me asking, who are you? And are you in any trouble? I mean, whatever happened back at the club...” She trailed off. Who would tell her that I was the trouble? Even trouble was a light way to put it. I was a whole raging, chaotic storm she needed to stay away from.

“Why were you at the club?” My voice came out heavier and raspier than I intended.

“I work there. Although I'm not sure if I can continue now that it's... well, it blew up in the fire seconds after we escaped,” she chuckled awkwardly, and I could see she was nervous. Which meant that she was intimidated by my presence. Good . But it also made me wonder: does she always help random strangers like this frequently? Was she really this naive? For some reason, the thought didn't sit well with me.

“Um...” she fished for her phone in her jeans pocket before handing it to me. “You can call someone from your home to come and see you. Just share the GPS location with them. I'm sure it wouldn't be so hard to find this place. I'll get you something to eat,” she smiled sincerely. She was a literal fucking angel in the shape of a human, interacting with the deadliest devil anyone could have heard of in this part of the state. The best part was that she had freaking no clue about it. The cherry on top: she didn't even bother pestering me about who I was, even after she witnessed me with guns, and let's not forget the whole war zone. I mean, she did ask, but I never answered. Her innocence made me want to corrupt her in the worst possible way. But at the moment, I pushed the thought aside.

“I'll wait outside till you're done then,” she said after realizing I wasn't going to say anything. I dialed Giovanni, hoping he was still alive. Thankfully, he picked up after three rings.

"Hello?"

"It's Lorenzo."

"The hell, Capo! We have been worried sick." He screamed on the other side. "Where the heck are you?" I explained everything to him. "Stay right there. We are coming to pick you up."

“Take care of the police and the bills on your way,” With that, I hung up.

Angel—I decided to call her since I didn't know her name yet—returned after some time with a tray of food in her hands and sat at the corner of the bed. "Did you call anyone?" she asked. I nodded in reply.

"That's good," she said, giving me a hopeful smile. "You must be hungry. Here. I ordered some pasta. I hope you enjoy it." She pushed the tray towards me. But my left hand was injured, and I couldn't move it much due to the bullet wound on my shoulder. And yes, I was left handed. She saw my struggle, and the wheels turned in her head.

"If you don't mind, I can help you." Giving her another nod, she moved closer beside me and lifted the fork up to my lips. I slowly wrapped my lips around the steel utensil before releasing it clean. All the while, my eyes were fixed on her in a heated gaze, but she concentrated on feeding me. She wasn't scared of me like others were. And that made me frown. But maybe it was because she didn't even know my name yet. It's not a surprise not everyone knows what I look like, yet my name is enough to make them wet their pants. But the fact that I wasn’t bothered by her not being scared of me, bothered me. Why the fuck was I letting this happy-go-lucky sunshine girl feed me?

By the time the plate was clean, she put the tray aside, got up to grab some tissue, and cleaned my mouth. Her eyes made contact with mine for a brief second before she broke it nervously.

"What's your name?" she asked after much thinking.

The door to the room slammed open, causing her to flinch and me to snap my attention to it. My hand instinctively reached to my pants for the gun, only to realize I didn't have it. Fuck, I was in the patient gown. But my tension melted away as I recognized the familiar figure stepping through the threshold: Giovanni, flanked by a few of my men. Typical of him to barge in with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. I had explicitly told him on the phone that the girl posed no threat. I sighed at his recklessness, cursing his impulsive nature under my breath.

"Ummm..." she stammered, clearly taken aback by the abrupt intrusion. Her eyes darted between me and Giovanni, uncertainty clouding her features. Giovanni's expression softened into one of relief as he caught sight of me, but I met his gaze with a glare, silently reprimanding him for his lack of discretion.

"I guess your friends are here," she muttered nervously, shooting me an uneasy glance. His careless entrance had only succeeded in unnerving her further, and I cursed his thoughtlessness once again. I was glad they at least kept the guns out of sight. I could only imagine what the hospital security would have done otherwise.

Giovanni moved toward the bed, offering me his support. One glare from me, and he stepped back. My shoulder was injured, not my feet. I could still walk. Removing the various tubes connected to my left hand, I got out of bed. We made our way out, the girl trailing behind us in silence. I grabbed the bag Giovanni had brought, as I had instructed, and pulled out my clothes. He stepped out of the room while she continued to stare at me, her jaw hanging low. Something churned inside me, and my curiosity piqued to know what her reaction to my next move would be.

Without warning, I pulled the gown over my head, making her squeal and turn to face the door. “Wh... what are you doing?” she stammered. How fucking adorable! I smirked, ignoring her, before continuing to change my clothes. Once done, I headed for the door.

“You're leaving?” she asked, sounding shocked. “The doctor still hasn't discharged you.” Giovanni joined me, and nobody bothered to answer her. I was relieved the doctor wasn't anywhere in sight. As we reached the empty corridor, I came to a sudden halt. I signaled my men and Giovanni to give us some privacy in the empty corridor. They obeyed, walking ahead with a knowing nod.

"Remember to take plenty of rest and refrain from exerting yourself," she instructed softly, realizing there wasn’t anything she could do to stop me from leaving. My gaze locked with hers as I turned around. I nodded in understanding, my eyes reflecting a sense of softness I never knew before today.

Taking a step closer, I leaned in until my lips brushed against her ear, earning a gasp from her. "Lorenzo," I whispered, relishing the slight shudder that ran through her body at the sound of my name. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep whiff of her intoxicating scent. She didn’t smell sweet, like those typical girly scents. She smelled musky and spicy. Inhaling deeply again, I took in the warm cinnamon and citrus scent that clung to her skin. Yep, now that was even better than cocaine. A smirk tugged at my lips, hidden from her view, as I pulled away and began to make my way towards the exit.

"Take care, Lorenzo," she murmured softly, her words tinged with a hint of affection. Though she couldn't see it, her parting words brought warmth to my heart. With one final glance over my shoulder, I left, my mind already set on one thing.

I will return soon, Angel.

***