My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 16

Ivy, present time...

I let out a heavy sigh as I checked myself in the mirror one last time.

It was almost time to go to dinner with Aidan, and I felt a tight knot in my stomach. I didn’t want to do this. I would instead do anything else, but I was given no choice. So now here I was, making myself all pretty for the man who assaulted me last night.

What has become of me? 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"You look great." Aidan’s voice cut through the silence, and I turned to him.

"Let’s just get this over with," I said through gritted teeth.

"Is spending the evening with me that unbearable?" he asked with a sly grin.

"Do you really want me to reply?" I snapped.

He stopped smiling. "No, I don’t. Come on, let’s go. We can’t be late," he said.

~-~

Stepping into the dimly lit ambiance of the restaurant, my heart hammered in my chest.

Aidan led me toward a table, and I was surprised to see that we were not dining alone.

"Aidan Blackwood. Never thought we would be sitting in the same room together, let alone dine together." The stranger laughed.

He was a mountain of a man who looked comical sitting on the small chair, his suit fitting snugly across broad shoulders, his stance exuding confidence that seemed to claim the space around him.

"Don Raphael, I am afraid I will have to agree. But this is for the best," Aidan said grimly. He pulled a chair and motioned me to sit down.

Raphael’s dark eyes met mine, and for a moment, the air felt heavy. "Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lovely date?"

"Sorry, this is Ivy Williams. Ivy, this is Raphael Sinclair," Aidan curtly said.

I swallowed hard, wishing I hadn’t agreed to this dinner. Something about Raphael didn’t sit right with me.

"Blackwood’s girl, huh?" Raphael’s voice was deep, a rumble that matched his commanding appearance. I bristled at his words, fighting the urge to correct him. I wasn’t anyone’s girl, especially not Aidan’s.

"Something like that," Aidan replied, his voice cold.

"Interesting," he mused, a single eyebrow arching as though he’d stumbled upon a puzzle he intended to solve.

Raphael’s shadow loomed over our table just as the first course arrived, his presence as unwelcome as a storm cloud on a sunny day. The clinking of silverware against fine china sounded like a distant echo as he leaned in far too close for comfort. His hot breath brushed against my ear, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Sweet Ivy," he cooed, and I cringed at the mockery lacing his tone. "You look delectable tonight. Almost makes me want to forget this little charade with Aidan and show you how a real man dines."

I felt the color drain from my face, the words slithering over me like slime. Raphael’s gaze traveled over me with a brazenness that made my skin crawl. But I kept my face straight. I didn’t want Aidan to see me scared.

"Careful, Raphael," I quipped, regretting the words even as they slipped out, "you might choke on all that charm."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Aidan’s jaw clench, his knuckles turning white where they gripped the edge of the table. I wasn’t sure if it was anger or something else that flashed across his features, but I seized the moment.

Let him burn in jealousy.

"Is that so?" Raphael drawled, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"That’s enough," Aidan suddenly growled. "We are here to talk business, Raphael."

Raphael straightened up, his smirk never faltering. "Of course, Aidan. But a little friendly banter never hurt anyone, did it?" His gaze flickered back to me, lingering just a moment longer than necessary before returning to Aidan.

Aidan’s eyes narrowed, a silent warning passing between them. "Let’s keep it professional, Raphael. We have matters to discuss."

Raphael inclined his head slightly, the hint of a smile playing on his lips. "As you wish, Aidan."

The tension in the air was palpable as the conversation shifted to business matters. I tried to focus on the discussion, but Raphael’s presence seemed to loom over me, casting a shadow that made it hard to breathe.

"All of this sounds fine and dandy, but I’d like you to spice up our deal a bit," Raphael said, looking at me intently.

I shifted in my chair uncomfortably.

"What else do you want, Raphael?" Aidan asked.

"I think we should make this deal a bit more...personal," Raphael purred, his lips curling into a sly smile. "Why don’t you lend me your pretty little toy for the night, Aidan? Consider it a show of good faith between new business partners."

My chest constricted at his words, my heart hammering against my ribs. I looked at Aidan. Even though he was a horrible person, he wouldn’t actually whore me out to this asshole, would he?

Aidan tensed, his jaw clenching as he processed Raphael’s proposition. After a long, tense moment, he responded in a low, tightly controlled voice.

"Ivy is not a bargaining chip, Raphael. She’s mine," he said.

I would disagree with his ’she is mine’ statement, but I decided to keep my mouth shut in this instance.

Raphael tutted, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "Come now, Aidan. Just one night. Don’t be selfish - share your treasures with your new friend."

"Enough!" Aidan snapped, slamming his fist on the table. The plates and glasses jumped at the impact. "You go anywhere near her and our truce is off. Ivy is mine, and no one touches what’s mine."

I gulped. How would Raphael react to this?

Raphael’s once cordial smile twists into a vicious snarl, his facial features contorting with rage. "Watch your mouth, boy," he spits out, venom dripping from every word. "You may be a Boss now, but I’ve been a mafioso since you were a little fetus in your Mama’s womb. I could squash you like a little bug." His eyes bore into Aidan’s, cold and deadly as he asserted his dominance in the criminal underworld.

He snapped his fingers, and two hulking men in dark suits appeared from the shadows. Their cold, emotionless eyes were fixed on Aidan as they cracked their knuckles threateningly.

My heart was in my throat as I glanced between Aidan and Raphael. This was about to get ugly, fast.

But Aidan didn’t flinch. He held Raphael’s icy glare, his jaw set. "I will say it again, Raphael, do not cross me. And do not look at Ivy." His voice was low but firm.

For a moment, nobody moved. The tension hung thick in the air like a brewing storm. I was frozen, silently pleading for Aidan not to push Raphael too far.

Then Raphael let out a sharp, barking laugh that made me jump.

"I’m starting to like you, boy," he chuckled darkly. "Not many have the balls to stand up to me like that." He leaned back in his chair, regarding Aidan with newfound interest.

"Very well. I will give up on your little whore, for now," he conceded with a lazy wave of his hand. "Our business is concluded. I’ll have my people contact you to finalize the details."

Aidan gave a curt nod and stood abruptly, grasping my hand. "Let’s go, Ivy."

My legs were unsteady as he led me hastily from the restaurant. I dared not breathe until we were outside in the cool night air. Only then did I realize just how much danger I had been in.

Aidan’s voice cut through my racing thoughts. "Why the fuck did you flirt back with Raphael, Ivy?"

I felt the anger bubbling up inside me as Aidan questioned my actions. I whipped around to face him, eyes flashing.

"How dare you!" I spat. "You have no right to criticize me after putting me in that situation in the first place. Why would you bring me here as your date when meeting with another criminal?"

My hands trembled as the adrenaline of the encounter caught up with me.

Aidan’s eyes flared. "This is my life, Ivy. And I need you to get used to it. But that doesn’t mean you get to flirt with my enemy."

"Fuck you, Aidan! And what if I was? You have no claim on me. You may have had my body, but you have no right to..."

My words were cut off as Aidan’s hand shot out and grabbed my throat. I gasped, eyes going wide with shock and fear as his grip tightened.

"You listen to me," Aidan growled through gritted teeth. "You are mine. I claimed you that night and you gave yourself to me willingly. Don’t you dare pretend otherwise."

Was he really that delusional to think I gave myself to him willingly!?

His face was inches from mine, blue eyes blazing with possessive fury. I clutched at his hand, panic rising in my chest as I struggled to draw breath.

"Aidan, please..." I choked out.

For a moment, his expression seemed to soften. His grip on my throat loosened just slightly. Then his eyes hardened again.

"You belong to me, Ivy. It’s time you accept that."

He released me and I fell back against the brick wall of the alleyway, coughing and gulping air greedily. Aidan stood over me, his tall frame looming in the dim light.

"Now, be a good girl and get in the car," Aidan commanded. "We’re going back to the Villa."

I choked back my tears and did as he asked. I swore to myself. I would get him back for this.