My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 46

Ivy

The aroma of fresh coffee and pastries enveloped me as I entered the bustling café. My eyes darted around the cozy room, scanning faces until they landed on a familiar blonde at a table by the window.

Lila.

My heart skipped, and I wove through the tables. Eight years had passed, but she looked nearly the same—bright green eyes, radiant smile, hair tumbling over her shoulders in waves.

I slid into the seat across from her, pulse racing. "Hi, Lila."

Her eyes lit up. "Ivy! Oh my gosh, it’s so great to see you." She leaned forward, brows knitting with concern. "Are you okay? You look really nervous," she chirped.

"Yeah, I’m fine." I twisted a napkin in my hands, shredding it into confetti. "It’s just been a long time."

Understatement of the century. The last time I’d seen Lila, I’d had two normal parents, lived in a normal house, and my biggest worry had been passing math.

Now, I was tangled up with the mafia.

Lila leaned forward, eyes wide. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath. Where to even start? "A lot has changed since high school." I swallowed hard.

"Well, that’s what we are here for, right? To exchange all the juicy details of our lives." she grinned.

I managed a weak smile, grateful for Lila’s attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, you could say that."

Lila’s smile faltered, sensing the weight behind my words. "Ivy, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

I nodded, taking another deep breath. "Okay, here it goes." I glanced around, making sure nobody was eavesdropping before leaning in closer. "I’m involved with Aidan again."

Lila’s eyes widened in surprise. "Aidan? As in... Aidan from high school? Your former bully turned friend?"

I nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, him. But it’s... complicated."

Lila leaned back, processing the information. "Complicated how?"

I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But then, I decided to tell her because I had no one else to talk to. I needed a friend. "He’s... he’s in the Mafia."

Lila’s jaw dropped. "The Mafia? Ivy, you’re joking, right? Are we still talking about Aidan Blackwood from high school?"

I shook my head, feeling a knot form in my stomach. "I wish I was joking around about this. But it’s true. Aidan’s involved in some dangerous stuff, and... and I’m in the middle of it now."

Lila’s expression shifted from shock to concern. "Oh my god, Ivy. Are you okay? Are you safe?" she gasped.

I nodded, forcing a small smile. "For now, yeah. Aidan’s been... protective. But it’s not just about me anymore. I’m worried about him too." From what I’ve learned about his life, he could die at any moment. Or get shot and get seriously injured.

Lila reached across the table, placing a comforting hand on mine. "Ivy, you need to be careful. This isn’t like anything we’ve dealt with before."

I squeezed her hand, feeling a surge of gratitude for her understanding. "I know, Lila. That’s why I needed to see you. I don’t know what to do."

Lila’s eyes softened with sympathy. "We’ll figure it out together, okay? You’re not alone in this."

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Thank you, Lila. I don’t know what I’d do without you."

She smiled reassuringly. "That’s what friends are for. Now, tell me everything. How did you meet Adian again?"

"He kind of kidnapped me," I said and let out a nervous giggle.

Lila’s eyes widened in disbelief. "He kidnapped you? Ivy, you’re not serious, right?"

I shook my head, feeling a mix of amusement and apprehension. "I wish I was joking, Lila. But it’s true. Well, he sent his men to kidnap me because my dad owed him some money. It’s a long story."

Lila’s expression shifted to one of concern. "That sounds... intense. What happened after he kidnapped you?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It’s been a whirlwind, to say the least. Aidan’s involved in some dangerous stuff, Lila. And somehow, I’ve been pulled into it."

Lila’s eyes widened with worry. "Okay, your life is officially way more interesting than mine."

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. "Oh, please. I will take being a housewife with a good husband and kids any day over being trapped by a Mafia boss."

Lila chuckled, though the concern in her eyes lingered. "Fair point. But still, Ivy, this is serious. You can’t just brush it off like it’s no big deal."

I sobered, nodding in agreement. "I know, Lila. Believe me, I’m well aware of the gravity of the situation. But I feel like I’m in too deep now, you know? I don’t even know how to get out of it."

Lila reached across the table again, squeezing my hand in reassurance. "Have you thought about calling the police? Or FBI or something, I don’t know..." she said.

I managed a weak smile, grateful for her support. "No, it wouldn’t do any good. Aidan is powerful."

I skipped the fact that I may or may not have feelings for Aidan now. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Hmm...Aidan was bad, but I had no idea he would turn out like this. I wonder how he became a Mafia boss," Lila mused.

I thought about it too. Aidan never gave me the full story about how he came to this point in his life.

"Yeah, I’ve wondered about that too," I admitted, furrowing my brow in thought. "Aidan was always a bit of a troublemaker in high school, but I never would have imagined him becoming involved in something like the Mafia."

Lila nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It’s hard to believe how much people can change over the years. But there’s always a story behind it, right?"

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, there must be. I’ve never really asked Aidan about his past... maybe I should."

Lila’s eyes widened with concern. "Are you sure that’s a good idea, Ivy? I mean, if he’s involved in something as dangerous as the Mafia, who knows what other kind of secrets he’s hiding?"

I bit my lip, considering her words. "You’re right, Lila. It could be risky. But... I feel like I need to know. I can’t keep living in the dark about who Aidan really is."

Lila sighed, her expression filled with concern. "Just promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I don’t want you getting hurt."

I reached out and squeezed her hand, offering her a reassuring smile. "I will, Lila. I promise. And hey, at least I know I’ve got you looking out for me too."

She returned my smile, though it was tinged with worry. "That’s what friends are for, Ivy. Now, let’s focus on finding a way to navigate this mess together."

"Enough about me. Why don’t you tell me about you." I smiled.

Lila’s smile brightened at the change of subject. "Sure, Ivy. Well, not much has changed for me, to be honest. I’m still just busy raising my kids."

I nodded, listening intently. "That sounds nice."

Lila nodded, her smile warm but tinged with exhaustion. "Yeah, it definitely keeps me busy. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world."

I smiled, genuinely happy for her. "I’m glad to hear that. How are the kids doing?"

A look of pride crossed Lila’s face. "They’re growing up so fast. Julia just started kindergarten, and Alex is already talking about wanting to be a superhero when he grows up."

"That’s adorable," I said, unable to suppress a smile. "They must keep you on your toes."

Lila chuckled, a hint of exhaustion in her laughter. "You have no idea. But they’re worth every minute of it."

Lila paused before continuing. "How about you, Ivy? Do you think about marriage? Or having kids?"

Lila’s question caught me off guard, and for a moment, I found myself at a loss for words. Marriage and kids were things I had pushed to the back of my mind, buried under the weight of my current circumstances. But hearing Lila ask about them made me realize just how much I yearned for those things too, despite the chaos of my life.

"I... I don’t know," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I’ve never really thought about it. With everything going on with Aidan and the Mafia, it’s hard to imagine a future beyond that."

Lila’s expression softened with understanding. "I can imagine. But Ivy, you deserve to have those things if that’s what you want. Don’t let this situation define your future."

I nodded, her words resonating with me more deeply than I had expected. "You’re right, Lila. I can’t let fear hold me back from the things I want in life."

"Exactly," Lila said, her voice gentle but firm. "You deserve happiness, Ivy. And if that means finding a way to break free from this mess with Aidan, then that’s what we’ll do."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"By the way...don’t look alarmed, but...I think a man is watching you," Lila leaned down and whispered.

My heart skipped a beat as Lila’s words sank in. I glanced around discreetly, trying to spot the man she was referring to without drawing attention to myself. Sure enough, at a table across the café, a man sat alone, his gaze fixed intently on me.

Panic surged through me. Who was it and why was he watching me?