Page 49 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

Not finding the study, I start on the left corridor, repeating my actions. Getting to the final door at the end of the hallway, I open it slowly, peeking inside. My heart skips a beat as I finally find it.

I glance down the hallway making sure it is still clear before pushing the unlocked door open, the creak echoing a little too loud in the silence.

I quickly enter the dimly lit room, closing the door behind me. The air smells of old paper and polished wood, reminding me of the life Ezra leads—full of shadows and hidden truths. I could even almost perceive the danger as well.

I have no idea how long I’ve got, but I’m going to make the time worth it by getting right into searching for what I came here for.

Walking to the desk, I immediately begin to rummage through the drawers, pushing aside pens and papers, my heart pounding with each sound. When I open the bottom drawer, which is bigger than the rest, my eyes land on a medium-sized fancy box tucked away inside. Curiosity pulls me in as I carefully take it out and pry it open, revealing a collection of items.

The first thing I notice is a simple, silver chain necklace with a heart shaped feminine charm attached to it. I lift an eyebrow at it as I think about who might have worn it.

Perhaps a woman he once cared for… or still cares for.

I scoff at the thought when I notice the blank paper with peeling, worn out edges the necklace is on. I push the necklace aside and pick up the paper, flipping it to see it’s actually an old picture. The man in the photo looks serious, his clean-shaven face hard and cold.

As I continue to stare at the picture, I begin to wonder what importance he could have for Ezra to keep his picture hidden in here. I consider the fact that the man is in the mafia and could be one of Ezra’s past important kills.

Shivering at the thought, I quickly put the picture back, my fingers brushing the soft lining of the box. My eyes drift to the teddy bear in the corner of the box, and my brows furrow as I take it out and study it.

The fur of the teddy bear is worn and dirty, with patches missing. A dark, crusted color is spread all through the fur but more concentrated on one of the arms. On a closer look, my breath hitches as I realize what it is…blood.

I throw the teddy back into the box, but something else catches my eye. It’s a small silver locket half buried under a small black nylon. I hesitate, not sure if I want to see more, but my fingers move before I can stop them.

I pull out the old yet shining object, holding it carefully in my hands. My fingers are cold as I pop it open, expecting something simple like initials or a date.

Inside is a picture of Ezra standing next to a beautiful woman with long, wavy, dark hair. Her black eyes, which seem to sparkle even in the faded photo, stare at Ezra with so much love in them that it’s almost…painful… to look at. My breath catches in my throat when I see the silver necklace from earlier around her neck.

I was right about the owner being a woman…

My eyes drift back to Ezra, who isn’t the cold, distant man I know in the photo. He’s smiling, actually smiling, and not just any smile. His eyes are filled with love, focused on the brown-haired little girl standing between him and the woman.

She’s holding both their hands, looking at Ezra with pure joy. Ezra is hunched to her level, handing her a teddy bear. The teddy bear in the box. Except in the photo, it’s clean, free of blood, and the girl reaches out for it like it’s the best gift in the world.

As I study the entire picture frame as a whole once more, memories from my past nudge their way in. Another image flits through my mind—several scattered pictures dumped in a box somewhere back home.

There’s my father, looking at me with a loving, proud gaze from my high school graduation day. And there’s that other picture, the one taken just a day before Mom...

I shake the thoughts out of my head before they unravel. I bring my focus back to the picture in my hands, grounding myself in the present.

I stare at it unblinking, and slowly, my heart sinks as the realization hits me. This is his family.

For the longest time I wonder why I haven't seen them around. Divorce? Or could the reason be that they’re no longer alive?

Maybe it's the realization that these people were once dear to him, but as I continue to gaze at the photo, I can now feel the love in it. I wonder what Ezra must have felt when it all fell apart.

As I suddenly feel a flicker of sympathy push its way into my head, I shut the locket, my thoughts halting with the quiet click of the metal.

Stop it, Raven. You’re here to find your ticket out of here, not have pity on the man who ‘kidnapped’ you.

I chastise myself as I shut the box and put it back into the drawer, pushing it close.

I need to focus on my escape. Taking another look around the room, I try to think more strategically. I scan the walls lined with bookshelves, but nothing seems to give anything away.

I move to the center of the study, rummaging through the cushion of the armchair and carefully placing them back in their original position to avoid giving myself away.

Suddenly, I hear the sound of footsteps treading down the hallway. Dread freezes me in my spot, and when I regain control, I sprint towards the door and crack it open before peeking out.

A guard is walking down the hallway, his posture relaxed but alert, like a cat ready to pounce. Panic rises within me at the thought that he's coming in this direction.

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