Page 64 of Mafia King's Forbidden Obsession

Raven

Freedom—what a joke. It’s strange to even think of the word, let alone feel it.

The moment I step outside the mansion's doors, the crisp air rushes through my lungs. Ezra, in his rare generosity, has given me a pass to venture into the outside world. Maybe my plan is finally working, or maybe the gunshot in his arm is affecting his brain.

Either way, the condition of this brief “freedom” is his men shadowing my every move.

I walk down the steps, their presence heavy behind me as I climb into the black SUV. The doors slam shut, sealing me inside with two guards in the front seats.

The silence is suffocating. They wear dark sunglasses, but I can feel their eyes on me, watching me through the rearview mirror.

Always watching, but for once, I don’t mind.

A tiny smile creeps into my face as I angle my head against the window while the city streets blur past, the wind sending my loose strands in every direction.

Even though I can’t shake the suspicion that he only allowed this outing to keep me from pestering him about finishing his dose, I can't deny the thrill of being outside.

The contradiction lingers—this freedom feels like a trap—but after so long indoors, I can’t help but savor the rush of excitement coursing through my bones.

The car pulls up to the shopping district’s garage, and as I step out, I feel the weight of eyes on me. The cartel men pretend to give me space, but I know they’re within reach. Not that anyone would know—their vintage shirts and khaki shorts blend in with the crowd like any other group of people.

For the first time in weeks, I’m among people. The city feels so alive. The hum of traffic, the low chatter of people passing by, the scent of street food hanging in the air—it all feels overwhelming after so long inside. I continue to walk, my eyes taking in the scenery as I do so.

The streets are crowded, and for a brief moment, I imagine running– disappearing into the crowd– but the fantasy is fleeting.

I’ll never make it far. I’ll be hunted down and caught. I just know it.

Exhaling lightly, I feel the tension between my shoulders ease just a little. It’s not real freedom—not with the guards shadowing me like ghosts—but it’s something. And I’ll take anything over the suffocating walls of that mansion—anything to feel like I still have a shred of control over my own life.

The shops ahead beckon, their bright windows offering an illusion of normalcy. I step inside one of them and pick a shopping cart, pretending for just a moment that I’m like everyone else. A woman in a frumpy red dress browsing through shelves. A woman with choices. A woman who isn’t living under the control of a dangerous man who could take her life with a single command.

I move between aisles, my fingers brushing against fabric, body washes—everything I could grab— and put them in my cart. But then I see it. I swallow thickly, glancing at the small pregnancy test kit box that stares back at me from the shelf, quiet and unassuming.

I’d gotten a birth control shot before the fundraiser, but as I stare at the unassuming box, I can't help but wonder when I had my last period. Without my period tracker app, it’s hard to tell if it’s truly late or just irregular.

Over the past few days, I’ve had mild headaches, slight nausea, and a faint backache—nothing serious. Those are my usual pre-menstrual symptoms, so it’s nothing…Right?

My heart slowly picks up a harsh pace, and I shudder at the thought lurking in the back of my mind. It can’t be. I’ve experienced late periods before, I’ve even missed a month, and I was fine. But it’s better safe than sorry. It’s best to have it since I don’t know when I’ll next have the opportunity of freedom.

Just not here, though.It’ll stick out like a sore thumb among these products. So I decide to get it at a pharmacy instead, where I can tuck the box discreetly among similar products.

I make my way to the self-checkout and immediately take out the black card Ezra gave me. I pay for the items.

Picking up the packed items, I stride out of the store. I need to distract the guards if I want to grab the kit real quick without word getting back to their boss. So I stop abruptly, catching them by surprise.

I shoot a glance at the men who are now by my side, their looming presence sending a flicker of irritation through me.

“Back off a bit, will you?” I scoff, making sure the irritation is apparent on my face.

“We have orders…” the one on my right begins to speak, but I cut him off.

“Which doesn’t say you have to be all up in my face,” I double down.

They stare at me for a tense second, but I hold my ground, refusing to back down. Finally, they step aside, giving me space, though the air still buzzes with tension.

“I'd also prefer we walk,” I say. After all, that’s the best way to experience the scenery.

They nod stiffly, and one of them moves to collect the bag in my hand.I do a little victory dance in my head as we walk further down the street before entering a retail pharmacy.

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