Page 41 of Mafia Crown

She shifts awkwardly on her feet, then lifts her gaze to meet mine. “I need to call my family.”

I knew this was coming. I’ve been waiting for it. “You will. Soon.”

Her eyes widen, as if she wasn’t expecting me to say yes. “Really?”

I nod, but there’s a condition. There always is. “But you’ll tell them you’ve been kidnapped.”

Her expression twists, and she takes a step back, clutching the towel to her chest like it might protect her from the weight of my words. “What? No. I can’t—”

I step closer, lowering my voice. “Do you want to live, Hazel?”

She flinches slightly but doesn’t look away. Her grip on the towel loosens, and her breathing slows. “Of course I do.”

“Then you’ll do exactly what I say.”

Her lips part, but no words come out. She’s trying to find a way around this, to argue, but there’s no room for negotiation. She knows it as much as I do.

I reach for her, gently pulling the towel from her fingers. “We’re not playing games anymore, Hazel. You’ll call them. You’ll say you’re being held, and you’ll stick to my story.”

Her shoulders sag, defeat creeping into her posture, but her eyes stay sharp. I can see the fire in them, the part of her that still wants to fight. I almost admire her for it.

Almost.

She nods, but it’s stiff, reluctant. “Fine.”

“Good.” I hand her back the towel and step back, giving her space. “Get some rest. Tomorrow, we will make the call.”

As I watch her disappear into the bedroom, I feel the tension coil tighter in my chest. This isn’t just about keeping her under control. It’s about staying ahead of whatever storm is brewing. I can’t afford to lose this game. Not now.

Not when everything depends on it.

CHAPTER TWENTY

HAZEL

TODAY IS THE day I get to call my parents. You’d think that would be a relief, something to look forward to. But instead, I feel like I’m about to fall off a cliff with no one to catch me. My mind races, spiraling through all the possibilities.

What if they didn’t even know I was missing? What if this phone call is what sends them over the edge? My parents are strong, but I know how fragile they can be when it comes to me. This call will destroy them.

And it’s not like I can even tell them the truth.

Kieran stands in front of me, holding out a phone that isn’t mine. His gaze is steady, like always—cold, calculated, and unreadable. He doesn’t need to say much to make me feel like I’m trapped in a corner with nowhere to run.

"Just say exactly what I told you." His voice is calm but sharp, like a knife’s edge.

I nod, even though my throat feels like it’s closing. My heart hammers in my chest as he finally hands me the phone. I want to ask how he got my mother’s number, but the answer is obvious. He must’ve gone through my phone.

Dread curls in my stomach as I stare at the phone. My fingers tremble as I dial, each ring making my breath shallower, my head dizzy. The pacing starts before I even realize it—I circle the small room like a trapped animal, every step amplifying the fear in my gut. Charlie lies by the fire but his brown eyes follow me back and forth.

Do I stick to Kieran’s script, or do I scream for help?

Would he kill me if I did?

I steal a glance at him. He leans casually against the wall, arms crossed, as if this is just another day for him. Like he doesn’t have a care in the world—or like he’s so confident in his control over me that he doesn’t need to worry.

The phone clicks.

"Hello?"

---