Page 99 of Ruined By the Mafia Kings
The figure stepped forward, into the pool of light from the security lamp, and I caught a glimpse of his face—handsome, with a strong jawline and eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. Just another man in an expensive suit, but something about the way he carried himself suggested he wasn’t someone to be trifled with.
“Doesn’t look like a friendly conversation to me,” the stranger said, his gaze moving from Brad to the businessmen, assessing and dismissing them in the same glance. Then his eyes landed on me, and something flickered across his face—concern, maybe, or simple distaste for what he was witnessing.
“Mind your own business,” the older businessman growled, trying to assert dominance.
The stranger smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “The omega is my business.”
Before anyone could react, three more men emerged from the car, all carrying themselves with the unmistakable confidence of security personnel. They didn’t draw weapons,didn’t make threats. They didn’t need to. Their presence alone was enough to change the calculation.
The businessmen exchanged glances, clearly reassessing the situation. After a tense moment, the older one nodded curtly.
“Another time, perhaps,” he said, as if declining a business lunch rather than a sexual assault. He gestured to his companion, and they both backed away, returning to the restaurant’s rear entrance.
Brad lingered, looking uncertain, until the stranger fixed him with a stare that could have frozen hell. “You should go.”
Brad turned around and hightailed it out of there.
I stood frozen, unsure if I’d just escaped one danger only to face a greater one. The stranger approached slowly, hands visible at his sides, as if I were a skittish animal he was trying not to frighten.
“Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice gentler now.
I shook my head, finding my voice. “No. Thank you for… intervening. Though I totally had it under control. I was just about to unleash my secret omega ninja skills.”
He nodded, studying me with an intensity that made me uncomfortable. “You shouldn’t be walking alone at night.”
“I don’t need a lecture on omega safety right now, thanks,” I snapped, my fear giving way to irritation. “I just need to get home without being auctioned off to the highest bidder. Is that really too much to ask in this century?”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Of course. Can we offer you a ride?”
“No offense, but I don’t get into cars with strange alphas who appear out of nowhere. That’s like, rule number one in theHow Not to Get Murderedhandbook.”
He actually laughed at that, a warm sound that seemed at odds with his intimidating presence. “Smart. Then allow us to escort you to the main street, at least. Safety in numbers.”
I hesitated, weighing my options. The main street was still forty yards away, and Brad and the businessmen might be waiting for another opportunity. This stranger and his friends had just saved me, but that didn’t mean I could trust them. For all I knew, they were just eliminating the competition.
“Fine,” I decided. “To the main street. Then we go our separate ways. No following me home, no exchanging numbers, no ‘let’s get coffee sometime.’”
He nodded, gesturing for me to lead the way. I walked quickly, acutely aware of him beside me and his men following a few paces behind. None of them tried to touch me or crowd me, which I appreciated.
“I’m Marco,” he said simply as we neared the street.
“Ty,” I replied automatically, then cursed myself for giving my real name.
He simply nodded. “Stay safe, Ty. The city can be dangerous for someone like you.”
Before I could respond, we reached the main street, bustling with evening foot traffic. Marco stepped back, giving me space.
“Thank you again,” I said, suddenly awkward. “For helping me. Even though I could have taken them all with my pinky finger.”
“My pleasure.” His smile was polite, professional. “Perhaps we’ll meet again.”
When I looked back after a few steps, Marco was already walking toward the alley, his men falling into step beside him. I shivered, unable to shake the feeling that I’d just had a very narrow escape—though from what, exactly, I wasn’t entirely sure.
I headed for the bus stop, eager to put as much distance as possible between myself and the restaurant. Tomorrow I’d have to find another job—the rent wouldn’t pay itself, and finding work as a male omega would be nearly impossible.
My apartment felt different when I finally reached it—warmer somehow, as if someone had been there recently. The air smelled faintly of something I couldn’t quite identify, something that made my nose twitch with curiosity.
“Hello?” I called, feeling foolish even as I did so. No one answered, of course.
