The expensive mistake.

The morning after

Tricelle groaned as the sunlight stabbed through the thin curtains in her apartment, the throbbing in her head reminded her that she had made some poor choices the night before.

She didn’t think a meeting could end up in a …..date?

“It wasn’t a date… It was just a …” She moaned, rubbing her face with her hand.

“I don’t know what it was.”

With a deep breath, she slowly sat up. Stretching, she recalled everything—Shawn, the laughter, the music, the pulsating of the club, and then… him.

“Eric Black” Tricelle said softly as she touched her lips. His name sent warmth flooding through her, followed quickly by a flutter of anxiety. He was mysterious, charming, and impossibly handsome and…

Tricelle frowned, she didn’t know much about him. She knew he was a friend of a father, and his surname sounded familiar, but that was all. She frantically searched her bedroom for her bag. In the corner next to her dress she saw her bag. Pushing the covers back, she jumped out and quickly grabbed her phone out of her bag.

Driven by an insatiable curiosity, she typed in her search box ‘Eric Black.’

As she scrolled through an array of articles, she realized that she had kissed a very dangerous man. The testimonials were varied; some described Mr. Black as a ruthless predator, while others painted him as a protector of his community. Reading a few newspaper articles, she realized that even the media reverenced him as a Mafia boss who controlled the black market.

Tricelle slowly placed her phone on the bed. Looking straightforward. Her mind was racing.

“I called him a mafia boss…” she said softly. Slapping herself on the forehead. ‘What if he thought I mocked him?’ She thought to herself.

Her cat came in with a low meow. He looked better than Tricelle was feeling. He was waiting for his food.

“Yes Fuzzy, I know. I need to put on my big girl pants and go sort out my own problems.”

Pushing the thoughts of Eric to the back of her mind, Tricelle got up and started her daily routine.

After a brisk shower, the steam filling her bathroom, she stood in front of her full-length mirror, contemplating the day of meetings ahead. She needed to find a lawyer to help her with the case. She was tired, but she knew she wanted to win, she wanted to keep her father’s business a success and if her sister took control she knew it would fail.

She dressed in a custom-tailored navy blazer, paired with crisp white trousers that accentuated her poise. With her hair neatly pinned into a sleek bun, Tricelle made her way to the kitchen.

After she fed the cat, Tricelle remembered the deal she made with Eric.

Again Tricelle touched her lips, it was a kiss that lingered most vividly in her mind. A passionate collision of his lips against hers, it felt intoxicating and terrifying at the same time.

“Nope, focus.” She said loudly as she headed to the door.

Eric Black is a Mafia Boss, he is dangerous, and she needed to keep her distance.

***

In his office perched high above the bustling streets of the city, Eric sat behind his desk, surrounded by paperwork that threatened to swallow him whole. His reputation as a ruthless mafia boss was well-earned, and he was known for his unyielding approach to business. But today was different, something unexpected had broken through his steely facade—Tricelle.

The woman had walked into his life like a storm. Their encounter had been electric, the palpable chemistry igniting in the space between them as if the universe had conspired to bring them together. When their lips finally met, it was less a kiss and more a collision of worlds, one that set his heart racing and left him breathless.

“You know you look like a schoolboy with a crush.” Anton interrupted his thoughts.

Anton was sitting in a chair across from Eric with a warm cup of coffee in his hand, watching his boss with eagle eyes. The raised brow and smile on his face clearly showed his amusement.

“Don’t be foolish, I have only met her once. We had a meeting, kissed and that is that.” Eric said, waving his hand in the air.

“I was afraid that he would do more than kiss for a moment,” Anton said with a low chuckle.

Eric gave him a stern look.

“And you just wanted to kill her because your informant said she was involved in her father’s death,” Anton said with a concerned tone. Eric immediately tensed up.

“The informant. Jack” Eric said slowly, looking at Anton. Anton took an envelope that was on the edge of Eric’s desk and handed it to him.

“I was waiting for you to ask,” Anton said as he sat back down.

Eric ripped the envelope open and started reading immediately. He needed to know why Tricelle was the first suspect.

Anton studied his face, he had already read the documents, but his concern was about Eric’s reaction.

His fists clenched as his eyes darted from left to right. Rage boiling within him, turning the pit of his stomach into a raging inferno. Anton could see Eric mouth the word ‘Jack’ and then ‘Shawn’.

Eric lifted his head, staring at his trusted bodyguard.

“So, a large amount of money was paid into Jack’s bank account three days after the accident?”

Eric said, rubbing his stubble chin, reminding himself he needed to shave.

“Yes, but the amount was not large enough for a kill on a high-profile man like Evan,” Anton said.

“I also found out that Jack met with a woman with brown hair the same day the money was transferred into his account. An eyewitness saw them exchanging an envelope.”

“Let me guess…” Eric stood up and walked to the front of the desk, leaning on it slightly. “ Jack was paid to give us the picture of Miss Wincher?”

Anton nodded.

“And our lizard friend called Jack also.” Eric pressed his lips together. He could not believe the deception in which he had become ensnared.

Anton took another sip of his coffee.

“Yes, and I am very curious about what they could have talked about.”

Anton took a breath before he continued.

“You must not be that surprised, you usually end your threats immediately.”

Eric frowned, Anton was right. If he hadn’t talked him out of it, Tricelle would be one of the unmarked graves.

“I swear…” Eric said loudly, desperation clawing at his voice. “ I had underestimated our new opponents.”

“We still need to deal with the Red Horse mob,” Anton chimed in with a sigh.

Realization dawned upon Eric; he had been the unwitting pawn in a game far darker than he could ever have anticipated. The Red Horse mob would not stop until they carved their names into the underbelly of organized crime. And a traitor inside his organization. He wondered if it was all connected.

“I already sent word to everyone to bring Jack straight here if he is found,” Anton said seriously.

The Wincher company was responsible for all their accounts. Tricelle was in danger. Eric thought to himself.

Eric unknowingly touched his lips,

“Please send my lawyer, Justin Welsh, to Miss Wincher's office. I believe she is going to need all the help she can get.”

A grin appeared on Anton’s face.

“Must I send some roses too?”

Eric gave him a scolding expression.

“Don’t be an idiot.”