Loving the Ruthless Mafia Man

Prologue (Part 2)

Prologue (Part 2)

Lia

Alcohol went down easier than it used to. There was a time I hated the taste—despised it. Even though I’d only turned twenty-one yesterday, I’d already had my fair share. Who was going to stop the niece of one of the most powerful men in Boston?

Uncle Seamus was the right-hand man and closest friend of the now-retired head of the Irish mob, Cormac Kavanagh—just as Ronin was Aiden’s. Our families had always been close, and I’d spent countless hours at Aiden’s home growing up. Moira and I were the annoying little pests who wouldn’t leave them alone. Me more so than Moira. My obsession with Aiden only grew stronger with each passing day. He had saved my life, and with every incident, my love for him deepened.

From the car accident that killed my parents, to nearly drowning in the ocean, to the kidnapping—I had always known Aiden would come for me. He was my constant. My hope.

Now I had to watch that same man—who once cradled my head, willing me to breathe—kiss another woman. Bring her to a family event. One reserved for the clan. He’d said everything he needed to with that single move. I was nothing. He had made his choice, and it wasn’t me. It could never be me.

What had he called me?

Just a responsibility. The only reason he protected me was because it was his duty as the future head of the family.

“Maybe you should slow down, Lia,” Moira said, taking the full shot glass from my hand and pushing it toward the bartender.

I shook my head but didn’t protest her taking it away.

“Lia… I know you’re hurting, but you need to keep it together. There are too many eyes on you tonight,” Moira said in a hushed tone.

I wanted to say something—to scream that my dreams had shattered and all hope was gone—but Moira was right. In trying to become perfect for Aiden, I had learned a lot. No matter how I felt, I wouldn’t embarrass my family—or his. I would get through this night. Then I would leave.

I nodded silently and straightened my shoulders. I had been naïve and embarrassed myself enough.

Moira smiled. “Come on. Anna and James just arrived.”

I plastered a smile on my face and took her outstretched hand, but before we could take a step, Aiden and his date appeared in front of us.

I froze, stunned to see them so close.

A long moment of silence passed as I looked at Aiden. It took all my strength to glance away and not shed a tear.

Instead, using every ounce of willpower I had, I looked at the beautiful woman beside him and smiled.

“Excuse us—”

Aiden interrupted Moira. “We wanted to wish the birthday girl.”

He turned to me just as my eyes shot up to his.

“Thank you,” I said, barely a whisper.

“She’s a sweet little thing, isn’t she?” the woman said to Aiden, placing a hand on his chest.

Aiden kept his eyes on me as he spoke. “Cordelia, this is Lilliana Hall. And Lily, this is Cordelia Montgomery—Ronin’s cousin.”

Lilliana Hall… Senator Hall’s daughter. It all clicked. A rising star in politics. Aiden stood to gain so much from that alliance—far more than he could ever get from being with me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Hall,” I said, offering her the most genuine smile I could manage.

“So cute!” she gushed, like I was a toddler.

I bit the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to say or do anything that might ruin whatever Aiden was planning.

Aiden ignored her comment and handed me a box. “Your gift.”

I stared at the small box in his outstretched hand. I knew what I was supposed to do—take it and thank him.

I slowly lifted my hand and accepted the gift. Moira helped me open it, and we peered inside. There it was—the watch I’d left at his house. And another small box.

Moira took it out and handed it to me.

I opened it carefully, nerves fraying—I didn’t know what to expect. Inside was a pear-shaped diamond on a simple gold chain. A beautiful necklace.

The same one I had pointed out to his mother in a catalog at his house. Aiden had been nearby, but I hadn’t thought he was paying attention.

Lily leaned closer to see, then gave me a strange look before turning to Aiden. “Aiden, you’re too kind. Throwing an extravagant party and giving gifts to an orphan with no ties to your world. Someone else wouldn’t even think she was worthy of being a servant.”

She looked at me like she wanted to say something worse.

Her words pierced through me. My chest tightened, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. But I had been taught better. In this family, emotions weren’t shown publicly. I blinked them away and straightened my shoulders.

I wouldn’t show weakness—not in front of her.

I looked at Aiden and saw his jaw clench.

Moira took a step forward, but I looped my arm through hers, silently telling her to stay calm. “Thank you for thinking of me, but this is too much. I can’t accept it.”

I pushed the box toward Aiden, but he didn’t take it.

“See, Aiden? She knows her place. You should take it back and save her the awkwardness,” Lily said, yanking the box from my hands a little too forcefully.

“Yes, please. I can’t accept it. I think the necklace is better suited for Miss Hall. But thank you for thinking of me,” I said, surprised by the calm in my voice.

All I wanted was to be far away from Aiden and the woman he deemed worthy. I might not have been Irish by blood, but I’d grown up with this family. Every Sunday I sat at Aiden’s table with my aunt and uncle. I had embraced this world. I had bled for this family.

Did everyone here see me as an outsider? Had I been blind this whole time? I would never truly fit in… would I?

“That’s bullshit. Lia is part of our family,” said Killian, Aiden’s younger brother, stepping beside me.

“More than you’ll ever be, Lily,” added Finn, the third brother, draping his arm over my shoulder. “Weren’t you seen leaving a hotel with that pathetic Russian mobster this morning? Now you’re on my brother’s arm at a family event. You’re no better than a prostitute. Worse, really, if you’re trying to take someone else’s gift. I bet no man’s ever bought you jewelry, so you’ve decided to spew venom instead.”

Lily gasped. “Aiden, are you going to say something? Your brothers are picking a lowly orphan girl over me!”

I watched him. He stayed silent.

I struggled to keep my composure. I had rarely encountered hatred like this—thanks to the protection of the Kavanagh brothers.

Lily stared a moment longer before shoving the gift into Aiden’s hands and stomping off.

“Finn,” Aiden said in a warning tone after she left.

Finn dropped his arm from my shoulder and glared. “You need to watch what outsiders say to members of this family.”

“You need to remember what’s important here,” Aiden retorted.

I’d rarely seen the brothers argue like this.

“We need to talk,” Killian said firmly. “Now.”

“Happy birthday, Lia,” Finn said, taking my hand and placing a small box in it.

“Happy birthday,” Killian added, kissing my cheek and slipping me an envelope before dragging Finn away.

I looked up and found Aiden studying me. Without a word, he placed his gift box atop Finn’s and followed after them.

A tear escaped, sliding down my heated cheek.

“Are you going to be alright?” Moira asked gently.

I nodded and handed her the gifts. “I just need a moment.”

I turned and left the ballroom, slipping through a door that led to the garden. It was hard to see its beauty at night, but it was the only place I might find a little peace.

Aiden hadn’t even thought me worthy of protection anymore. The man who had shielded me for years couldn’t be bothered to defend me in front of an outsider. I was the outsider now.

“Happy birthday, Lia.”

I turned to see the youngest Kavanagh sibling, Maeve. She came from the garden path—not the ballroom.

“Thank you, Maeve,” I said, hugging her. I glanced behind her, wondering what she was doing out here alone.

Maeve was just a year younger than Moira and me. The three of us had spent years together—witnesses to the brutality of the mafia world.

“Are you alright?” she asked, stepping closer.

I nodded and took a deep breath. I wouldn’t break. The most important lesson I’d learned was never to fall apart—no matter who was standing in front of you.

Maeve studied my face for a moment before nodding in silent understanding.

“You sure you saw her go in here?” a male voice whispered from the darkness.

“Yeah, man. I’m sure she went this way,” another answered.

“You better be right. We can’t f**k this up. We need Maeve Kavanagh in Darragh’s hands tonight.”

I froze, blood running cold. Darragh McDonagh. These men worked for him. And they were after Maeve.

The footsteps grew closer, and instinct took over.

I turned to Maeve and whispered, “Run inside. Take the other exit.”

She hesitated. I nudged her gently.

As she crept away from the dimly lit spot, I kept my back to the voices drawing near.

“Finally,” one of them said as they spotted me.

“Maeve Kavanagh, Darragh’s been waiting for you.”