Deadly Mafia Bonds

............ Caitlin ............ “Caitlin!” I hear my mother’s voice and hurry to the kitchen. “Caitlin!” “I’m here!” “Why did you take so long to answer?” She questions me, looking at me with disgust. “I’m sorry.” I softly reply eyes cast downward. The last thing I need is to be scolded by her right now. I have a lot going on in my mind. I’m due this month, and I still haven’t come up with a way to convince my father to let me keep my baby. “Come closer! Take this and keep stirring until I tell you to stop; make sure there aren’t any lumps,” she instructs, giving me the spoon. I take it and do as I’m told. I wonder why she insists on not bringing cooks when we go on holiday because it’s obvious she hates cooking. “Ow!” I cry out as I accidentally put my finger on the bubbling sauce and I struggle to keep stirring as my finger throbs. A lone tear escapes my eye, and I quickly wipe it away. I promised myself I wouldn’t allow her to make me cry anymore. How I wish my mother were here. My name is Caitlin Danielle Hoult, and I’m nineteen years old. My mother died giving birth to me, and my father raised me. We lived together, just the two of us until I was eighteen and my father remarried. Everything was well, and I was happy to have a mother figure in my life. I finally had the family I had desired, but her love was not as genuine as I believed. Six months later, her behavior toward me completely changed. My stepbrother, Carter, moved in with us, and I became his personal slave. Carter is three years older than me and he made me clean up after him and run his errands whenever he wanted. Whenever I spoke to my stepmother, she always brushed it under the carpet, and when she couldn’t, she made me feel like I was the one in the wrong, the unwelcoming one. She made it seem like I was unkind to Carter because this was my home. I loved her; she was always good to me in the two years she and my father were together, so I didn’t want to upset her. I stopped complaining and tried to assure Carter that I didn’t hate him and that we were family, so he would stop feeling unwelcome. But he didn't stop and one day, I had enough and stood up to him. I soon regretted it, however, as the next thing I felt was a stinging cheek and the ringing of my ears after he slapped me across the face. My father was coming home the next day, and that was the first thing I told him when he arrived. It was a big mistake because it went downhill from there. My stepmother spun the whole thing around and made it seem like an accident, and my father believed her. He’s completely blind when it comes to her wrongdoings. When he left again for a business trip, Carter and her mother took things to another level. My stepmother became aggressive towards me, not only turning a blind eye to Carter’s abusive ways, but she made it clear that she hated me and that if I ever said anything to my father, she’d have him killed. At first, I didn’t believe she could pull something like that off, but a month later, my dad was in a car accident and survived. Later that evening, she came to me and told me next time, he might not survive. I was shattered and thought it couldn’t get any worse than that, but I was wrong. On my nineteenth birthday, my father and I got into a fight. I had expected him to at least be home for my birthday, but he couldn’t attend. I had grown tired of the constant presence of people who despised me and so out of anger and frustration, I drank for the first time. I was nineteen, after all. The next morning, I woke up in my bed with no recollection of how I got there, but that wasn’t the worst of it. The worst part was that I was completely naked, and I could feel I was no longer a virgin. I tried to recall the previous night’s events, but I couldn’t, no matter how much I tried. I love my father; he means everything to me, and I’ve always known that he loves me too. I only wished he wasn’t always so busy. He’s hardly ever home, and it makes me feel so alone. He couldn’t make it to my eighteenth birthday, which was a big deal to me and he had promised me he would never miss another special day. I was angry, and at the time, I felt like maybe I was wrong; perhaps he didn’t love me as much as I thought he did. One is supposed to make time for the people they love, but he just couldn't. Since I was a little girl, my nanny had to attend all my school functions and every other event that required a parent to be present. He keeps telling me he’s building me an empire and looking out for my future, but that’s not what I want. All I ever wanted was a present father. He had disappointed me countless times, and being trapped with an evil stepmother and her wicked offspring only exacerbated the pain. Gulping down shot after shot, before I knew it, I couldn’t even stand properly. The pain had successfully numbed. I plopped down on the sofa, and just then, I heard a familiar voice next to me. I turned my head to find Oliver offering me a drink. The action surprised me, but I took it. Oliver Ashton is Daniel Ashton of the Ashton Cooperation’s son. Daniel, his father, is a billionaire and reputedly a Mafia boss. They own several malls, clubs, and other businesses that I don’t know about. All I know is that they are rich and very powerful. My father’s also a well-known businessman and is not doing badly either, but the Ashtons have more money than us. They are the fourth richest in the world, and my father comes in at number fifteen. When my father entered into business with Mr. Ashton, Oliver and Carter started hanging out and became friends. Carter and his mother were sometimes very mean to me in front of Oliver, and it always made me feel very embarrassed because I liked Oliver. I think he’s hot, with his red hair, which always looks silky soft, and mesmerizing green eyes. I even like the full-sleeve tattoos on his arms. They suit him. He, however, was always so indifferent to me, which is why I was surprised by his gesture and the smile he had on his face. This was the first time that I had ever seen him smile, and it was beautiful and contagious. We conversed for a while and I even remember him getting up to take a phone call, but that’s where my memory stops. I don’t remember what happened after that—only fragments, where I see myself moaning as I lose myself to the stranger. My clothes were scattered all over the place like it was a passionate reunion between two long-lost lovers, and I had hickeys all over my body. I was traumatized by the gravity of the situation. I lost my virginity to a stranger. Whenever I caught someone looking at me, I couldn’t help but wonder if they weren’t staring at me because they were the ones. I couldn’t sleep for a long time after that. My academics suffered. I was not coping and could not share it with anyone. I didn’t know how to talk to my father about something like this, and I had no one else to talk to. I felt unsafe and wished he would just come home because even if I couldn’t tell him, I still felt better when he was around. I felt safe. Eventually, he started a project in the country, and that made his business trips short. I started getting better, accepting what happened to me and trying to put it behind me, even if I could never forget, but I tried to live again. My father finished his project and was on the road again, but it didn’t deter my progress. I felt like myself again until nine months ago. I started getting sick and found out I was pregnant. Gripped by panic, I hid it. I didn’t know what to say. My stomach started showing, and eventually, I was discovered. I confessed to my father what had happened, and he was angry. He tried to find out who it was, but he didn’t and I also never mentioned the part about Oliver because I didn’t want to start trouble with the Ashtons. I tried to talk to Oliver when he came over after the party, but he was back to his old self. He wasn’t the friendly Oliver I last saw at my party; he was his cold, intimidating self, and he said he never came back after receiving that phone call. When he asked why I was asking, I couldn’t tell him and just made up a reason. I suspected Oliver, and even after he denied it, I still suspected him. That is why I returned to him months later when I found out I was pregnant. I told him I was pregnant, begging him to confess if it were him, but he became outraged and threw me out with a warning. Since I can no longer terminate, my father wants me to give the baby up for adoption, but I don’t want to. I’ve begged him to let me keep him, but he refuses and gets angry. He’s directing his hatred for the father at the baby, but I haven’t given up yet. I’m hoping he’ll change his mind once he sees him. . . I’m still stirring the sauce when I feel this strange pain in my abdomen. I place my hands on my tummy by reflex, and it goes away, so I continue stirring. The pain keeps coming back, and every time it intensifies, I end up groaning, holding my stomach, when suddenly I feel something warm running down my legs. I look down to find a puddle where I stand. . ..................... Hours Later ..................... “Hey, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” My father asks, brushing my hair away from my face. “What happened? My baby, where- where’s my baby?” “Shhh… Relax; it’s okay. He’s fine, but you need to be okay. You lost consciousness after the delivery.” “I’m fine, dad. Please, I want to see him.” “It’s not a good idea, sweetheart. The people will be here in thirty minutes to get him.” “No, Dad, please. I’m begging you; please just let me hold him. I want to hold my baby, please.” I clutch at his shirt, crying and begging. I won’t be able to live without my baby. “You think this is easy for me? This is not easy, but it’s for your own good. Just trust me; one day, you’ll understand, " he says, and just then, his phone rings, and he gets up to answer it. “Dammit!” I hear him curse before he comes back inside and a moment later I hear him talking to the nurse, telling her the people will come in the morning. “Listen, I need to go, okay, but I’ll be here first thing tomorrow morning,” he says, now walking over to me and placing a gentle kiss on my forehead. But I cut him, feeling like I'm losing my mind with desperation. “Dad, can I hold him just once, please?” “We’ve discussed this, Caitlin; you knew this day was coming. Now rest, please, so you can get out of here and go back to your life," he says but what life? “There’s no life without my baby, please. Why can’t you understand? Mother wouldn’t want you to do this to me.” “Your mother would want me to do what’s best for you, and this is what’s best for you.” With that, he walks out and leaves me crying out for him. “Dad! Daddy! Daddy! Please! Plea-se!” I scream until he disappears, my heart beating like it's going to stop at the thought of never seeing my baby. . . “Hey, I just came to check on you and see if you need anything,” says the nurse assigned to me by my father as she enters the room about three hours after my father left. We own this hospital. “My baby,” I say, raising my head, my voice hoarse from all the crying. “I’m sorry, honey, but you know I can’t do that.” “Please. Please do me this kindness. I promise I won’t tell my father, please; I only want to hold him once. My heart hurts so much; I feel like I’m going to die. Only five minutes, please; I’m begging you.” I plead, trying to get up and she freaks out. “What are you doing? You need to lie down,” she says, trying to prevent me from getting off the bed, but I slide down and kneel at her feet, begging her. “Please, please, I’m begging you.” I choke and after a moment she lets out a sigh. “Okay, okay, I’ll bring him, but only for five minutes. And you cannot tell your father.” “I won’t; I’ll never tell him. Thank you, thank you so much,” I thank her while she helps me up, and hug her, shaking with sobs. She tenses up, probably not expecting the hug, but I feel her reluctantly put a hand on my back. After a moment, she pulls back and leaves to get my baby. A few minutes later, she returns with him, but just as she’s about to hand him over, her pager goes off. “Sorry, but I’m needed. I’ll come back with him-” “-No, no, please just leave him with me; don’t take him away," I plead and she hesitates for a minute, but reluctantly hands him over to me. My tears won’t stop flowing as I look at my baby boy. He’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. He opens his eyes, and they’re green, and I know they look like his father’s. “I love you so much,” I tell him as I place a gentle kiss on his forehead. The nurse leaves and tells me she’ll be quick. I can’t let them take him from me. So I get up on my shaky legs and wrap him using the hospital sheets. Slipping my slippers on and then the hospital robe, I open the door and look around. The corridor is clear, and there’s a door on the left, but I’m not sure where it leads to. Quickly getting out of the room with my baby, I head to that door. I’ll figure out what to do next from there. Trying to go out of the main entrance would be risky. There’s a flight of stairs going down and I take them and end up in the laundry room. I quickly grab a big towel that looks warm and lying on top of one of the washers, then head to another door. This one leads to another flight of stairs, and I take them, careful not to slip. My legs feel weak, as if they could fail me at any moment but I have to keep moving. After ascending three flights of stairs, I am relieved to spot an exit door that opens up to the parking area. My baby starts getting restless, and I head to the bus stop, where I put him down on the bench and wrap him with the towel I found in the laundry room. I decide to stay out of the lights and head to the park, where it looks dark. I see what looks like an old man lying on a bench, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply raises his head, looking at me, and I try to walk faster. I never cared to walk around when we came here on vacation, so I know nothing about this place. If we were back home, I would at least have an idea of where to go. I’m scared, but I’m more afraid of getting caught. The nurse must have discovered we are gone by now, and they’re most probably looking for us. This is my only chance, and if they catch me, I’ll never see my baby again. My heart is beating fast as I hear sirens from a distance, and more tears start coming out of my eyes, blurring my vision. I come to an intersection and I try to cross quickly. However, just then, I hear a car coming behind me. It’s playing loud music, and I begin to pray it passes, but it stops. “Hey, sweetheart, where are you going?” A guy speaks, and I try to walk fast and keep my head down, ignoring him, but they keep driving next to me. “Where are you going this time of the night with a baby? Is this your baby?” Another one speaks loudly, emphasizing every word. “You’re scaring her.” I hear a girl’s voice. “It’s not safe for you and your baby out here. Where are you going? We’re going downtown and could give you a lift if you’re heading that way.” The girl says while I try to figure out what to say but just then, I hear the sirens getting closer. Panic grips me and even though I have no idea if these guys can be trusted, I look at her and reply. “I’m going downtown too," I say with a shaky voice and she nods. “Good, hop in. We’re going to the heart of spades. We’ll drop you.” . ............. Clinton ............. “Damnit! I don’t believe this! How far can a girl with an infant baby get in the middle of the night in an unfamiliar city? Bloody incompetent! The lot of them!” I throw my phone on the table, frustrated to the point of bursting. What the hell did I do? “Honey, please calm down; they’ll find her.” I hear my wife say, but how can I when I don’t know where my little girl is? “When?! Who knows where she is or what’s happening to her right now?! f**k! Despite my strict instructions to keep that damn baby away from her for this very reason, they still gave it to her! They had to bloody give it to her!” I fired that bloody nurse on the spot. Why would she go against my orders? “I shouldn’t have forced her to give up the baby; I should have tried another way.” “Hey, you didn’t know this was going to happen. You were doing what’s best for her-” “-And where were you? You should have been there with her-” “-Okay, I get that you are stressed and worried, but that’s not fair. You know I had to be at that event. I would have canceled if I could; you know that,” she says, with a hurt look in her eyes, and I realize she’s right. I’m being unfair to her; she’s done nothing but love my daughter ever since she came into our lives. It’s not fair for me to blame her; she didn’t cause this. I did when I assumed she’d just let me take her baby away without doing anything. I was counting on the orphanage people to be there already by the time she gave birth, but something happened, and they couldn’t make it. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” “It’s okay, honey. I know. Listen, I’m going to call Declan and check how their search is going, okay? I’ll call Carter, too. You sit and take a minute to breathe. You’re no good to her when you’re like this. We need to keep our heads clear. She couldn’t have gotten far. We’ll find her.” ................................................................... ⚠️ Before starting the story, be aware that this is not a fluff romance, but a romantic suspense book. It will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions, so if you know your heart can’t take it, be warned. There’s also s*x, violence, and strong language. The story has multiple POVs. They don’t repeat the same thing, but if you don’t like multiple POVs, this story is not for you. ...................................................................