Tired of Being Second in My Mafia's Boyfriend Heart

I woke up with a throbbing pain in my head, my body stiff and cold. It took a moment for the fog in my mind to clear, and when it did, I wished it hadn't. The first thing I noticed was the smell—a pungent mix of oil, rust, and damp concrete. My wrists and ankles were bound, the rough rope biting into my skin, and I was sitting on a cold metal chair.

I blinked against the dim light, the murky outline of an old warehouse coming into focus. My heart pounded as I struggled against the ropes, wincing as the coarse fibers burned against my skin. I tugged harder, hoping they’d give, but they held firm. My body was sore from being thrown around, but the pain was nothing compared to the fear tightening in my chest.

A door creaked open behind me, and I froze.

Footsteps echoed across the concrete floor—slow. I craned my neck to see two men approaching. Their faces were hidden beneath ski masks, their dark clothing blending into the shadows of the warehouse. The taller one stood a few feet away, arms crossed, while the shorter one squatted down in front of me, his eyes hard and cold behind the mask.

“Call him,” the shorter man ordered, his voice rough and unforgiving.

I swallowed hard, confusion clouding my mind. “Call who?” I asked, my voice hoarse.

“Don’t play dumb,” he snapped, thrusting a phone into my face. “Lewis. Tell him we’ve got you, and he better pay if he wants to see you again.”

Lewis.

My heart skipped a beat. Of course. This was about Lewis. He was the heir to the Gudecelli family, one of the most powerful mafia dynasties in the city. This wasn’t the first time his enemies had tried to get to him through those he loved, and now I was here.

With trembling hands, I took the phone, my fingers slick with sweat as I dialed his number. The phone rang once, twice, three times. My breath hitched, the fear swelling inside me. Come on, Lewis, pick up.

The line clicked, and my heart lifted for a brief moment, but then—

“Hello?” It wasn’t Lewis.

I froze, the blood draining from my face. It was a woman’s voice, smooth and familiar. Too familiar.

“Candice?” I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady.

“Stephanie,” she said, her tone laced with cold amusement. “What’s going on? It’s late.”

My mind reeled. Why was Candice answering Lewis’ phone? I forced the words out, my throat tight. “Where’s Lewis? I need to talk to him—it’s important.”

A light laugh escaped her, chilling me to the core. “Oh, sweetie. Lewis is busy right now.”

“Busy?” I repeated, my voice cracking. “Busy with what?”

There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear the faint sound of fireworks in the background. “We’re watching fireworks by the sea,” she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “It’s been a beautiful evening.”

My stomach twisted, bile rising in my throat. I tried to process what she was saying, but the words didn’t make sense. Lewis was with her? Watching fireworks while I was tied up in a warehouse, begging for help?

“Put him on the phone, Candice,” I demanded, desperation creeping into my voice. “Please, I need to talk to him.”

Candice’s laugh echoed in my ears, sharp and cutting. “Oh, Stephanie,” she sighed, as if speaking to a child who just didn’t understand. “He doesn’t care about you anymore. You really thought you were that important to him?”

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. My mouth went dry, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. This had to be some kind of mistake. Lewis loved me. We were supposed to spend my birthday together. He had bought a ring.

My heart shattered. The world seemed to tilt, and for a moment, I thought I might pass out again. “No,” I whispered, shaking my head as tears blurred my vision. “You’re lying. Please, I need help. I was kidnapped and they—-”

Candice’s voice turned icy. “I don’t have time for this. Enjoy your birthday, Stephanie. Lewis is done with you.”

The line went dead.