Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 84

Chapter 84: "Very Badly"

It wasn’t until late the following morning that Aren finally stirred from her sleep.

Heavy curtains kept the brilliant sunlight at bay, leaving the bedroom dim, pleasantly cool, and wrapped in a sleepy stillness.

The first thing she became aware of was the comforting weight of an arm draped around her waist and the steady warmth of a broad chest pressed against her back.

Next was a familiar breath ghosted across the nape of her neck, slow and even, while the tip of a nose brushed lightly against her skin.

A soft smile curved her lips before she even turned around.

’Ah... he kept his promise.’

Relief followed immediately.

’Thank God his men didn’t reach me in time last night.’

Carefully, she turned within his embrace until she was facing him, slipping an arm around his waist in return.

Almost at once, his hand rose to sweep a loose strand of hair away from her face before his lips settled into a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"Only waking up now, hm?" he murmured, voice still rough with sleep. "You slept for a long time."

Aren blinked up at him. "Did I?"

"You did." His thumb absently combed through her hair. "I woke up several times, and you were still completely out. I didn’t want to disturb you."

"Oh..." Her gaze drifted toward the drawn curtains. "Is it really that late?"

"Must be close to noon."

"Then why are you still here?" She turned back to him with curious eyes. "You’re usually gone for work long before this."

Caio looked down at her with mild reproach.

"Didn’t I promise I’d be here when you woke up?" he reminded her. "Besides," his expression softened, "I gave the men the day off. Mobilizing the entire force last night was a massive operation. They earned a break."

Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her bruised cheek.

"And so did I."

Aren leaned into the kiss, her nose brushing lightly against his.

"What time did you get back?"

"Hm..." His fingers continued stroking her hair. "Late. I never checked the time. By the time I got back, you were already asleep."

"Oh..." She hesitated before asking quietly, "And... what happened to your cousin?"

"He’s in my prison now," Caio answered without hesitation. "Locked in a cell down on the detention level, having the absolute time of his life."

"And Daria?"

"There too. Probably telling my interrogators every detail about how she handled the poisonings during the year she spent here as Gael’s mole."

Aren frowned thoughtfully.

"How did she poison them, though?"

"It was a contact poison," Caio explained. "It absorbed slowly through the skin. Took several days of repeated exposure before it became lethal, but it left virtually no trace. Daria made casual visits to the laundry facility and coated the prisoners’ uniforms with it. Gael supplied the poison."

His gaze darkened almost imperceptibly.

"Apparently, a few people inside my laboratories were supplying him with it as well. That department is overdue for a thorough cleanup."

"I see..." Aren murmured.

After a brief silence, she asked the question that had lingered at the back of her mind all night.

"And... what about your aunt?"

Caio didn’t answer immediately.

’Should I tell her everything? About my father... about all of it?’

His gaze drifted toward the ceiling.

’No.’

’The moment she learns the full story, she’ll make it her personal mission to hunt Liviana down herself.’

After another quiet moment, he cleared his throat.

"Liviana already fled the city. Leo’s handling it. Don’t worry. They’ll find her soon enough."

Aren’s expression softened with disappointment.

She hated knowing the woman had slipped away. Without thinking, she began rubbing slow, gentle circles across his back.

"I’m glad you weren’t hurt," she said softly.

A smile spread across Caio’s face, warmed more by her touch than by the words themselves.

"I had my entire vanguard with me."

Then something mischievous flickered in his eyes.

"Though... there were a few things last night that didn’t quite go according to plan."

Aren stiffened immediately.

"What things?"

His smile widened.

"Well... a particular sniper rifle somehow disappeared from the strike force’s inventory..."

He paused just long enough to savor the growing apprehension on her face.

"...and then, rather miraculously, reappeared after everyone returned to the estate."

The color drained from Aren’s face.

’Oh no.’

’No, no, no... the capo was only doing what I asked him to do!’

’He shouldn’t take the blame for this!’

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