From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 10

Chapter 1

I can’t order a coffee in French to save my life, yet somehow I’m dating a diplomat who speaks eight languages.

On my birthday, I showed up at the fancy European restaurant Silas had booked, buzzing with excitement.

The waiter circled back seven times with that pitying smile before my phone finally lit up:

[Emergency at work. Already ordered for you–eat without me.]

Then I made the mistake of opening Instagram.

Wren’s post was right there at the top:

Silas holding a menu, leaning across the table to hand her a disposable bib.

Her caption?

[Been abroad so long, someone’s worried I forgot how to read English and might starve lol. Thanks for dinner, lifesaver~]

And just like that, my appetite died.

I shoved the incomprehensible French menu back at the waiter.

“One of everything.”

By the time I’d stress–eaten my way through half the menu and dragged the leftovers home, I had forty–seven missed calls

from Silas.

His last message was a voice note:

“Babe, don’t overthink this. Wren just got back–she’s completely lost. I was just helping out.”

“Next time, I PROMISE, we’ll do something even better for your birthday.”

I didn’t reply.

A relationship built on “next time” promises?

Yeah, I’m done.

I never thought I’d run into Silas at a bar.

My best friend and I had barely ordered when someone grabbed my arm.

13:48

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile, Ex

6.5%

Chapter 1

Silas looked at me like I’d just committed a crime.

“Sloane? You ignore all my texts, then show up here drinking at midnight?”

Before I could respond, my friend yanked my arm back and glared at the woman behind him.

“Seriously? You can roll up here late–night with her, but we can’t have a girls‘ night?”

Silas rubbed his temples.

“It’s not like that. Vivian had clients who wanted to hit a bar. I came along to make sure nobody got too wasted and ended up in trouble.

“Plus, I texted Sloane about it. She just never replied…”

With that, he actually sounded hurt.

I checked my phone.

He was right–there were several messages I’d ignored, including where he’d be tonight.

Honestly? I was shocked.

Silas never volunteered his whereabouts.

Early in our relationship, I’d casually asked how long his business trip would last, and he’d lost it.

“Sloane, people need space. Can you stop tracking my every move?”

I’d apologized repeatedly until he finally let it go-

but not before making it crystal clear I was never to ask about his schedule again.

I locked my phone and shrugged.

“My bad. Didn’t see them.”

Silas’s jaw tightened.

That’s when Wren stepped closer.

“Si, if Sloane’s upset, you should take her home. I can just grab an Über–totally fine.”

My friend and I clinked our glasses.

I didn’t even glance up.

“I’m not upset. You two do whatever.”

13:48

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile. Ex

6.7%

Chapter 1

Silas frowned, studying me like I was suddenly speaking a foreign language.

“Sloane!

“Come on, babe. Just head home, and after I drop Wren off, I’ll pick up a few pounds of crawfish and we’ll drink all night.

Deal?”

Silas was obsessive about keeping the apartment spotless.

Strong–smelling food? Absolutely banned.

So after we moved in together, I gave up BBQ, hot pot, crawfish–everything I actually loved eating.

I figured he was just desperate to get Wren settled so he could leave, so I nodded.

“Sure. Go ahead.”

He looked genuinely surprised I’d agreed so easily.

He reached over and ruffled my hair like I was a golden retriever.

“That’s my girl. Wait for me at home. Already called you a ride.”

He left so quickly.

Didn’t notice me pull away from his hand.

By the time I got home, it was 3 a.m.

Silas was standing in the hallway, clearly about to come looking for me.

He glared.

“Sloane. Do you see what time it is? You’re not some teenager who stays out all night just because she’s mad.”

I was too exhausted to deal with this. I tried to walk past him.

He stepped in front of me.

“Stop being so jealous over nothing. If Wren and I wanted to be together, you think you’d even be in the picture?”

Then he pulled out a jewelry box.

“Here. Your birthday present. You’re another year older now–maybe it’s time to grow up.”

I was too tired to even look at it. Just grabbed it and headed straight for the bedroom.

“Great. Thanks.”

OD

Chapter 1

I tossed it onto the nightstand without a second thought.

Whatever.

I crawled under the covers and shut my eyes.

Behind me, the front door SLAMMED so hard the walls shook–but I was already too far gone to care.

Out cold.