From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer novel Chapter 14

Chapter 5

Silas panicked and slammed his hand against the door.

what I

“Wait–Sloane, that’s not what I meant.”

Only when he stopped looking like he was about to blow a gasket did I ease up on the door.

He practically shoved his way inside, terrified I’d lock him out.

“Sloane, please don’t be mad. I just–I wasn’t thinking straight.”

Then came the promises.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you. I just walked in and saw you with some random guy in a foreign country and thought maybe he was–I don’t know–taking advantage or something.”

Liam let out a cold laugh.

“Sorry, gotta jump in here.”

“Funny how you suddenly care about Sloane being alone in a foreign country.”

“Especially one where she can’t even ask for directions.”

Silas went white. He grabbed for my hand.

“Sloane, yesterday was crazy–I know. But I got Wren’s passport sorted. From here on out, I’m all yours. I swear I won’t leave your side.”

He stared at me, waiting for me to soften.

I didn’t.

I pulled my hand back.

“Don’t worry about it. You stick with Wren. Liam and I already have plans.”

Silas looked like I’d just gut–punched him.

“What? No.”

“Sloane, are you seriously still upset about Wren? We’re together. How could I just ditch you to hang out with her?”

I almost laughed.

How many times had he done exactly that?

13:49

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile. Ex

910%

Chapter 5

He was going to find out about the breakup eventually. And I sure as hell wasn’t letting him and Wren ruin the rest of my trip.

I thought about it for a second, then just said it.

“Silas, we’re breaking up.”

He looked like I’d just hit him with a taser.

Took him a solid minute to even form words.

“Sloane, you’re pissed. I get it. But you can’t just throw around breakup threats every time we fight.”

I let out a long breath.

Fair enough–I’d just blindsided him with zero context.

Fine. I’d lay it all out.

Better to rip the band–aid off now so we could both walk away clean.

I glanced over at Liam, feeling a little bad.

He read the room instantly. Grabbed his stuff from the bathroom.

“I’ll head up and change. Back in a few for the camera.”

He held up his hand like a phone.

“Text me if you need backup.”

I shot him a grateful look.

The second Liam was gone, Silas slammed the door shut and locked it–twice–like he thought someone might bust in.

I dropped onto the couch and nodded toward the chair across from me..

He just stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish. Couldn’t get a single word out.

Terrified of saying the wrong thing and making it worse.

Finally, he managed:

“Wren’s passport… she actually lost it.”

He was watching my face like his life depended on it.

When I didn’t react, he started spiraling.

“Sloane, I’m serious–there’s nothing between us. There can’t be anything.”

13:49

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile, Ex

9.7%

Chapter 5

I nodded.

I didn’t care what was or wasn’t happening with Wren anymore.

Why was he still wasting both our time with this?

Seeing me like this, Silas’s face went tight.

“Sloane, what’s gotten into you?”

I tilted my head.

“What do you mean? This is what you’ve always wanted.”

Back when he’d stay overnight with Wren, I used to blow up his phone–calling every five minutes like some paranoid girlfriend who couldn’t let him breathe.

His solution? Blocked me. Everywhere.

mez

And when he finally unblocked me? Made me swear–over and over–that I’d stop “being jealous” of Wren before he’d even consider adding me back.

Now I was handing him exactly what he’d asked for.

So why was he acting like I was the problem?

It hit me how ridiculous this all was.

I’d thrown away years on this joke of a relationship. Almost turned down a promotion because of him.

God, I’d been such an idiot.

When I looked back up, I felt something lift off my chest.

“Silas, we’re over. I don’t want this anymore.”

(0)

13:49

From Mob Princess to Mugshot Photographer: Smile, Ex