The Mafia’s Wanted Desires

ASHLEY

I was slouched against my chair, which was opposite the reading table that was in my room. I was dozing and jerking my head off. Then, I jolted upright like I had been doing for the past few hours. I tucked away a stray strand of my hair that I had tied in a messy bun earlier, and I removed my glasses, wiping the dirt off, and then I wore them back.

I shook my head lightly and continued typing, determined not to fall asleep. I had to finish drafting Genevieve’s meeting schedule for the month. If I didn’t, I might actually get fired this time around and I wouldn’t want to do anything to get on her bad side anymore.

Not again. At least.

My phone sounded with a loud ding, a hint that a message had just popped up on my screen. I halted what I was doing and picked up my phone, then I saw a message from Dawn.

Dawnie

We are coming in!

I furrowed my brows and got up from my chair, ambling to my living room where I found my door wide open with Dawn and Ivana snuggled up against each other on my couch, obviously waiting for me.

“How the hell did you guys get in?” I queried, folding my arms across my chest with a frown plastered on my face.

“Hello to you too, Ash. We have been very fine without you. Thank you for asking!” Dawn snapped, her voice coated with sarcasm.

I sighed.

Ivana didn’t say a word to me. She just sat there, staring at me with this look of colossal disappointment.

“Over two weeks, Ashley,” She began, sitting up and I swallowed.

“We have been calling and trying to reach out to you, but you totally shut us out. Your mom called me yesterday and was crying bitterly on the phone, that she was worried about you and you weren’t saying anything to her.” She exhaled. She seemed exhausted, I could tell by her red-rimmed eyes and the mess of her hair.

Dawn wasn’t left out either.

They have been worried about me…

I let out a shaky breath and plopped on the sofa heavily, bursting into tears. The duo didn’t say anything to me. They left me alone and allowed me to cry my eyes out.

“I’m sorry,” I hiccuped, wiping my eyes.

“You shouldn’t be apologizing to us. Apologize to your mom.” Ivana stated, without mincing words.

“She should apologize to us too!” Dawn snapped and I fought the urge to roll my eyes at her pettiness.

Ivana left the couch she was seated on and walked toward me, taking her seat beside me on the sofa. She pulled me to her side and I hugged her, sighing in contentment and basking in her scent as she kissed my hair.

“We know the breakup with Adam hurt you, but you can’t keep living like this, Ashley. You have to start living for yourself.” Ivana voiced out and I choked out a sob. I wanted to tell her everything. Everything that happened, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

They didn’t have to know.

“We didn’t break up,” I sniffed against Ivana’s shirt and I heard Dawn snort.

“Girl, are you kidding me?! What the hell are you still doing with the asshat? This guy isn’t for you! He’s a deadbeat boyfriend. Why haven’t you seen that?” Dawn shouted in exasperation and I groaned.

“I don’t want to talk about him, Dawnie.” I took my head off Ivana’s shirt and rolled my eyes. She snickered and came over to the couch, pulling me into her arms and smothering my face with kisses, eliciting soft giggles from me.

“I’m so sorry, girls.” I apologized and they flashed me an assuring smile.

“We are going out!” Dawn announced.

“What? No! I have a shitload of work I need to attend to.” I countered and Dawn shook her head, disagreeing with me.

“Work can wait, Ashley. It’s the weekend. Dhur!” She sassed, wanting me to see her point.

“Dawn is right, Ash. Work can wait. Now, get your butt off that chair, and let’s go get you dressed up.” Ivana said sternly and I pouted.

“It’s an order, Ashley.” She added, quirking her brows at me.

“Ugh! I hate you two!” I said through gritted teeth and they giggled, doing a loud high-five.

“Can’t we just stay indoors and watch Netflix?” I whined.

“No!” They snapped in unison.

I heaved a sigh and nodded my head, getting off the sofa and they trailed after me as I headed to my room. My room was a mess.

I had left Ivana and Dawn to it about thirty minutes ago. I was sprawled on my bed, munching on the bucket of fries that we ordered about an hour ago, with no care in the world.

“Girl, what are these clothes?!” Dawn cried out in frustration and I snorted.

“You need to go shopping!” Ivana snapped.

“Yeah, we are adding that to the list of things we are doing today,” Dawn noted.

“Seconded,” Ivana said in agreement.

“What? No! We are not adding it to the list of things that we are doing today!” I growled, folding my eyes under my chest. The duo shot me a look, daring me to challenge them.

“This is kidnap!” I whined, defeated.

“We are going to a pool! You have to look hot!” Dawn said in her defense.

“Yeah, the pool you guys rented out for the day.” I shrugged casually, giving them a scorned smile. Dawn flipped me off and rolled her eyes.

“You might still snag a hot waiter,” Ivana grinned cheekily and nudged Dawn, who giggled in return.

How the hell am I friends with these rascals?

“Yeah, never say never!” Dawn squealed and I palmed myself.

“I don’t want to snag or shag anyone!” I debunked, getting defensive and the girls faked a shudder.

“I___” I opened my mouth to speak, but Dawn beat me to it.

“I found it!” She shrieked, pulling out a black two-piece bikini. I cringed at the sight of it and at the thought of wearing it. It was so little! How was I supposed to wear something this revealing?

“Oh my goodness! Ashley is going to look hot in that.” Ivana squealed.

“Guys!” I yelled and they turned to me.

“I can’t wear it. It’s too revealing.” I grumbled and they glared at me. I almost shrank into a ball at the intensity of their gazes.

“No, it’s not.” Dawn frowned.

“You have said about the last twelve,” Ivana rolled her gorgeous amber eyes at me.

“Can’t I just wear something less revealing?” I queried, giving them my best puppy face.

“Ugh, stop being so difficult, Ash. Just wear it. We’ll help you tweak it, I promise.” Dawn urged me and I sighed. I got up from my bed and snatched it from her, sauntering into the bathroom and slamming the door shut.

I pulled my robe off, leaving me bare.

I inspected my naked body in the mirror and sighed, before putting it on. The black material that was the bra, had the straps coming up to my neck and around my back in a criss-cross style. It cupped my boobs perfectly and revealed a generous amount of cleavage.

They looked fuller and bigger.

The panties were more of a thong, covering my private parts, but it left my butt cheeks bare. My curves were on full display, including my flat tummy I never knew I had. I grabbed my perfume and applied it to my neck, massaging the seductive scent onto my skin.

I applied a little on my wrists, then I wore my robe and stepped out of the room.

The girls cooed at the sight of me.

“We want to see!” The girls cheered me on. I chuckled and took off the robe. The girls were quiet for some time, leaving me to start worrying if they thought I looked good or not.

“Girls?” I called impatiently.

“Adam doesn’t deserve these babies,” Dawn spoke up, her gaze roaming my body.

“Yes, he doesn’t. You have the best body, Ashley! God, you should see yourself right now!” The compliments rolled off Ivana’s tongue, effortlessly.

“Girl, look at those boobs!” Dawn pouted and I giggled, getting red in the face.

“You can wear the red shirt on it.” Ivana grinned at me, nudging her head in the direction of the red shirt hanging on the chair before my dresser. I squealed and wore the large button-up shirt on my bikini, then I twirled for the girls.

“Red is your color!” Dawn yelled.

“Come on, girls. We have to go.” Ivana announced. I turned to her, giving her a once-over. She looked hot in her yellow flower print bikini. It was a three-piece; Bra, panties, and then, a cutout long-sleeved top that stopped around her upper bust.

Dawn was clad in a pink one-piece that had a plunging neckline, showing a lot of cleavages and hugging her curves like a second skin. She had her black shades tucked in her hair.

Then, I smirked.

“Let’s do this!”

True to Dawn and Ivana’s words, they had rented out the whole pool for our use. They went all out and requested touch-ups in the pool area. The likes of rose petals, balloons, and all. And when I asked them, they said ‘Anything for you, baby girl.’ I didn’t know what I did to deserve these amazing humans.

We were currently in the pool, lying on the air mattress with our legs soaked in the water. They were right. It was so relaxing.

“Nothing beats a good relaxation spot,” Dawn said softly with her eyes closed and I giggled.

“Oh, honey, I know.” Ivana buttressed her point.

“Ashley?” Ivana called.

“Hmm?” I answered.

“Will you call your mom?” She asked me and I sighed.

“I don’t know, Ivie. Mom has been on my case since forever. It’s messing with my mental health. The last time I went to the Cafe for our usual family weekend, we fought. I couldn’t stay for what I came for…” I paused, getting teary-eyed.

“Being with Mom is so draining for me right now. I can’t deal with her incessant nags about the man I love. I know she doesn’t like him, but can’t she at least respect him for my sake? Just for peace to reign. I love him. I love Adam.” I wiped my eyes, sniffing.

Liar! Liar! Liar!

My subconscious screamed at me.

“Aww, sweetheart,” Dawn cooed, her eyes flashing with pity.

“I’m so sorry, Ash,” Ivana paused, glancing at me with an encouraging smile.

“Just send her a text and let her know that you are okay. She’s really worried about you. Can you do that for me, sweetheart?” She requested. I stared at her for a moment and nodded my head with a smile.

“I__” I got cut short by my ringtone and I groaned.

“Excuse me, girls,” I told them and got into the water, swimming to the edge of the sun-lounger, where my phone was. I got out of the water and picked up my phone.

I paled at the sight of the display name.

My heart thumped wildly in my chest, and my fingers shook terribly, leaving my breath punched and bruised. I let out a harsh breath and squeezed my eyes shut, trying to rein my tears in.

Adam was calling me.

The phone wouldn’t stop ringing.

I moved away from the pool and breathed softly, before picking up his call.

“Hello,” I whispered.

An unnerving silence was what I could pick up. It hung in the air, rendering it so toxic that my heart wouldn’t stop pummeling loudly against my chest, and I feared it would jump out of my chest.

“Ashley…baby?” He called me, his tone reeking of desperation.

“Are…you…are you there?” He whispered.

I sniffed.

“What do you want, Adam?” I asked, grouchily.

“Baby, I just want to talk. I want to talk to you.” He rapped out all in one breath and I scoffed.

“You hit me, Adam! You hit me! You have verbally abused me for as long as I can remember! You don’t care about me, Adam. You are just using me for your sick pleasure!” I yelled into the phone, enraged and my eyes brimmed with tears.

“Ashley, no! No! I love you and you know it. I was just really angry. I didn’t mean to hit you, Ash. I love you so much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” He paused, taking a breath.

“I want to make amends if you’ll let me. I want to earn your love and your respect. I want to be that man you fell in love with if you’ll let me, baby. I want to do right by you. Baby, please.” He let out a strangled sob and I chuckled humorlessly.

“I don’t care, Adam!”

“I don’t give a damn if you want to change or not! I’m done with your annoying ass!” I growled.

“Babe, please…”

He sounded so broken. His breaking voice tugged at my heartstrings, softening them a bit.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

I massaged my forehead and sighed.

“I don’t know, Adam. You hurt me. I don’t know if I want to do that with you again.” I was crying profusely, wiping the tears that streaked down my face.

“Babe__”

I hung up on him.

I groaned and untied my hair from the bun I had wrapped it in and shook my hair off. I clutched my phone tightly in my hands and sighed.

“Just play it cool, Ash.” I gave myself a pep talk and with that, I went back to the girls.