Escaping The Mafia King

Hope woke up to the rays of sunshine warming her face through the blinds. Her head still pounded, but at least she didn't feel like she was fighting to stay alive. Varys was asleep at the foot of her bed, his arms used as pillows as he gently snored. With his hair all messed up, he went from the hot mafia boss to the cute boyfriend from so long ago. Well, cute soon-to-be-husband now.

She didn't want to wake him so she forced her body to calm itself as much as possible as she just watched him sleep. The day before's proceedings was a huge nightmare by this point and she had problems figuring out what was real and what wasn't.

The door to her room opened a tall, very handsome, doctor stepped in. His salt-and-pepper hair only added to his appeal. He smiled at Hope with his oh so perfect teeth. "I'm glad to see you are awake, and not likely to try to sing to me the periodic table this time."

She didn't remember that. "I did that?"

He chuckled at her. "You did a lot more than that, Ms. Hope. You've been in and out of it for three days now. I'm glad to see you and your partner in crime doing so much better. I was worried for a bit."

Hope smiled down at Varys again. "He stayed with me with me the whole time?"

"Oh, yes, he did. But I wasn't talking about that one. I was talking about the man known just as Max. Now that you're awake, he'll be requesting to see you. I have to admit, I was a bit surprised to see him come out of this sooner than you did. But I'm relieved you're both going to make a full recovery. You can even go home tonight."

Home.

Strange how that single word had changed into so many things in such a short course of time. No longer was home going to be a prison for her where her tormentor lived. No longer would she fear returning to it, or dread spending time in it. Home was going to be a place of love, even if it was with another mafia boss.

out the same way again? She knew Varys wasn't that kind of man, didn't she? But she'd thought she'd known Ethan at the time. Things had started out good for them, until one day they were not. Could such a

not want to

sleep through it." She combed her fingers through his hair and smiled at the softness. She could do that all day

and a moment later Max strode

this to him. If she'd never got involved, he would have been safe.

what you're doing. And I'm not going to have that. Stop blaming yourself. It was my own fault for running after a pretty girl that caught my fancy. I don't want to hear any blame coming from you. This isn't your fault,

about?" Hope pulled her covers

loves you, Hope. Not to say I didn't, I did, I still do, but I want what's best for you. As much as I hate to admit this, that's him. Besides, I've got a top

delay my wedding?

to give you away. If they're out there anywhere, leave

looked him up from top to bottom. "You look way worse off

forgotten my name, Hope. But I promise you, I'm getting them back, and we're all going to be there at your wedding. Those assholes had to have left evidence of where they were taking the others, and I'll find it." He gestured with a thumb at the sleeping Varys. "And

do what you said within a week, you can have the money to rebuild the whole thing. If you're later than that, you get half of it. I want to be married

"You're not giving me a lot

what happened to them, and get back by our wedding. If you don't, you're going to miss it, because I'm marrying this woman so