All Chapters of The Return Of The Mafia Lord : Chapter 41
- Chapter 50
75 chapters
Chapter 41
Thursday. The day had finally arrived.Xavier pulled his black Ford Ranger up in Ari's small, ivy-covered house. He turned off the engine and took a moment, looking at the house. He was fully packed, his duffel bag sitting on the passenger seat.The front door opened, and Ari stepped out. She was dressed simply in dark jeans and a comfortable, oversized grey hoodie, her hair pulled back into a casual ponytail. She looked ready for a weekend of forced smiles and old history. He got out of the truck to meet her, leaning against the door.“Morning,” she said, her voice dry, already sounding tired of the day ahead.“Morning,” Xavier replied, flashing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes. “Ready for the weekend?”“Thrilled,” she muttered, walking over to the porch to retrieve her bag. It was a modest, deep-red suitcase.He pushed off the truck and met her halfway, easily taking the case from her hand. “Lead the way, Captain.” He opened the back door of the Ranger and slid her bag in nex
Chapter 42
Jonathan covered the distance between them in three long strides. His eyes, now framed by fine lines that somehow only enhanced his mature appeal, were fixed solely on Ari.“Ari! I can’t believe it’s really you,” he said, his voice deeper and more confident than the quiet murmur she remembered.Ari, still reeling from the shock, dropped her bags and stepped forward. “Jonathan! Wow. You—you look… so different. So good.” She meant it. The gawky intellect of high school had been refined into a breathtakingly polished man.“No one knows but I came because I heard you will be coming too” Jonathan told her with a smile.They embraced, a brief, genuine hug that lasted a beat longer than a casual reunion. Behind her, Xavier let out a soft, dry scoff.“He doesn't look that good. If you ask me” he muttered to himself Jonathan pulled back, an easy smile on his face, and his gaze finally flicked to Xavier. “And you are…?”“He’s my—,” Ari started, but Xavier cut in, stepping forward to reclaim h
Chapter 43
David checked his wristwatch and raised his hand high, holding a small electronic whistle.“Time’s up, everyone! I see all our pairs are lined up and ready!” he announced. “Remember, two yellow ribbons are hidden in the woods. The first two pairs to return with a yellow ribbon win a camping bus for the weekend! On my count! Three… Two… One… Go!”The high-pitched squeal of the whistle was instantly drowned out by a flurry of shouting and the pounding of feet. Alumni, suddenly reverting to their competitive high school selves, charged into the dense, pine-scented woods.Xavier spared one final, furious glance over his shoulder at Ari and Jonathan. His eyes were cold, delivering a silent promise,I’ll win this, and you will regret your pathetic choice.He then grabbed Tiffany’s hand, not gently, and began to run. Tiffany, her face already flushed from excitement and the thrill of touching a handsome man giggled breathlessly.“Wow, Xavier! You’re so competitive! I love it!” she squealed, c
Chapter 44
Inside the cramped tent, Xavier was a coiled spring of misery and frustration. The thin foam pad felt like sleeping on a bed of gravel. He tossed and turned.The shoulder he’d landed on throbbed with a dull, persistent ache, and the scratch on his face felt tight and raw. After an hour of tortured silence and pointless turning, Xavier gave up. He unzipped the tent flap as quietly as possible, the sound still loud in the dead of night.The clearing was swallowed in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of the dying embers in the fire pit. He made his way to the small, brightly colored tent marked 'First Aid' by a hastily drawn red cross. He fumbled with the zipper, his movements stiff. Inside, a plastic bin held the emergency supplies. He began rummaging for an antiseptic ointment and a bandage.“Looking for something, Xavier?”The soft, low voice startled him. He spun around, clutching a roll of gauze. Ari was standing a few feet away, wrapped in a thick sweater, her expressio
Chapter 45
The camp was still waking up, buzzed with the low thrum of activity. Tents were zipped open, the first hint of coffee smoke drifted from the outdoor kitchen, and the alumni, united by the obligation of communal living, began to sort out chores.Ari, dressed in a practical t-shirt and work jeans, was one of the first to volunteer for the less glamorous tasks."I’ll take the bathrooms and toilets," she announced to a grateful group. A collective sigh of relief went through the assembly, no one wanting the job of tackling the small, blockhouse structure at the edge of the clearing. Armed with a caddy of industrial-strength cleaners, she headed toward the outbuilding.Inside, the cinder-block room was functional but grimy. The job was more about sheer water-power than delicate scrubbing. She found the pressure washer stored in a small utility closet, dragged it out, and began the tedious process of hooking up the hoses. The engine sputtered to life, a loud, aggressive roar in the quiet mo
Chapter 46
“I’ll take the high ground,” Xavier said, his voice low and confident, already pointing to a slight rise just beyond the clearing. “Better vantage point. You have sharper eyes for detail,check the base of the trees and any markers.” Ari nodded. There was no ego in his suggestion, just solid strategy. They were deep into the woods,when Ari caught a flash of yellow-painted metal hidden beneath a pile of brush. “Hold up,” she whispered, crouching down. “Something here.” Xavier was beside her in an instant, his large frame dropping silently. He nudged the brush aside with the toe of his boot. It was a plaque, but the number was obscured by mud. He was about to reach for it when a voice boomed from the trail behind them. “Gotcha!” Jonathan and his partner, a tall, intense woman named Sasha, burst through the trees. “That’s ours, Ari,” Jonathan announced, his eyes shining with competitive zeal. He looked at the mud-covered plaque with a triumphant smirk. Xavier didn't move.
Chapter 47
Xavier was the first to wake in the morning. He felt a substantial weight resting heavily across his midsection.“Ugh. Must have rolled onto my gear,” he thought groggily, and began to push the obstruction away. He gave a firm shove, but the weight didn't budge,instead, it snuggled closer, accompanied by a soft, sleepy sigh.Xavier pushed again, harder this time, annoyed by the persistent obstacle. As it settled back against him for the third time, he finally forced his eyes open, ready to identify and relocate the offending object.He froze.It wasn’t gear. It was Ari.She was completely sprawled across him, having migrated the entire distance between their sleeping bags during the night. Her head was tucked firmly against the thick curve of his pectoral muscle, her breath warm against the base of his neck. One arm was draped possessively around his neck, the other tucked beneath his pillow. Her legs were tangled with his, her knees resting squarely on his thighs. Xavier went utter
Chapter 48
As Jonathan hovered over Ari, his voice dripped with solicitous concern. "You look a little chilly, Ari. Here, take this." He slipped off his cardigan and held it out to her, his eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made Xavier's instincts twitch.Ari smiled, slightly surprised, and took the cardigan, the scent of pine and cologne wafting from the wool. "Thanks, Jonathan. I left mine in the tent."“Were you able to sleep well?.... I mean being in the tent while it rained”“Yeah,I was able to.” Ari said and a smile crept on her face as she remembered how Xavier was helping her rub her palms together to keep her warm.Jonathan settled beside her on the log, his posture conveying remorse. "So, how have you been, really?" he asked, his voice soft.Ari shrugged, adjusting the sleeves. "I'm good. Ups and downs, but I'm happy where I am."Jonathan's gaze locked onto hers, his eyes earnest. "I'm glad to hear that. I've been wanting to apologize for a long time about us. I'm sorry we b
Chapter 49
After hours,Xavier finally got to the coffee shop , where their organisation was secretly run.Several of his men were already gathered, including Peter. The tension in the air was palpable, thick and cold. In the center of the room, tied securely to a heavy metal chair, sat a man in his twenties with wide, terrified eyes.Xavier walked directly into the center of the space, his entire demeanor changing“What’s going on?” Xavier asked Peter, his voice barely above a whisper.Peter stepped forward, nodding towards the man in the chair. “Found him, boss. He’s been orbiting the shop for days. Almost a week, maybe. We finally snagged him tonight. He was taking pictures. A lot of them.”Peter held out a burner phone. Xavier took it without a word, his gaze fixed on the captive. The images were quick, covert shots of Xavier leaving the building, Xavier getting into the SUV, Xavier having lunch with Peter. Pictures of Xavier going to work and leaving. He was basically being stalked. Xavier’
Chapter 50
It was Monday again. Ari made sure to wake up in time, not because she had made a mental note to be the best Secretary to Xavier, instead of always getting on his nerves and arguing over nothing. The best news, delivered in a corporate memo late. She knew she was going to have a great day when she got to work and saw that the executive elevator was back to work, meaning she wouldn't have to queue with the rest of the building's populace.She walked directly to the executive elevator and that was when she found Xavier already inside about to press the button. His head was down as he was scrolling through a tablet,so he didn't even know it was her who joined him in the elevator. He just stepped to a side A genuine smile crept onto Ari’s face. And for some reason,she felt happy that it would be just them in the elevator.“Good morning, Boss,” she greeted him, stepping inside.Xavier looked up instantly, the screen going dark as he returned her greeting. “Good morning, Ari. Your night's