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The Mafia Proposal Series

Book One

THE DEAL

Talia Ellison

Copyright © 2017 Talia Ellison

All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior permission in writing from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Chapter 1

Eight years ago

“MOM, WHY DO we have to hide?” I asked. Her big brown eyes full of worry turned toward me, and a smile spread across her lips.

“It’s okay, honey. Don’t be afraid. Everything’s going to be fine.” She plastered a soft kiss on my forehead, then gently traced her fingers through my long dark brown hair.

Two days ago, my parents had whisked my brothers, my sister, and me away from our home and taken us to a cabin in the middle of nowhere. My dad’s most trusted guards were posted outside, and they were armed to the teeth. But even though my mom kept saying I shouldn’t worry, I could tell something was terribly wrong.

I looked up at my brothers, who were gathered around a big table in the corner of the room. They were talking in hushed voices with my dad and he was pointing at something on the map. My dad’s right-hand man, Hugo, stood close to my father, his wide shoulders tense, his hand constantly hovering over his holstered gun. I’d never seen Hugo with his brows drawn together with worry before.

“They won’t win this war,” my dad said, his blue eyes—the same color as mine—flashing with determination. I assumed they were the Ezzatis, our family’s biggest rival.

“Arianna,” my mom softly called my name, but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the table. What had we done to the Ezzatis that they hated us so much? Why was my dad talking about war? And why did no one ever want to explain to me what was going on?

Shots rang out outside, and a gasp escaped my throat. My sister’s face paled, and my mom only hugged me tighter. My dad and Hugo looked at each other, and my dad nodded. Hugo pulled out his gun and headed outside.

“Keep your heads down,” my dad said with an unfamiliar desperation in his eyes as he turned toward my mom, my sister, and me. My mom motioned for my sister to come closer, then pulled us toward the wall. The three of us huddled together on the floor while my dad and my brothers were getting their guns.

“How did they find us? You said we’d be safe here!” my sister whispered in a trembling voice.