Rooted in Sin
A Dark Mafia Romance
Chapter One
Hannah
A car screeches into the alleyway behind Garden of Eden, my flower shop.
Armando’s cousin, Marco, who was stationed in the alleyway to protect me, whirls, hand reaching for the gun strapped to his side.
I instinctively flinch, my heart stopping. A guy leans out of the open window, gun raised and aimed directly at us. Time seems to slow as Marco's eyes widen with realization. “Get down!” He lunges toward me, throwing me to the cold concrete ground behind the garbage dumpster.
Marco’s body shields mine as the deafening sound of gunfire fills the alleyway. He lifts his gun to return fire, but before he can, he’s hit.
Pain flares in his eyes. His body jerks.
I scream. Blood splatters everywhere, and some of it pools on my legs, hot and sticky.
“Marco!” My voice is barely audible over the cacophony of gunfire hitting the metal dumpster.
My hands tremble as I reach out to touch him, the reality of the situation sinking in. This is no random act of violence—we were targeted.
“Stay down,” he grits through clenched teeth, his body trembling from shock or adrenaline.
Even as his blood pools between us, he never takes his eyes off me, as if determined to protect me at all costs.
Oh God.
I’ve already seen one man die in the last week. Already been exposed to the violence of Armando’s life. But that death felt surreal. Like watching a movie. Marco is a man I know. Armando’s cousin. If he dies–
No, I can’t even think it. He’s still breathing. He seems alert.
Voices shout from the car, "That's not him" and "Go! Go! Go! Go!” It speeds away, leaving a cloud of dust and the sound of squealing tires as the only evidence of the drive-by.
That’s not him.
They were trying to kill Armando, and they came to my shop. To the alleyway behind it. Does that mean they’ve connected me to him?
Is he no longer safe in my apartment?
That thought chokes me.
Marco's blood keeps draining, staining my clothes and skin. He groans and rolls partway off me, trying to push himself up.
“Take it easy. I’ll call for help.”
I search for my phone and see it cast to the side. Armando. I was speaking to Armando before this all happened.
“Armando!” I cry out, trying to pull my legs out from under Marco’s. “Armando, Marco’s hit!” Maybe he can still hear what's happening and now knows we are both alive but in danger.
Almost as if summoned by my voice, Armando appears at the mouth of the alleyway, his eyes wide with panic. He takes in the scene before him—Marco injured and me covered in blood and shaking uncontrollably.
"Hannah!" He runs to us, but his gaze is only on me.
“I'm okay, but Marco's hit."
“Madonna mia, what the fuck happened?” He crouches beside us, his hands hovering over Marco, like he’s unsure where to touch or how to help. Fear is etched on his pale face, a vulnerability I've never seen from him before.
