The Four Mafia Men and Their Prize by M C

47 Amore Mia

Aurora POV

Beep. Beep Beep Beep. Beep.

“Okay, okay, I’m up!” I say begrudgingly into my pillow, throwing my arm over to my little nightstand and trying to blindly find that blaring, annoying alarm that dared to disturb my slumber.

Another day in bright and sunny Valley Summers. It’s in the middle of freaking nowhere and honestly I loved it. It was peaceful. The people here were sweet and minded their own business.

This area is called Sulfur Valley because it used to be a mining area. There are like ten small little towns in a literal valley surrounded by the Rockies and a dense forest. It took me about four days to drive to this area and the directions just stopped once I entered the first town. So I decided to stay.

Thomas had given me $25,000 in cash and there was a bank account with a debit card that had like $100,000 in it. I made sure to use cash for everything. I spent my first month going Trom town to town, staying in different locations, constantly looking over my back, waiting each day in the solace of a single room for my demons to return and take me back to their gilded cage.

After the first month, I relaxed and decided to settle into a town. My little studio apartment was fully furnished with a queen–sized bed, dresser, small sofa and even a nice sized TV mounted to the wall. There was a bathroom with a simple shower and cute little kitchenette with a two–burner gas stove, a refrigerator, and even a dishwasher. It was only $600 a month and I paid for a year upfront in cash. It was over the garage and had it’s own entrance. My landlords were an older gay couple who had a lovely two–story Victorian style weatherboard house right one the edge of the town. They completely renovated the home and decided to build a spare apartment. They were a sweet and salty pair, Mr. Carson, the salty one, and Mr. Kent, the sweet one. It was simple and perfect.

About two months ago, I was feeling rather lonely. I had spent most of my days helping Mr. Kent in the garden or walking into the town square. I even volunteered at the local school library just to pass the time. But I wanted to do something meaningful. I had gone over to the next town over called Vales Fallow to check out the hardware shop there when I came across a sweet little restaurant that had a “Grand Opening” sign for one week from then and a Help Wanted sign in the window. I knew what I wanted to do.

So long story short, I called the number on the sign and began talking to Mrs. Katherine, the owner of Amore Mia and I went in for an interview, or rather a taste test because I offered to be her chef. I made my signature burgers and well, I was hired on the spot.

We are open six days a week from eleven in the morning to ten at night. The first two weeks were slow, but then word got around and business was booming. Luckily I had help in the kitchen with a college age kid Liam. I taught him some recipes and we spent our down time coming up with new crazy ideas and tested it on each other and then customers if Mrs. Katherine approved of the dish. Liam was a good kid and a quick learner, funny as hell too. I really enjoyed this new life.

I looked at the clock and it was nine in the morning. I got up, did my morning routine, made a much–needed cup of heaven juice, also known as coffee, and got dressed for the day.

I had woken up early this morning from a nightmare and eventually fell back asleep which has caused me to feel even more tired. The last few months my nightmares have returned. I used to get this same nightmare every night as a kid

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47 – Amore Mia

tadini awas. I would mayhe get a version of it once or twice a year. But since I left that cage, I have been getting it evers myth and it was exhausting.

were fantasy dreams that let my care aching. I’d take the scary shadow man with the husky vile voice any day over dreaming about being venged by

and even though they hurt me and caused me so much pain and turmoil, they still took care of me. They showed me the attention

to be free.

Samantha” Mr. Kent greeted me and waved still wearing his gardening gloves when I made my

The driveway.

the name I went by now, at least that

noon so there was plenty of time to prep for the dinner menewed the menu for mans and

the next twenty minutes prepping and catching up on the gossip. Liam’s

through the Valley and staying in one of the towns the last few days on some potential business

bee dunsti even sance I didn’t live here for long, but I even knew that Liam’s girlfriend Leal

men were

she walked into the kitchen from the front of the

buildings.

morning win. Tucherine” I sang back. She came and took a cut strawberry from the choppm; buds and

her mouth and

for Chef Choice today dear? All of your creations are simply wonderful.” Vim.. Katherine was always se complementary. She was such a cute

Wh..

begged. He even gave me his puppy dog eyes. Ever since I taught him my serren van meerpe, he has

burger, it was always a big hit. “Okay. Why not?” I said smiling. “Is that okay Mrs. Katherine?” I

enough we began to have customem and the lunch hour went

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47- Amore Mia

of the waiters) and Tabitha, the hostess with a bad attitude, walked in. Jesse is gay and fresh out of high school. Tabitha is like a wannabe barbie. She just makes me uncomfortable. She

plating counters, and he is fanning himself. “We got some new customers. Ten beautiful chunks of meat that are going to make me die a very happy man tonight when I go home. Why do they have to be so gorgeous and clearly