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

to high school and college, they shinwi tadini awas. I would mayhe get a version of it once or twice a year. But since I left that cage,

worse than nightmares. They 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

nice eye candy 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 and affection I secretly craved

to be

wearing his gardening gloves

The driveway.

name I went by now, at least that is what my license and bank account

the office to put my things. It was just ten in the morning now. I loved the retulithe morning. We usually can’t get anyone until closer to noon so there was plenty of time to prep for the dinner menewed the menu for mans and reviewed the current inventory. I had started prepping veggies when Liam sauntered in uhmu

minutes prepping and catching up on the gossip. Liam’s girlfriend was a wealth

apparently seen these really good–looking men passing through the Valley and staying in one of the towns

even sance I didn’t live here for long, but I even

those same men were on the prowl for a specific

she walked into the

buildings.

sang back. She came and took a cut strawberry from the choppm; buds and

her mouth

planning on making for Chef Choice today dear? All of your creations are simply wonderful.”

Wh..

burger today Sam” Please? Liam begged. He even gave me his puppy dog eyes. Ever since I taught him my serren van meerpe, he

time we did burger, it was always a big hit. “Okay. Why not?” I said smiling. “Is that okay Mrs. Katherine?” I looked at my Hou who was still popping

we began to have customem and

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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 is beautiful,

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 straight?” Jesse is always