Running from the Garden with Eden

Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Irene Bahrd All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Author Note: All names, characters, businesses, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover created in Canva by Irene Bahrd. Dedication For all the shes, theys, and gays who always thought it would be really cool to be adult-napped by a deliciously attractive crime daddy. Content Warnings This is a high speed ride that includes sudden and dramatic acceleration, many orgasms, and may cause motion sickness. It is not recommended that you partake in this roller coaster if you have a heart condition. Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the ride at all times. A hand in your pants is not required, but highly encouraged during certain dips, drops, and the occasional backward motion. All joking aside, Running from the Garden with Eden is a satire mafia romantic comedy. It is intended for mature audiences. There is explicit, on-page "adult fun" between the main characters. It is an open-door romcom, so definitely expect it to get hot and spicy in here. Please note: This book does contain the following tropes and content that may be difficult for some readers. Breeding kink (MMC) Short-lived love triangle (FMC and two MMCs) Firearms (Everybody. This is the mafia.) Language (Many f-bombs. Again, this is the mafia.) Unaliving (No MCs) Praise (FMC and MMC) Brat taming (FMC and MMC) Playlist Brent — "Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt Eden — “Blank Space” and "Don't Blame Me" by Taylor Swift Gio — “Blurred Lines” by Robin Thicke Tom — “Wonderwall" by Oasis Sofia — "Billie Eilish" by Armani White Rachel — "You Should See Me in a Crown" by Billie Elish Sarah — “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. Contents Brent 1. Eden 2. Eden 3. Gio 4. Tom 5. Eden 6. Tom 7. Gio 8. Eden 9. Tom 10. Eden 11. Tom 12. Eden 13. Tom 14. Eden 15. Tom 16. Gio 17. Eden 18. Sofia 19. Eden 20. Tom Eden Acknowledgments About Irene Also by Irene Bahrd Brent Prologue “What if they… you know…” “Kill you? They probably will, if you’re caught. I promise you, Brent, she will be safe.” Mamma promising her safety is not reassuring. Eden is like fireworks on Fourth of July—she could never handle being part of their family. It would dull her sparkle. Gio will try to bed her. Gilberto will try to convince her to give up every cent she owns and gamble it away. And Tom… I don’t know about Tom. He’ll probably fall in love with her, like I did. “How? How can you protect her, when I can’t?” She pats me on the shoulder. “I’ll ensure her safety. She'll part of my family.” “I know.” That’s what I’m afraid of. Chapter one EdenSix Months LaterKNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! Who the fuck is at my door at… 3am? I roll my tired ass out of bed and put on my slippers. It’s cold enough to freeze my nipples off. I’m not about to open the door to some cop or debt collector and be uncomfortable in the process. I throw on my robe and head for the front door.Brent has been missing for six months. Just up and left. I could really use him or a big growly dog right about now. Preferably a dog. Dogs don’t have gambling addictions or mob ties.I look through the peephole and it doesn’t look like your typical server of warrants or a pizza delivery boy. No, that’s the leading man of porn I was watching out of boredom last night. He’s tall, with dark hair and a perfectly trimmed beard. He has to be of some kind of Mediterranean descent, but there is no way in hell I would ever be able to pick it out in a line up. This guy has to be at least 6’4”, so I grab my bat that is leaning against the side table. I may be smaller than him, but I am mighty!“Oy, who’s there?” I yell in the best Boston accent I can muster—which is honestly dreadful. Do they even say ‘oy?’ Or is it more of an ‘eh?’“Mrs. Griffin, open the door.” This guy isn't police. Maybe the mob? Brent has been racking up quite the gambling debt, so I might be living in my own version of Casino. I wouldn’t mind getting whisked off by John Mencia. Just saying.“No hablo Ingles?” I don’t speak Spanish. I doubt these guys do either. Shit, I forgot I’m supposed to be from Boston. “I mean, how do you like them apples?” Not much better, but a Good Will Hunting reference should hold me over 10 seconds. Damn it, I definitely need to get a dog.“My men will kick down your door in 10 seconds if you don’t open up for us.” Through the peephole, I spot four men behind him. He adjusts the sleeve of his collared shirt under his suit jacket. A man who can dress properly and afford an Armani suit? Add to cart.I open the door; it’s a lost cause. I don’t want my front door busted open. What would Karen down the street think? “Come in boys, how can I help you?” I come face to face with the man in my entryway. Time stops, and I swear I hear the chorus of “Dream Weaver” by Gary Wright playing. The stranger stares down at me with his beautiful dark brown eyes and I drop the bat. I’m rooted in my place, frozen and speechless like I’m in a movie. He has to be the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. Fuck Brent, I’m going to be a mafia wife now.He clears his throat. “Mrs. Griffin, there’s a debt to be paid. You are