Missed Connections

Missed Connections RED WIDOW CREW A.D. MARIE A.D. MARIE BOOKS Contents Content Warning 1. Sofya 2. Liam 3. Sofya 4. Liam 5. Sofya 6. Liam 7. Sofya 8. Liam 9. Sofya 10. Liam 11. Sofya 12. Liam 13. Sofya 14. Liam 15. Sofya 16. Liam 17. Sofya 18. Liam 19. Sofya 20. Liam 21. Sofya 22. Liam 23. Sofya 24. Liam 25. Sofya 26. Liam 27. Sofya 28. Liam 29. Sofya 30. Liam 31. Sofya 32. Liam 33. Sofya 34. Liam 35. Sofya 36. Liam 37. Sofya 38. Liam 39. Sofya 40. Liam 41. Sofya Sofya Author Note Copyright © 2023 by A.D. Marie 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. The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred. Book Cover by Jules Content Warning Hello Lovely Reader, Friends and family turn back now. No, seriously. Turn away. Don't read this book. Our relationship will never be the same if you read the more spicy scenes in this book. Kay, Thanks. For everyone else: I am happy you have chosen to pick up this book. It means a lot to me, and you mean a lot to me. Missed Connections is a dark mafia romance. As such, it contains dark and violent themes and situations that may be triggering to some. I care more about your health and wellbeing, than you reading my book. If any of these are triggering to you, I urge you to choose a different novel. Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, Choking, Dubious Consent (nonverbal consent), Gang Affiliation, Grief, Human Trafficking, Loss of Loved One, Name Calling, Physical Violence, Shame, Spanking, Sub/Dom relationship, Suicidal Ideation, Suicide, Praise kink…To see a full list of triggers please visit my website. This book is dedicated to the couple that I overheard in the airport restroom. You are an inspiration to everyone. Chapter 1 Sofya "Are you sure?" he whispered in my ear. His muscular chest pressed against me as he cornered me against the cold bathroom stall wall. I wasn’t sure. I haven't been certain of anything lately. Not since Daniel. But this was more than enough to awaken a fire in my core. A long-lost feeling that I didn’t know I had been craving crawled its way forward. For the first time in the past year, I felt alive. The man’s rough hands caressed my exposed skin. I swallowed hard and opened my eyes. I stared up at him through my lashes. His intense green eyes stared back at me. My gaze traveled down to his lips; the scruff lined his mouth and curled over his pronounced jawline. The smell of wood filled the small stall of the public restroom. Mystery Man was the opposite of Daniel in every way. From the broad shoulders, the facial hair, the huskiness of his voice, and the bruised knuckles on his hand that he wore like a ‘come fuck with me’ advertisement; he was different. And I desperately needed the exact opposite of Daniel. I shouldn’t be thinking of him anymore, I thought to myself as the stranger ran his fingers through my hair. I hadn’t even gotten his name first. I was not this person, generally. Maybe I had been possessed or finally had been driven to insanity. Whatever caused this newfound persona, I was embracing it tonight. I had only met this man about ten minutes prior. Mystery Man had stood across the lounge from me in the airport bar. I tapped my fingers rhythmically against the bar-top and recrossed my legs. I stirred my straw in my glass, listening to the tinkling of ice cubes as I tried to soothe my nerves. My visit back to my hometown was meant to be a short one: a quick turnaround flight. And that was enough for me. I didn’t want to be in this city anymore. But fate had other ideas. My flight had been delayed enough that even if I got onto it, I would miss my connecting flight home. I entertained going onto my flight anyway, even if it meant missing my connection. Being trapped in an unfamiliar city sounded better than being in one I knew. Give it one more hour before you call it, I thought to myself. Hair prickled along the back of my neck, and the feeling of someone watching me washed over me. I glanced around the room, taking note of the small details. Mystery Man leaned against the corner booth; his legs spread out in an arrogant display as if he owned the place. The piercing green eyes drew my gaze first. Daniel had deep oak brown eyes that I couldn’t forget, no matter how much I tried. Beyond the color difference, Mystery Man’s eyes held an intensity in them, a fire behind them that tempted me to fall deeper into them. I was the prey walking through the forest of his stare. And he looked ready for the hunt. I smiled and waved politely before turning back to my drink. "Traveling far?" Mystery Man approached and scooted onto the bar stool next to me. I felt the coolness of the glass as my fingertips tapped against it. I had been out of the flirting game for too long. A three-year relationship would do that to you. My hands instinctively went to move to the necklace tucked underneath my shirt, but I thought better of it. I kept them wrapped tightly around the glass. "Mhm...Chicago." I took a sip of my drink, the rum stinging the back of my throat. "Work or pleasure?" he asked. "Family. Pleasure is a possibility, though." I let my eyes wander over him, drinking in every detail. His knee pressed firmly against mine as his hand rested casually atop his blue jeans. He radiated