Dark Mafia Bride: An Arranged Marriage, Secret Baby Romance (Mafia Vows)
Dark Mafia Bride: Chapter 28

The space beside me is empty when I wake up. A wave of déjà vu washes over me as I slide my hand over the cold sheets where she slept last night. It transports me back to our first night together, when I woke up to replace her gone in the morning. But today…today feels different.

Yesterday was intense—so intense that even as I drove back to my office, all I could think about was the taste of her lips, the way she felt in my arms, and the sound of her moaning my name as she reached her climax.

But it wasn’t just that. I can’t shake off the regret I felt when I saw the hurt in her eyes. I was furious, wanting to lash out and make her feel the anger that boiled within me when I saw her with another man. Yet, as my words landed, I realized how deeply I regretted them when they hit their mark.

I stayed in my office until it was late, until I was sure she must have fallen asleep. And then I came home with mixed feelings. Part of me wanted to replace her in our bedroom waiting for me. Wanting me. Another part of me was terrified…at how fast my heart pounded in my chest when she was in the room, how I craved her like the air I breathe, how I can’t seem to do anything else but focus on her when she’s near.

I’ve fallen for Mirabella.

Fuck.

I’ve done the one thing that I swore I would never do—fall for a woman. But, oh, how stupid I was to think feelings like this could be controlled. How dumb I was to think I could resist the overwhelming force.

Love? It sounds like a strange concept, but that’s the only word to describe the way she consumes my entire being, the way I want to live and exist for her.

I am in love with Mirabella.

A groan slips out of my lips as I get up from bed. It’s a Saturday, so I’m sure she’s at home. She’s probably with her family in the east wing of the house, and all I can think of right now is replaceing her.

After brushing my teeth and showering, I throw on a simple shirt and a pair of casual jeans before stepping out into the hallway. My bare feet pad over the marble floors as I make my way down the stairs and through the large hallway left to the foyer.

As I approach the small living room ahead, I hear voices—laughter, arguing, and cheering. The atmosphere is completely different from the rest of the house. The scattered mugs on the side table and the throw blanket bunched up on one of the sofas add to the cozy vibe. It feels lighter, airier, and undeniably happier.

The voices grow louder, and when I walk in, I’m met with the delightful sight of the whole family—Mirabella, her sister Giulia, her mother Isabella, and her Nonna—all crammed together on the plush L-shaped couch, eyes glued to a horror movie. Isabella seems detached, alternating between sipping from her large mug and laughing at Giulia’s quips.

But the others? They’re completely unfazed. On the big screen, a character tiptoes down a dark hallway as eerie music swells. I can sense a jump scare coming, but instead of flinching, they sit, unblinking and entertained.

Isabella is the one who spots me first. Her eyes widen in surprise before her face splits into an easy smile.

“Ettore!”

That’s when the rest of the family turns to me. My gaze locks onto Mirabella’s, and I see something flicker in her eyes before a deep blush spreads across her cheeks.

“Um…what are you doing here?” Giulia is the one who blurts out first. She looks genuinely shocked, but there’s a mischievous glint as she glances at her sister.

Mirabella, who notices this, nudges Giulia’s waist with her elbow.

I can’t help but laugh. “Should I leave or…?”

“No, no,” Isabella speaks, throwing a glare her daughter’s way. “She’s just shocked, as am I, but Giulia here doesn’t have a filter.”

“There’s a spot here,” Giulia says excitedly, scooting to the side, closer to her Nonna, who still hasn’t said anything since I stepped into the room. She taps the open cushion beside Mirabella, declaring not so subtly that I should sit beside my wife.

I walk over and sink into the seat, my shoulder brushing against Mirabella’s. “Hey,” I say, glancing down at her.

She turns to look at me before pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “Hey.”

A sensation travels through my entire body, instantly heating me up. I smile and turn to the TV, and that’s when I notice the looks everyone in the room is giving me…well, us. Giulia wears a grin, as if the whole scene is amusing to her. Isabella looks genuinely pleased to see me here. And Nonna…well, she glares at me as if she’d prefer I vanish.

There’s an awkward tension in the room, and it’s completely ridiculous. We’ve spent nights together, done dirty things to each other, and yet sitting here surrounded by her family makes me feel like a teenager.

Giulia finally breaks the tension by nudging me with her elbow. “So, Ettore, you like scary movies?”

“Depends on the film,” I reply, leaning back. I watch as a character tumbles to the ground while being chased, struggling for what feels like an eternity before finally getting up just as the monster is about to pounce. “I think this one could use some better acting.”

Mirabella rolls her eyes, a small smirk playing on her lips. “So now you’re an expert in movies?”

“There are a lot of things you don’t know about me,” I murmur, relishing the way her pupils dilate as she watches me.

Nonna, clearly unimpressed by my presence, mutters under her breath, “Oh, what a surprise.”

I suppress a smile and meet her sharp gaze. “You seem to have a lot on your mind, Nonna. Care to share?”

“How long did my granddaughter know you before you dragged her into this…union?” she shoots back.

“Long enough to know I wanted her in my life,” I reply easily, and she huffs in response.

“You’re used to getting what you want, aren’t you? Is that part of the Greco package?”

“Nonna,” Mirabella sighs, shooting her a slightly pleading look. “Can we maybe save the sarcasm for another time?”

“No harm done,” I say with a smile, which only seems to make her even more irate.

We settle back into the movie, and just as a suspenseful scene builds, the lights flicker off in the film. The music swells, and the character finally opens a door she was running toward to reveal…nothing. Silence envelopes the scene until, out of nowhere, a hand reaches out from the shadows to slit the girl’s throat.

“She deserved that,” Giulia mutters at the same time Nonna sighs. “How many of them are left now?”

Mirabella jumps slightly, and I take advantage of that to pull her into my arms. She stiffens for a split second before relaxing into my embrace.

“Scared?” I murmur in her ear, catching a whiff of her strawberry-scented shampoo.

“No. You?” She asks softly.

I slide my arm around her waist. “What do you think?”

Mirabella doesn’t respond, but I feel the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes heavily.

Minutes pass and the movie concludes on an annoying note—no one survives.

The next film features a Halloween-themed party that spirals into chaos as a spirit haunting the house possesses the partygoers. Great concept, but the execution falls flat. Nonna grumbles, “Another silly ghost film where no character has a survival instinct,” while Giulia leans forward, completely engrossed.

Minutes tick by, and in another infuriating note—no one survives.

At some point during the movie, I notice how at ease I feel. Mirabella’s family seems relaxed and comfortable in a way I haven’t witnessed in my own household. My family? We’re tense in every situation, and each gathering is an exercise in business and social appearances. Even the obligatory dinners at the dining table do little to unite us. Instead, they become a battleground for sharp jabs and accusations.

But here, it’s clear they love each other unconditionally. They might bicker or disagree, but they are relaxed in each other’s presence. The thought stirs something deep within me—an ache for laughter and carefree moments, a longing for a warmth I’ve never truly known, especially since my parents passed away.

As the film plays on, Giulia can’t help but interject with humorous commentary after every plot twist, while Nonna remains with her arms crossed, muttering critiques under her breath.

I feel a sudden coldness seep through my chest when Mirabella leans away from me and gets on her feet. Her phone buzzes in her hand, and she smiles as she stares down at the screen. As she walks away while tapping on the screen, I can’t ignore the grin that’s curling on her lips. My chest tightens with curiosity and a pang of jealousy, and before I can think it through, I stand and follow her out of the room.

She’s leaning against the kitchen counter when I catch up, and before she notices my presence, I sneak up behind her and swipe the phone from her hand.

She gasps, spinning around. “Ettore…”

“Who’s got you smiling like that?” I ask, flipping the phone over in my hands, pretending to read whatever’s on the screen.

Her eyes widen, and a flush creeps up her cheeks. “Ettore, give that back.” She glances toward the living room, her voice dropping to a hush.

I grin, slipping the phone into my back pocket and closing the space between us. She gasps again, but for a different reason now as I cage her against the counter, my hands planted on either side of her.

“Beg me,” I say, my voice dipping low. Her breath hitches, and I can feel her pulse quicken as I lean in.

“Ettore…” Her voice is a whisper—part warning, part moan.

“Just say the magic words, Bella,” I murmur against her lips, feeling myself harden as my hands slide along the sides of her slip dress. I trail my fingers over her waist, then down to squeeze her ass.

“Please,” she breathes, her voice barely a whisper.

I steal her next breath away by lowering my mouth to meet hers. She moans the moment our lips touch and reaches for me, grabbing fistfuls of my shirt to pull me even closer. My hands tighten on her ass while her fingers dig into my shoulder before sliding up into my hair.

Our tongues fight for dominance as the kiss gets deeper, wetter, hotter…

I slide one hand between her legs, and as expected, she’s already wet.

“Ettore,” she gasps when I slide two fingers into her heat. “My family…they’re just in the other room.”

“I’ll be quick,” I murmur, pumping her slowly. She bites her lower lip to hold back her moans, a pained look enveloping her face. “Or I can take you somewhere more private so I can do inappropriate things to you,” I say against her lips.

She grabs my arm in an attempt to stop me, but I can tell she wants this just as badly as I do. I slide my hand out of her pussy before bringing it up to cup her face.

“Say the word, and we are out of here.”

Someone clears their throat loudly behind us, and we both jump apart like guilty teenagers. Standing there, arms folded, and eyes narrowed, is Nonna.

“Mirabella, your mother needs her medication,” she says, but her piercing gaze is aimed squarely at me.

Mirabella scrambles away from me, her face turning a deep shade of red. “Of course, Nonna,” she mutters hastily, giving me an apologetic look before hurrying back toward the living room.

Nonna’s stare doesn’t waver, and I meet it with a defiant smirk. I don’t know exactly what Mirabella has told her family about our arrangement, but I have a feeling Nonna would strangle me if she had the chance.

Too bad for her, I’m married to her granddaughter, and no one—least of all her—will come between us for the next year.

Amused, I tilt my head in silent acknowledgment. Nonna huffs, narrowing her eyes at me before turning and walking off. I head back to the living room, sinking into the sofa as Mirabella hands her mother a bottle of capsules.

We settle back into the next movie, but in the quiet moments between the scenes, I can’t help but wish that life could stay this easy and light forever.