Page 8 of Mafia King's Surprise Baby

I don’t know when I’ve drunk it all; I was parched.

My lips are wet—thank goodness I didn’t let any drip onto my dress—and I run my tongue over them to catch any lingering drops.

There’s an audible hitch next to me.

Everything inside me stops when I glance at Leo. His eyes are locked on my lips, two slashes of color on his defined cheekbones.

I can see his hand closing into a fist as his jaw tenses.

Why?

I can already picture him unfurling that big hand on my neck, his long fingers flicking off the pins, keeping my hair up as he tugs me closer to him, drawing my lips to his.

“Leo.”

My gasping his name seems to snap him out of a spell.

He blinks, then it’s like a mask falls onto his face. He’s now stern, severe, in control again.

Did I make him lose control?

Heady thing to envisage, but also the last thing I should think of right now. He could have kissed me if he’d wanted.

Except, he hadn’t wanted, it seems.

I swallow the disappointment back and steel myself.

Leo Pellegrini is five years older than me and my brother’s best friend. They grew up together, which means he knows me since I was a kid.

To him, I’ll probably always be a child.

So be it. It’s not like I could’ve done my all to change his mind. I’m destined to marry someone else. Soon, too. The next wedding in the family will be my own. To a man I know in name only.

It’s my duty, and we, daughters of the Mafia, know duty is expected of us even more than from sons. There’s literally no way out for me except through death.

“Bianca?”

His deep voice shatters the quiet in the limo and also the dismal thoughts in my mind.

I can’t let him know I was fantasizing about him kissing me, about me getting the guy, namely him. It’s been a running fantasy for me since the age of fourteen, and I’m sure I’m not the only girl thinking such thoughts. All the single ladies tonight willfight over him as much as they’ll jostle to get the bride’s bouquet during the toss.

“I really thought today wasn’t going to happen.”

“Why do you say that?”

I shrug. “Something Hana said.”

Or didn’t say, more like. Now that I think of it…

“Has Mattia ever told you he’s in love with Hana?”

Leo frowns. “Well, he married her, didn’t he?”

“Yes, but…”

“Hana’s never said it?”

I nod. “And their kiss wasn’t very convincing, was it?”

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