Page 53 of Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss

“I’ll give you some privacy,” Chiara says.

“No! Stay here.”

If she’s out there in the hallway, who knows what can happen to her?

Her lips part in surprise, but she sits down.

“How are you feeling?” Rocco asks, but I can see his eyes are troubled.

“What’s going on? Did you catch Matteo?”

“No. He’s still out there, and... we have a problem.”

“What kind of problem?”

“Our systems got compromised, and Matteo knows about most of our hideouts, if not all of them. He knows aboutthis place too, and his men might be here anytime. I set up everything to defend the clinic, but the cops might show up too, and you’re in no condition to fight and—”

“We need to get out of here.” We’re sitting ducks, and I don’t want to confront Matteo now when I can’t even get out of this fucking bed.

“I know, but it’s not easy to find a place where you’ll be safe on such short notice. Matteo’s spies could be anywhere, and we’re scattered. There have been other attacks.”

“Fuck.” I glance at Chiara.

Can I send Rocco with her somewhere safe? Maybe Matteo wouldn’t find them, but I don’t want to take that risk.

“What about my house?” Chiara asks.

Rocco and I both look at her.

“You picked my neighborhood because it’s easy to defend, right? Will anyone even think you might be there? Because we can get there without anyone seeing us. Even if my neighbors see me, I don’t think they’ll tell anyone. I mean, they’re regular people.”

“You would want me in your home?” Does she regret not having left me to die?

But it’s Chiara. She’s not going to kill me in her own home. She’s one of the rare people I can lower my guard around right now and be sure nothing will happen to me. Her only attempt at killing me was out of pure fear.

“Yeah, until the danger passes.” There’s a strange glow in her eyes, as if she knows something that I don’t, but I don’t have time to dwell on it.

“That might actually work.” Rocco scratches his chin. “If Chiara stays there too, it won’t be suspicious to her neighbors.”

“But what about your parents?” I ask.

“They can stay with my uncle. I spoke to them earlier, and they’re a little shaken, but after they see I’m fine, I’m sure I can convince them everything’s okay. But... I have some conditions.”

“You want to keep your home and your restaurant,” I say with a smile because I’m sure I’m right.

It’s a smart move, and that explains why she’s still here. If she had left me for dead, someone could’ve saved me and she wouldn’t be in the position she is in now.

She gives me a nod. “And my family and I walk free and stay alive.”

The corners of my mouth lift up. She must’ve watched enough movies wherewalking freeactually means dying.

Rocco raises his eyebrows as his gaze meets mine. “I could—”

“No. Chiara and I have a deal.” Right now, all I care about is making sure Chiara is safe and with me, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Now’s not the time to be reckless and go after Matteo. I need to recover my strength first.

Even Gennaro always talked about recovery time and being at your best when you confront your enemies. I need to be at my best to defeat Matteo and Gennaro. Later, I can rethink my project and see what happens.

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