Page 8 of Triplets for the Mafia Prince

BELLA

My first thought at seeing Niccolo Nardone was a wish that I were betrothed to him because, wow, he’s amazingly handsome. He’s got a strong, chiseled chin and a full mouth. There's something cold about him. Calculated. He’s foreboding looking, making me wonder if he ever smiles and what he’d look like if he did.

His dark hair is worn short, but still long enough to form thick waves. His eyes seem to be a mix of green and brown… hazel? When my father introduced us, I thought I saw a flicker of interest in those eyes, but maybe I was imagining it.

He’s also not a senior citizen, like his father, although he's still much older than me. I thought it was funny that when I marry his father, Niccolo will be my stepson. He clearly doesn’t think it’s funny.

His words from a moment ago still sting. “You’re not the first stepmother I’ve had. You’ll probably not be the last.” What does he mean by that? A chill runs through me knowing the rumors about Don Nardone’s past wives. Is it possible it’s not exaggerated gossip? Or is he just being a jerk?

“Did you scare them off too?” I ask before thinking about the wisdom of being snarky to him.

He doesn't respond for a long moment. When he does, his voice is flat. "Let's not pretend this is anything other than what it is, Miss Rinella. A business arrangement."

I sink back into my seat, chastened. Fear and confusion swirl in my stomach. What has my father gotten me into?

Deciding Niccolo isn’t the chatty type, I turn my attention out the window, watching as Chicago's familiar streets roll by. The city I've called home for nineteen years is slipping away, and with it, everything I've ever known. My heart races, a mix of terror and exhilaration coursing through my veins. For the longest time, the excitement of going to New York and being out from under my father’s thumb outweighed the fear. But now, my anxiety is bigger as the reality of what’s going on truly hits me. It’s no longer an obscure plan. It’s real. I’m going to New York to marry Don Gino Nardone, a man older than my father with a scary reputation.

Ava's warnings echo in my mind, along with Nic's cold demeanor. There's so much I don't know about the Nardone family, about the world I'm entering. My mother’s explanation of sex comes back to me, and now I feel nauseous. I have to share a bed with this man. Surely, he’s too old for sex. Images of what it might be like with him touching me start to fill my head, but I quickly shake them away.

Focus on the positives, I tell myself. New York City awaits, a world of possibilities and adventures I've only dreamed about. Broadway shows, Central Park, The Met. My new life could be filled with glamor and excitement.

I clutch my purse wishing I put Ava’s burner phone there instead of in my suitcase. I wonder if I can get it out before we get on the plane.

“What the fuck!” Niccolo’s voice shatters the silence, followed by a deafening crack.

My gaze whips toward the front and I can’t process what I’m seeing. Niccolo and the driver are wrestling, their arms a tangle of limbs and fury. The car swerves one way, then the other, my body slamming into the door.

I scream, terrified of what’s going on. I’m well aware of the world I was born into, but I’ve never been thrust in the middle of it.

The car careens off the road, jolting over uneven terrain. My head smacks against the window, stars exploding behind my eyes. I taste blood, realizing I've bitten my tongue.

"Get down!" Niccolo yells. I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or the driver. Just in case, I curl into a ball on the floor, squeezing my eyes shut. This can't be happening.

Another gunshot.

Moments later, the car lurches to a stop.

“Fucking hell.” Niccolo lets out a stream of vulgarities. He peers between the front seats. “You okay?”

I nod, although I’m not entirely sure I am okay.

He exits the car and I wonder what he’s doing. What’s up with the driver? Is he dead? Is Niccolo now going to kill me too? A new wave of panic fills me as my door is yanked open.

“Do you know how to drive?” Niccolo barks at me, his face filled with fury. There's blood trickling from a cut on his forehead.

The question catches me off guard. "What?"

"Can you fucking drive?" he repeats, his voice sharp with impatience.

My mind must be short-circuiting because I find the question offensive. What does he think? I was raised without learning the basics of life, like driving? “Of course, I know how to drive. I'm not some helpless child."

“Good. Get out.”

I stumble out onto the street, nearly falling to my knees. As I try to wrap my brain around what’s happening, Niccolo opens the driver’s door and yanks him out of the car.

I nearly puke at the sight of the bloody and lifeless body. This world has always been a distant idea. I’d never seen it up close like this before. Why would anyone want to live like this?

Niccolo grunts and swears as he drags our driver toward the back of the car. For a moment I consider my options. I can run. I can get in the car and drive off without both of them. I look around, wondering why no one is stopping to help us. We're on some deserted road I don't recognize. Abandoned buildings loom on either side, their windows dark and empty. In the distance, I see the airport, but in this area there’s not another soul in sight.

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