Page 73 of Brando

Mia clears her throat, her voice a little too bright. “Right,” she says with a laugh that doesn’t quite sound like her. “What’s the rush?” Her eyes flick to mine for the briefest moment, as if to check if I’m as uncomfortable as she is. I’m sure I am. This conversation is hitting harder than either of us expected.

Lucky grins, clearly not catching the tension in the air. He’s enjoying this, pushing our buttons just enough to keep the conversation moving in the direction he wants. “Mia, come on,” he presses, leaning in with that playful smirk of his, “why don’t you marry the poor guy and put him out of his misery.”

I feel my stomach churn at the thought, but I don’t let it show. Not outwardly. Mia’s eyes flicker to me again, her face unreadable. She’s trying to play along, but I can see the discomfort in her shoulders, the way her jaw tightens when she’s pretending everything is okay.

I wish I could read her better, wish I could just reach into her mind and know what she’s thinking, what she’s feeling. But Mia’s always been hard to read. She hides behind walls, makes jokes instead of letting people in. It’s the way she’s always coped. And I understand that. But damn, I just want her to let me in.

Allegra lets out a quiet, exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes. But she’s smiling, trying to diffuse the tension without making it too obvious. I can see the effort she’s putting in to keep things light. We’ve been through too much as a family to let something like this get messy.

I feel Mia’s hand brush against mine under the table. It’s small, almost imperceptible, but I know it’s her way of saying she’s okay, that she’s not going to let this spiral.

I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly, then meet her gaze. This is not the time, not the place. But I want her to know that I know. I know where we’re going, even if she doesn’t yet. I know what I want, and I’m willing to wait until she’s ready.

For the first time tonight, she looks at ease. It’s small, but it’s enough. I’m not pushing. Not right now.

Scar catches the look between us, his eyes narrowing playfully. “Everything always happens the way it’s meant to, in its own time.” His eyes skirt toward his wife, and I know he’s talking more about the relationship between him and Allegra and how that happened. No-one could have guessed that the two – who hated each other with a passion – would eventually fall in love and become inseparable.

Lucky leans back in his chair, clearly enjoying the moment. “Guess we’ll just have to wait and see then. But mark my words, Brando. You’re not going to be able to keep that woman off the market forever.”

Rafi snorts into his drink, while Scar shakes his head and laughs, clearly entertained by the whole thing. But as I glance at Mia, I realize this isn’t about them. It’s not about what anyone else thinks, not about the teasing or the jokes. It’s about us. About how we’re going to move forward, when we’re both ready. And I’ll be damned if I let anyone—including myself—ruin it by rushing her.

The chaosof the past few weeks has settled into a fragile peace, but it feels different this time. We’ve both been through hell, butwe’ve made it to the other side. And now, standing here on the terrace watching the sun dip below the horizon, I know it’s time to move forward. Time to let go of the past and finally face the future, together.

I glance over at Mia, who’s leaning against the railing, her arms crossed in front of her as she watches the city disappear beneath the fading light. The soft glow of the sunset casts a golden hue on her face, making her look almost ethereal. She’s still wearing that same guarded expression she’s had for so long, but there’s something different now. Something that wasn’t there before.

The change is subtle, but it’s there. She’s not just protecting herself anymore. She’s living. For the first time in a long time, I feel like she’s ready to face what comes next, whatever that might be.

I approach her slowly, feeling the weight of every step. I don’t mind the silence between us. It feels comfortable, like a breath that we’ve both been holding for far too long.

We’ve been staying at the penthouse ever since the day at the docks, skirting around each other as we both come to terms with the events of that day. The penthouse is quiet, too quiet without the bustle of family around, and I’m starting to think about moving back into the home I built next to my brothers. But I won’t go without Mia, and I won’t rush her. I don’t want to tip the delicate balance we have between us by rushing her into something she’s not ready for. We may live together now, but that was always a temporary solution, and the penthouse is a clinical residence. It’s not permanent, so there’s no emotional connection to it. The house is home, and there’s no-where I’d rather be with Mia than at home, where my heart is.

“Hey,” I say quietly, standing beside her. “You good?”

She turns her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine. There’s a small smile playing at the corner of her lips, but it’s more likean acknowledgment than anything else. She nods. “Yeah. Just… thinking.”

I wait, giving her the space she needs, letting her words settle between us. She’s always been a thinker, never one to rush into things. But I’m not rushing either. I’m here, steady and present, waiting for her to decide if she’s ready to take that next step with me.

“Maxine?” I ask, leaning against the railing next to her. We’re no closer to finding Maxine, but I have Lucky handling that, and I trust that he’s got every resource working every angle that comes in.

She takes a deep breath, the sound of it lingering in the air, before turning her gaze back to the horizon. “I feel like there’ll always be a part of me missing not knowing. That’s what kills me-not knowing what happened to her,” she murmurs.

I nod, understanding exactly what she means. We’ve both been through so much—loss, betrayal, pain. We’ve fought not just for our lives, but for each other. It hasn’t been easy. Hell, nothing about our relationship has been easy. But it’s been real. It’s been raw. And that’s what’s kept us together, even when everything seemed impossible.

“We’ll find her.” It’s a guarantee, a promise I intend to keep. “No matter where she is, we’ll find her Mia, and you’ll have your closure.”

Her eyes flick to mine, the smallest flicker of vulnerability crossing her face. “I know,” she whispers. “I know.”

I reach out, gently taking her hand in mine, my fingers tracing the lines of her palm. She doesn’t pull away, doesn’t hesitate. It’s the kind of touch that says everything—without needing words. It’s a promise.

“I want you to think about moving,” I say, my voice low and steady. Confusion sweeps across her face, and I hurry to explain. “The house would be more comfortable for us. We’d besurrounded by family, and you could spend as much time as you want doting on Scarlett.”

A smile spreads across her face at the thought.

She turns toward me fully now, her chest rising with a soft breath as she looks up into my eyes. For the first time, I see it—the vulnerability that she’s been hiding for so long. The same vulnerability I’ve fought to reach. And now that it’s here, I don’t want to let it go.

“Does this mean…?” She lets her words hang perilously between us. There’s no fear in her voice, just acceptance. The same way that I’m no longer afraid of us, of what we can be. Of the life that we can build together. “I think I’m okay with that.”

A slow smile spreads across my face, the relief in my chest so heavy it almost feels like I’m breathing for the first time. I take a step closer, lifting my hand to her cheek, brushing my thumb gently over her skin.

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