Page 14 of Masked Mafia's Runaway Bride

She laughed, shaking her head, and for a second, the Mirella I’d known so well was right there in front of me again.

“Still good at seeing what you want to see, I see.”

I sighed, leaning in closer, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before I grabbed her hand and pulled her behind one of the decorative columns. She gave me a look, half-surprised, half-amused.

“Listen, Mirella,” I kept my voice low, all joking gone now. “This isn’t a game. You don’t have to do this. Whatever my father has on you, it isn’t worth it. You can leave—leave now while you still have the chance.”

She stared at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a second, I thought I saw a crack in that armor she wore. But then she pulled her hand back, crossing her arms as if to shield herself.

“It’s none of your business, Sergio.”

Her voice was cool and detached, and it hit me like a punch to the gut. She turned and walked away without another word, leaving me there, alone with the punch bowl and an ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake.

CHAPTER SIX

MIRELLA

The moment I walked out of that party, I knew I needed to steer clear of Sergio. The way he looked at me—like he was peeling away every carefully constructed layer of armor I’d built over the years—felt dangerously close to… well, dangerous. It wasn’t the kind of danger that I’d come to expect, either. This wasn’t the power-hungry glint of Don Carlos’s gaze or the cold calculation of men in dark suits. No, Sergio’s gaze was something else altogether. It was something that pulled at memories I thought I’d buried long ago.

Sergio’s warning kept echoing in my mind, stubborn and insistent.Leave while you still can.What did he think he knew? It was almost amusing, really. But there was something about the way he looked at me—so intense, so focused—that told me he knew exactly what he was saying.

It was almost like he knew me or maybe saw right through me, past my layers of polite smiles and cordial nods. That kind of familiarity was unsettling, especially because Sergio wasn’t just anyone. He was danger personified, and he wore it as naturally as that infuriating smirk of his. But this wasn’t about his father or his position. No, this was different. This was Sergio himself.

And to make it worse, he’d somehow grown even more devastatingly handsome. He’d changed from that boy who used to throw little stones at my window to a man with edges that could cut through armor. It was a dangerous game, and it wasone I couldn’t afford to play, especially now. I had a mission, and Sergio was the last thing I needed to distract me from it.

After I got back to the estate, my father’s old house, which, fortunately, had been left in my name, hence why Don Carlos had not stolen it amongst others, I barely had time to pull my thoughts together before Enzo showed up in the study, looking like he was holding back a dozen questions. Typical Enzo. He didn’t pry, but his eyes told me he was ready to offer advice if I needed it. Which, at this point, I didn’t.

“Enzo,” I started, trying to ignore the familiar pull of thoughts about Sergio, “Have you found anything? Even a small clue?”

He shook his head, almost apologetically. “Nothing. Your father’s still completely off the radar. There are no sightings and no leads. He’s made him vanish, and he’s done it well. Even my source can’t seem to find anything beyond the point we already know.”

My heart sank a little, but I forced myself to keep my face neutral. I couldn’t let emotion get the better of me now. “Then, we’ll just have to dig deeper.”

Enzo’s gaze hardened, his jaw set. “We’re doing all we can. I’ve got men working every angle.”

“Not enough,” I muttered, almost to myself. “He’s out there somewhere, and I won’t let him disappear.” Taking a breath, I continued, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this act up with Don Carlos. He’s pushing for marriage.”

The slightest flicker of disgust crossed Enzo’s face before he pulled himself together. “He’s taking liberties he has no right to take.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” I replied, keeping my voice steady. “But as long as he thinks I’m the perfect bride, he’ll keep his guard down. And that’s all I need to find out what I need to know. But I can’t afford any distractions. Not even Sergio.” The last part slipped out before I could stop it, and Enzo’s eyebrows shot up ever so slightly.

“Who is Sergio? Do you mean Don Carlos’ heir? How is he a distraction?”

I gave him a cool look, hoping to steer the conversation away. “Let’s focus on what matters. How’s our other business?”

Enzo’s attention shifted, his shoulders straightening. “The shipments are coming in as scheduled. There’s one from Colombia due any day now, and I think you’ll be pleased. Our distribution has reached new heights.”

“No,” I interrupted. “Pause everything. Shipments, transactions, all of it. I need you focused on finding my father, and if possible, I want a way to bring Don Carlos down.”

There was a moment of silence before Enzo responded, his tone bordering on frustration. “I can balance both. We’re running smoothly. You don’t need to worry.”

I crossed my arms, holding his gaze. “Not this time. All efforts go toward finding my father. No more shipments.”

Enzo exhaled heavily, crossing his own arms as he glanced toward the floor, clearly displeased. “If we halt now, it won’t be easy to pick up where we left off. This business doesn’t just sit around waiting, Raven.”

It was his nickname for me, one he’d used since we met during my first operation when I was still building my empire. He said it was because of my intelligent and majestic nature. So, when I was looking for an alias, I found it fitting. But now it made me pause, reminding me of who I was before all of this. That girl wasn’t afraid to stand her ground, and I wasn’t about to start now.

“That’s the decision, Enzo. Trust me, I know the risks,” I replied firmly. “And as much as I respect your work, finding my father takes priority. Besides, the faster we move on him, the faster we end this nightmare with Don Carlos.”

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