Page 35 of Masked Mafia's Runaway Bride

After dinner, we played hide-and-seek. Alex loved hiding in the same spot—behind the couch—but his giggles always gave him away.

“Where’s Alex?” I called out, pretending to look under the table.

“I don’t know!” he yelled, trying to stifle his laughter.

I peeked behind the couch, feigning surprise. “There you are!”

He burst out laughing, throwing his arms around my neck. “You found me, Mama!”

“Of course I did,” I said, hugging him tightly. “You’re my favorite person to find.”

We kept playing through the night, and I noticed Alex rubbing his eyes more than usual. He seemed quieter, too, going back to his default setting, his energy fading.

“Are you feeling okay?” I asked, placing a hand on his forehead.

“I’m fine,” he mumbled, avoiding my gaze.

I frowned, brushing his dark hair away from his face. His temperature felt normal, but something about his demeanor worried me.

“Let’s get you to bed, okay?”

He nodded, his little hand slipping into mine as I led him to his room.

I tucked him into his blankets, smoothing them over his small frame. His eyes were already half-closed, but he held onto my hand, his grip firm.

“Mama?”

“Yes, my love?”

“Will you stay here until I fall asleep?”

“Always,” I whispered, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

I sat by his bed, humming softly until his breathing evened out. When I was sure he was fast asleep, I closed his door behind me and returned to the silence of the living room. My thoughts drifted back to Sergio, the warmth of his touch and the intensity in his eyes—the eyes that reminded me of the love I had once lost.

I sighed, sinking onto the couch. My life was already complicated enough. Adding Sergio to the mix? That was a risk I wasn’t sure I could take. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop myself from wanting him.

I settled in to sleep, but I couldn’t sleep. The kiss Sergio and I had shared earlier still lingered in my mind, making me feel things I didn’t want to admit. I shouldn’t have let it happen, but I couldn’t deny how much I had wanted it. It wasn’t just the kiss—it was everything he represented. Safety. Strength. But also danger—in more ways than one. My heart had been through enough, and I wasn’t sure it could take another beating, especially from a man like him.

My thoughts were interrupted by a faint clatter from downstairs. I frowned, throwing on a robe and picking up my phone beforeheading down. When I reached the kitchen, I found Dahlia leaning against the counter, a spoon halfway to her mouth, caught in the act of devouring a bowl of ice cream.

“Really?” I crossed my arms, attempting to look stern. “Midnight snacking, Dahlia?”

She gave me a mock guilty look. “Don’t judge me. It’s been a long day, and this is my therapy.” She pointed the spoon at me. “Want some?”

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m not in the mood for ice cream.”

“Wow, Mirella is not in the mood for sweets. This is serious.” She set the spoon down and eyed me closely. “What’s going on? You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Enzo told me the ambush went fine. You should be happy,”

I hesitated. Dahlia wasn’t just my assistant. She’d been here for years, and even when I didn’t try to make it obvious, I considered her a friend, someone I could confide in when things felt too heavy. And right now, they were crushing me.

“It’s Sergio,” I admitted, sitting on a stool by the island. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. One moment, I’m telling myself I have to stay focused, and the next, I’m letting him kiss me.”

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn’t look surprised. “Ah. The infamous Sergio. Enzo told me about him and how he was worried about the fact you two grew up together.” She smirked. “So, how was it?”

I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “Dahlia, this isn’t funny.”

“I’m not laughing. I’m just curious. You’re not exactly the ‘kiss and tell’ type.” She nudged me gently. “So, spill. Was it good?”

---