Page 36 of Masked Mafia's Runaway Bride

“Good?” I huffed. “It was incredible, which is the problem! I can’t let myself feel this way about him. I can’t afford to.”

Dahlia leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Why not? He’s clearly into you, and from what I’ve seen, you’re into him too. What’s stopping you?”

“Everything.” My voice cracked slightly, and I looked away. “My father is still missing. I’m supposed to be finding him, not getting distracted. And then there’s Alex... and the past.” My throat tightened. “What if I let Sergio in, and he leaves, too? Everyone I care about seems to disappear eventually.”

Her expression softened. “Mirella, you’ve been through a lot, and I get why you’re scared. But you can’t let your fear control you forever. And I don’t know him, but I have a feeling that he is a good guy for him to get you off your game like this,” she teased with a wink and a smirk still playing on her face.

I swallowed hard. “It’s not that simple. And let’s not forget I am still faking it with his father.”

“Love never is,” she said gently. “But you deserve to be happy. And maybe Sergio is part of that happiness.”

Before I could respond, my phone buzzed on the counter. I picked it up, my stomach sinking slightly when I saw Sergio’s name on the screen.

“Mirella, you need to be here early tomorrow,” his voice came through, tense and direct. “My father wants to see us.”

I frowned. “Why? What’s so urgent?”

There was a pause before he answered. “We’ve confirmed that it was The Raven who intercepted our shipment.”

My heart skipped a beat. How could he have found out? What else does he know? Fuck. “The Raven? Are you sure?”

“Yes,” Sergio responded in certainty, his tone clipped. “We’re going after her. My father wants her to pay for what she’s done.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “And what does that mean, exactly?”

“It means you need to be here. This isn’t just about the shipment anymore,” his voice softened slightly. “Just be ready.”

The line went dead before I could ask any more questions. I stared at the phone, unease settling in my chest like a stone. Why do I have to be there? Was my cover blown?

What else isn’t he telling me?

Dahlia was watching me with concern etched on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Sergio’s father,” I responded quietly. “He’s planning something. And it involves The Raven.”

Her brows furrowed. “Do you think it’s safe for you to be involved? Shouldn’t you speak to Enzo first about it?”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I don’t know. But I don’t have much of a choice.”

Dahlia placed a hand on my shoulder. “Just be careful, okay? Whatever’s going on, don’t lose sight of what’s important to you.”

I nodded, though my mind was already spinning. I had tried to keep my two worlds from clashing, and now, with Raven in the picture, things were about to get even more complicated.

But the question still remains.

Does Sergio know I am The Raven?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SERGIO

The sun was barely up when Mirella arrived at the mansion, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown to trouble. She looked stunning. Too stunning, if I was being honest. Her red dress fit her like it had been designed with sin in mind, and her hair was pinned back just enough to show off her neck—a neck I’d spent too much time thinking about since last night.

I was waiting in the foyer, pretending to go through some papers, but all I could do was stare at her. The kiss we’d shared felt like a brand on my skin, and I was desperate to bring it up. Just once, to see if it had left her as rattled as it had me.

“You’re early,” I winced, trying to sound casual, though my voice came out rougher than I’d intended.

“I wanted to be prepared,” she answered, smoothing the skirt of her dress like it was nothing—like she didn’t know exactly how much she was throwing me off.

---