Page 46 of Masked Mafia's Runaway Bride

“Someone colder. More ruthless.”

He leaned back, swirling his drink. “I can be when I need to.”

“I’m sure you can,” I replied, tilting my head. “But that’s not all there is to you, is it? There is something deeper,” I paused for a split second before adding. “Or someone.”

His smile faded, replaced by something more serious. “No. It’s not.”

I watched him closely, waiting for him to say more. And then he did.

“There’s someone,” he began, his voice quieter now. “Someone who gets under my skin in ways I don’t know how to describe.”

My chest tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. “Go on.”

“She’s complicated,” he continued, his eyes staring into the amber liquid in his glass. “Stubborn and frustrating as hell. But she’s also brilliant and kind in ways she doesn’t even realize.”

My fingers curled against the edge of the table, hidden beneath the black gloves. I knew he was talking about me, Mirella.

“She has this way of making everything else fade away,” he said, his voice growing softer. “When I’m with her, nothing else matters. Not the business, not the danger, nothing.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “She sounds remarkable.”

“She is,” he declared, looking up at me with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t think she feels the same way.”

The sincerity in his voice cut through me like a blade. For a moment, I forgot I was wearing a mask. I forgot that he didn’t know it was me sitting across from him.

“Does she know how you feel?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

“It’s complicated,” he replied in a low tone, running a hand through his hair.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice softening. “Don’t let it be.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Sometimes, we hold back because we’re afraid of what might happen if we’re honest. But if you care about her as much as you say, don’t waste time. Tell her. Show her.”

I don’t know why I would say such a thing knowing how it would fuck my life up if he told me, but right now, I was speaking from the heart.

He studied me for a long moment, and I wondered if he could hear the truth in my words.

“You’re good at this,” he said finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Giving advice.”

“I’ve had practice,” I said, leaning back.

His smile grew, and he set his glass down. “This was nice. Unexpected, but nice.”

I nodded, feeling a crick of disappointment as he stood. I wanted to keep talking to him as Raven. I didn’t want to go back to being Mirella and hiding this part of me from him.

“I need to go,” he said, his tone apologetic but firm.

I knew where he was going—back to Mirella. Back to me.

“It was nice. I know the next time we see each other, it might not be this peaceful, but for what it is worth, it is just business,” he added. I could hear sincerity in his voice as he stood up and gave me a curt nod.

“Safe travels,” my voice was barely above a whisper, watching as he walked away.

The moment he was out of sight, I slipped out through the back entrance. If he was going to beat me to the hotel, he’d have to try hard. I know every short route in this town, and there was no way he would beat me back to the hotel.

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