Page 19 of Dark Mafia Bride

I was so focused on her, I didn’t even notice the guy walk in. I watch as she leans in and circles her arms around his neck. I watch the way her lips pull up into that beautiful smile of hers —thatsmile. The one I saw that night. And it sets something off inside me. It’s uncomfortable, burning in my gut, spreading like wildfire.

Jealousy.

I hate that word. I’ve trained myself to ignore certain emotions, to be unaffected by them. At least, I thought I had. But now, here I am, feeling jealous. And it’s because ofher.

I clench my jaw, trying to shove the feeling down. What the hell is wrong with me? I’ve never been the type to get worked up over a woman. Not once. Yet seeing her with someone else, even if it’s just a hug, makes me want to tear him away from her. This primal possessiveness takes over, and all I can think about is reminding her who she was with that night.

Me.

She’s mine.

I know I have no right to feel this way. You can’t own a person. But for those hours we spent tangled together, my dick sliding in and out of her while she moaned my name, she was mine. I touched her in ways no one else has. I made her feel things no one else ever will. And right now, all I want is to walk over there, kiss her until she can’t breathe, and take her home to fuck her senseless.

Fuck this.

I stand abruptly, unable to tamp down the tension clawing at my chest. This is ridiculous. No woman has ever made me feel this…thirsty.

“Go,” I say to Luca, who’s been standing beside me the whole time.

After Luca dug up everything about Mirabella, I had the impulsive idea to propose the marriage offer to her. It’s probably one of the most reckless things I’ve ever done, but when it comes to Bella, I’ve learned that I can’t seem to think straight.

As Luca walks off, I head to a more private lounge. The loud music fades as I step into one of the soundproof rooms. I settle into the plush sofa and close my eyes. I usually come here on Friday nights to play poker, but tonight? Tonight I’m just hiding out after spending too much time watching her like a damned stalker.

Luca appears moments later, his shoulders tense and his jaw set. The look on his face tells me everything I need to know—the conversation didn’t go well.

“She didn’t take the offer, boss,” he says, his tone rough, like he’s been chewing on nails for the past five minutes.

I exhale, trying to mask the frustration bubbling beneath the surface, but there’s a twisted sense of amusement creeping in. Of course, she didn’t take it. She’s scared. I get it. But fear doesn’t last forever, and when she sees the bigger picture, she’ll understand.

“Did you really think she would?” I ask, leaning back in my chair, playing with the edge of my glass, my voice laced with irony.

Luca shakes his head, eyes flicking away. “No, but I figured...you know, the right amount of pressure could do the trick. I told her she didn’t have a choice.”

I laugh bitterly, rubbing my hand over my face. “Yeah, because telling her she has no choice always makes peoplereallyeager to sign on the dotted line.”

I stand backing him, the tension in my body obvious now. “She’ll learn soon enough, when Abruzzi’s men are breathing down her neck.”

Luca hesitates, then speaks up, voice steady. “Are you going to interfere, sir?”

I don’t need to. The debts? Her family? She’s too busy protecting them to see she’s walking into the fire.

I turn back to him, my eyes cold. “Don’t worry. She’ll come around. When things fall apart, she’ll have no choice but to take what I’m offering.”

Luca gives a curt nod. “You sure about that, sir?”

I fix him with a stare, my voice lethal. “She’ll call,” I say, taking a sip of my now-warm whiskey. I know she will. She’s in deeper than she can handle. Abruzzi is relentless when it comes to collecting his money, and after I killed his men, he’s even more pissed.

He’ll send more guys after her, but they won’t touch her. Not if they want to live. He knows I’m responsible for the deaths of his men, and while he’s ruthless, he’s not stupid. Unless he’s ready to lose every one of his men, he got the message.

Mirabella is untouchable.

The most he can do is scare her—and when that happens, she’ll come running straight to me.

“What do you think, Luca?” I ask, looking for a distraction. “Is she fit for the role?”

“She’s beautiful,” Luca says in that same gruff, robotic tone. “Smart, too. She’s hardworking and efficient. Qualities I’d say you need in a wife, sir.”

I consider his words. If—when—Mirabella marries me, she won’t need to work. I’ll take care of everything.

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