Page 21 of Dark Mafia Bride

MIRABELLA

The night air bites with a chill as Giovanni and I step out of the laundromat. Ever since that strange guy left, I knew I couldn’t stay in that room a second longer. He knew my name and had offered me marriage—on behalf of his boss, no less—without even revealing who this boss is. The whole thing gave me the feeling I was being watched. Giovanni must have picked up on my discomfort because he suggested I call it a night.

“You’ll figure out something soon,” he says as we cross the empty street. “You’ll get through this phase.”

“Yeah.” I sigh, though I’m not so sure.

“Too bad you didn’t get what you came to the club for. The night’s still young, though. You maybe could’ve met someone if you’d stayed longer,” Giovanni teases, his grin a little too smug. “Maybe a rich sugar daddy who wouldn’t mind you as a sixth wife.”

I laugh, shoving his shoulder. “Dick. I’ll tell Alessia to let you sleep on the sofa. Don’t test me.”

“Yeah, likemy babywould listen to an outsider over me.”

I raise an eyebrow, hands to my chest, feigning offense even though the termoutsiderhits a little harder than it should. “Did you just refer to me as an outsider?”

Giovanni smirks. “Oh, come on. You know I love you. You’re myfavoriteoutsider.”

I scoff dramatically, but my lips twitch. “That’s it. I’ll make sure Alessia knows how you bully me at her back. She’ll kick you out of bed.”

“Please. You think Alessia’s gonna listen to you?” He shakes his head with exaggerated disbelief. “Good luck with that. You forget I’ve got an edge you don’t.”

“Oh? And what’s that?”

He gives me a cheeky, mischievous smile, then proceeds to move his tongue around in his mouth, clearly imitating some sort ofsuggestiveact that immediately makes me wish I could rewind the conversation back five minutes.

“Jackass,” I mutter, disgusted, though I can’t hold back a laugh.

“But you love me that way, don’t you?” He winks, leaning back with that self-satisfied grin only he can pull off.

I roll my eyes but can’t stop smiling. Despite the chaos that is my life, these little moments of ridiculousness are oddly comforting. When the world feels as if it’s always about to explode, sometimes it’s the stupid jokes and silly fights that make everything feel a little more bearable.

Just then, the familiar unmistakable roar from a sputtering car pulls up—a red Honda Civic, Alessia’s old car she got from her mom. The engine sputters before finally stopping. Alessia bursts out of the car, her signature bright grin already lighting up her face.

“Mira,” she squeals, throwing her arms around me in a warm hug. I chuckle, hugging her back, the sweet smell of her vanilla perfume filling the air.

“I didn’t know you were out tonight! I would’ve come,” she says, pulling back to flash me a smile.

“Well, hello to you too, babe,” Giovanni teases from beside me, and I laugh.

Alessia rolls her eyes. “We literally live together, Gio. I saw you before you left. Meanwhile, I haven’t seen my best friend in forever!”

“We had breakfast two weeks ago,” I remind her with a smirk, earning me a scowl from her.

“Two weeks is forever when it’s your best friend, especially since we live in the same city!” She huffs, releasing me from the hug. “Plus, it doesn’t count as breakfast if you work in said restaurant and barely spend fifteen minutes with me.”

I sigh, feeling a little guilty. “You know how busy I’ve been, Alessia.”

“Yeah, I know,” she says with a small, sad smile, right before Giovanni pulls her into his arms. The sad smile disappears when he plants a kiss on her neck and grabs her ass, making her giggle.

“Oh, come on, guys,” I groan, but they don’t hear me since he’s now kissing—no, furiously making out—with her.

“Hey,” Giovanni breathes as they finally break apart.

“Hey,” Alessia whispers back, biting her lower lip.

“You two are so cute it’s nauseating,” I say, scrunching my face.

“What can I say? He can’t get enough of me,” Alessia teases, giving Giovanni a playful look.

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