Page 92 of Dark Mafia Bride

I give him a serious nod, trying to keep a straight face.

He chuckles, kissing me again, and I can’t hold back my laughter. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world, wrapped in his arms in this paradise.

“You know that’s impossible,” he says, pulling back with a smirk. “You’re on birth control, right? I have some very good ideas for wild, adventurous places we could...enjoy ourselves.”

I force a laugh, nodding a bit too quickly at the mention of birth control. “Yeah, I’m on birth control,” I lie, my voice smooth. “Now, come on. Take me to the ocean!”

Our days here on Providencia fall into a rhythm—swimming in the sea at sunrise, exploring hidden coves by day, and strolling along the beach in the evening as the ocean stretches endlessly around us. Each day, the locals greet us warmly, often offering us freshly caught fish or tropical fruits. Our cabinneighbors are an older Black couple from England who moved here seven years ago. They’re the sweetest people.

“Providencia is a beautiful place to live,” the man tells us one morning as we all walk toward the beach. “The people here are goodhearted, and the culture is lovely. It’s mostly safe, though you have to keep an eye out for a few thugs who show up when tourists start pouring in over the summer.”

The days slip by in a blur, each one more vibrant and carefree than the last. Ettore keeps me busy, and I can tell he’s trying to keep me from overthinking. And it’s working. It’s working almost too well. Here, it’s easy to pretend, to let myself believe we’re just like any other couple. It’s easy to lose myself in this tranquil paradise.

Today, we’re kayaking down a slow-moving river, but my paddle keeps getting stuck in the shallow water.

“Here, let me help,” Ettore says from behind me, guiding my hands on the paddle. A shiver runs through me as his arms stay around me just a moment too long.

We haven’t done anything more than kiss since we got here, partly because, after each day’s adventures, I’m so exhausted I fall asleep the instant we return to the cabin.

But now, with his arms around me, something inside me stirs. It’s not just attraction—it’s something deeper. Something unsettling. Something I’m not ready to admit to myself.

Things have changed between us, and there’s no denying it.

We spend the next few hours exploring the river’s coastline, weaving our way through mangroves, watching colorful fish dart and glide beneath the kayak. At some point I’m paddling along, feeling at ease, when I suddenly spot a large stone ahead—a second too late. Ettore’s laughter rings in my ear as he tries to help steer us clear, but it’s no use. We collide with the rock, and before I can even brace myself, the kayak tips over. With a yelp, I plunge into the cold water, and Ettore’s hand grabs my waist,steadying me. When we surface, we’re both laughing so hard that it quickly turns to coughing.

“Hey, are you okay?” Ettore asks between laughs, his eyes alight with mischief.

I catch my breath and look at him, drawn to the way his green and brown eyes sparkle in the sunlight. His wet hair falls just to his neck, and he looks so carefree, more than I’ve ever seen him.

Before I know what I’m doing, I wrap my arms around him and kiss him. It’s a slow, sweet kiss, one that lets us savor the moment, savor each other. It’s as if time stretches, letting us forget everything else.

By the time we return to shore, the sun is setting, casting a golden glow over the island. Ettore watches me with a relaxed, knowing smile, as if he understands he’s slowly breaking down the walls I’ve built around myself. I want to ask him what he’s thinking, to hear about his deepest fears, his greatest joys. But I can’t shake the guilt.

I know I’m lying to him, that all of this is built on a lie. A lie that won’t last. And I fear this will all take a different course if the truth comes out. I’m not ready for that yet.

So I stay silent, letting myself enjoy this brief, beautiful moment between us.

Later that evening, Ettore arranges a cozy, romantic dinner for us on the beach. A small table is set with an array of delicious seafood, surrounded by flickering candlelight, and beyond us, the vast stretch of ocean fades into the night.

“This is breathtaking,” I gasp, glancing at Ettore as he settles into his seat across from me. He’s changed into a colorful polo shirt and casual shorts, and I can’t help admiring how beautiful he looks.

“Are you talking about dinner, the beach, or me?” he teases, a playful spark in his eyes.

“All of the above.” I chuckle, feeling warmth in my cheeks.

Just as I’m about to dig into the mouthwatering food, I realize I left my phone in the cabin. “Shoot. I forgot my phone,” I say, looking at him apologetically.

Understanding crosses his face. Nonna has called me every night since we arrived here, and she usually passes the phone around so everyone can talk. The second night, I noticed the look in Ettore’s eyes as I spoke with my family—a mix of admiration and maybe longing.

Ever since we arrived till now, none of his family members have called him. I overheard him speaking to Vittorio once, and even though they laughed over the phone, the call had been work-related.

So from the third night on, whenever my family called, I put it on speaker and tried to involve Ettore in the conversation. Giulia adores my husband, my mother doesn’t hold anything against him, and Nonna, well, she’s beginning to warm up to him, as well.

“I’ll be right back,” I say, starting to get up, but Ettore raises a hand and stands.

“Stay. I’ll get it,” he says with a smile, and before I can argue, he’s gone, leaving me alone under the moonlit sky.

I take a spoonful of the creamy crab soup and let the taste fill my mouth. “Oh, my God,” I groan, unable to hold back a satisfied moan. It’s too good to wait for him, and I can’t resist taking another sip, even though I’d promised myself I’d save it for when Ettore comes back.

---