Page 9 of Seeking Shadows

I place a gentle hand on her back and guide her toward the garden, where we can have some privacy.

I want to pin her against the wall and drag every ounce of truth out of her.

Instead, she narrows her eyes at me and says, “Why did you do that to your hair?”

Of all the things she could ask.

My hair.

“What are you doing here?” Mia’s voice thickens with disbelief, as if she has any right to demand anything after leaving me to pick up the pieces of her mess.

I was fooled by that innocent face once. By that sweet voice.

Not again.

“Wherever you go, I go,” I murmur the words I once promised her. “And you and I, dear wife, are going straight to hell.”

Her lips twitch. “I can’t wait, then.”

“Stop fucking around.” I step closer, my patience unraveling.

“Here’s the deal, mafia princess,” I continue, my hand closing lightly around her throat.

Her eyes widen for a second. Then she smiles—not my favorite smile, not the one that makes me weak—but a wicked, dangerous grin.

Oh, there she is.

Bring it to me, wife.

I hate her right now.

But I also want her so fucking much.

I rest my forehead against hers, swallowing down the desire. “You’re going to keep pretending you don’t know me, Mia. Because you don’t. And I’m going to show you the side of me that I reserve for people who betray my trust.”

“And if I don’t?” Her voice drips with defiance.

I exhale sharply. “Why did you do this? I don’t understand. I would have given you everything.”

Her expression flickers, just for a second, before she whispers, “And still, it wouldn’t be enough.”

Then she steps away.

I mentally prepare myself to die.

For her to hand me over to her father.

Instead, she marches back into the living room, and I trail after her—only for her to turn to Nico and smile, just like that.

“We’re done, Dad. Can I leave now?”

And just like that, I find myself on the brink of insanity.

That conversation was two days ago. I told one of the bodyguards to stay with her at the mansion to keep her safe from any assholes, but as pathetic as I am, I haven’t been able to sleep for days.

I’ve basically been camping here, covering my tracks, trying not to raise any suspicion.

Nico’s pushing me to schedule our next move, or rather, Mitchell’s next move. But honestly, I couldn’t care less. I know Mitchell’s an underground prick, loves to fight, so they ’ll be expecting me to do the same.

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