Page 11 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
Her voice hadn’t changed—smooth and rich, laced with sarcasm and a breathtaking undertone.
I leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. “And you’re still as dramatic as ever.”
A brow arched. “And you’re still as insufferable as I remember.”
I smirked. “Glad we haven’t changed.”
A beat of silence stretched between us.
She exhaled, rolling her shoulders like she was shaking something off. “Luca told you everything?”
“Yeah.”
“And you’re actually going through with this?”
I shrugged. “Unless you’ve got a better plan.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “I don’t.”
Neither of us spoke. It was awkward, but that wasn’t just it. There was something else I was yet to decipher or give a name existing with us in the room.
I took a step closer. “You’re not happy about this.”
“No kidding.” She let out a short, humorless laugh. “But life isn’t about what we want, is it?”
Something in my chest twisted.
Maria.
Fuck! She looked so beautiful, more than I had imagined. I couldn’t stop staring.
Her dress was tailored to perfection—deep emerald green, cinched at the waist, the fabric clinging to every curve like a second skin. Her dark hair dropped down her back in soft waves, effortless and untamed.
But it was her eyes that held me captive. I had seen them blaze with fury, darken with mischief, and soften with amusement. But now, there was something else flickering beneath the surface.
Regret?
Resentment?
Pain or Passion?
“I don’t expect anything from you,” she said, voice quieter now. “This isn’t real. We both get what we need and then we walk away.”
I should have nodded, agreed, and let her keep the wall between us.
But five years had passed—five years of pretending she didn’t matter. And standing here now with her looking at me like I was a stranger, I realized just how much I hated it.
I stepped closer. Close enough to see the flicker of hesitation in her eyes and catch the subtle hitch in her breath.
“We set the terms,” I murmured. “But understand this, Maria. Once we say yes to this, there is no going back.”
Her eyes widened just slightly, just enough.
Then, before either of us could think too hard, I reached for her. She didn’t pull away, and without thinking and against my better judgment, my lips brushed against hers. Soft, but firm. A claim all at once.
Her breath caught, fingers twitching against my chest. And for a second—just a second—I felt it. The way her body melted into mine, the way the space between us vanished like it had never been there at all.
It wasn’t just a kiss. It was five years of silence breaking. Five years of tension unraveling in a single heartbeat.
