Page 26 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
I ran a hand down my face. “Maria, no.”
Her expression darkened. “No?”
“Luca can handle running the business.”
Her nostrils flared. “Luca, really, why?”
Because you don’t belong in that world. Because if you step too far into it, I won’t be able to protect you. Because I didn’t want you close to the dark side that I was trying to hide from everyone. I didn’t want you close to Shade.
Instead, I shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
Her hands curled into fists. “Oh, I see. It’s because I’m a woman, right? You and Enrico, always thinking with your prehistoric brains—”
“That’s not what this is about.”
“No?” She glared at me, her voice sharp. “Then, what is it about, Lorenzo? You don’t think I can handle it? You think I’m too weak?”
I exhaled, frustration creeping in. “Maria, it’s dangerous. You and I know it is not a linear business.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“Not in this.”
She shook her head, laughter void of humor. “You’re just like them.”
“Maria—”
She turned on her heel and stormed off before I could say another word.
I let her go, watching as she disappeared into the house, anger rolling off her in waves.
What the fuck just happened? This was getting messy.
CHAPTER SIX
MARIA
“Men,” I muttered under my breath. “Always so controlling. Always so convinced they know best.”
I threw my hands in the air, pacing back and forth. “Oh, Maria, Luca will handle it. Oh, Maria, this isn’t your world. Oh, Maria, you should let the men take care of things! What is this? The Middle Ages?”
My blood was boiling. Of course, Lorenzo would be like this. They always were. First, my dad, then Luca, then my uncle, now Lorenzo. It was as if I didn’t have a functioning brain in my head and hadn’t survived on my own for five years—as if I couldn’t run my own damn business if I wanted to.
Luca’s voice cut through my rant. “Maria, who exactly are you yelling at?”
I turned to find my older brother standing a few feet away with his arms crossed and an amused look on his face.
“Oh great, another man here to tell me what to do. Fantastic. Really, I was just thinking to myself, ‘You know what would be great? If Luca came along to add to my list of problems.’”
Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re upset.”
“No kidding.”
“Listen, I just want to make sure this marriage doesn’t fall apart again. If Enrico gets even a whiff of doubt, he’ll find a way to take everything.”
I threw my hands up. “Oh, wow! Look at that! Another man making decisions for me. What a shock!”
Luca frowned. “Maria, that’s not—”
