Page 32 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
I sipped my drink, saying nothing.
Luca sighed, rubbing his face. “I’m serious, man. Don’t mess with her. And don’t even think about sleeping with her.”
That was when I laughed.
Because it was ridiculous. Because Luca was acting like some terrifying big brother, and I was supposed to be scared, when the truth was, I was taller, bigger, and had probably spent more time in a gym this month than he ever had in his life.
Luca saw my expression and scowled. “Don’t test me, Lorenzo. I’ll knock your teeth out.”
“Sure.” I took another sip. “I’ll try not to cry.”
“Not a joke,” he muttered, frustrated by my nonchalant attitude. Luca and I had gotten into a fight or two when we were younger, and I had always kicked his ass.
“It’s cute that you think you can take me.”
Luca glared, but before he could argue, I heard footsteps. Instinctively, Luca and I veered around to trail the sound, and that was when I saw her.
Maria.
Walking down the stairs. She looked breathtakingly beautiful.
And that was when I knew I was fucked.
Because the second I saw her, every single rational thought left my head.
Her hair was perfectly packed into a ponytail, and she had no makeup on, but she had never needed them. She carried herself in an elegance and composure that only she could pull off while looking both intimidating and innocent at the same time. She wasn’t even dressed up—just a simple top, some fitted jeans, bare feet, and casual. But it didn’t matter.
She could’ve been wearing a garbage bag, and I still would’ve wanted her just as badly.
It wasn’t just how she looked—it was her—the way she moved and the way she carried herself. It was the way she looked at me, like she wasn’t sure whether she wanted to kiss me or kill me.
I felt Luca watching me. I felt his warning like a physical thing between us.
I ignored him.
Maria reached the bottom of the stairs, and her gaze locked onto mine. “You’re here. I didn’t expect to see you back so soon.”
I nodded. “Well, I couldn’t stay away.” Immediately as the words left my mouth, I could feel the glare being thrown at me from Luca’s angle. I glanced at him, and I almost felt intimidated by him. Almost. But almost wasn’t even close.
She looked between me and Luca, suspicion creeping into her expression. “What were you two talking about?”
Luca answered before I could. “Nothing.”
Maria squinted. “That’s not suspicious at all.”
I smirked. “Your brother here was threatening me.” I decided to play a game we used to play when we were younger, where we would try to put Maria in the middle of our gibberish so she could pick a side, knowing she hated it.
Maria’s brows shot up. “Threatening you?”
I nodded. “Said he’d break my jaw if I tried anything funny with you.”
Luca groaned. “For fuck’s sake—”
Maria turned to her brother with arms crossed. “Luca, why would you think of something like that?” Just like we were kids again, Maria unknowingly would always side with me. Those were things she did that made my heart flutter. It was how she saw the good in me.
He threw his hands up. “I was just reminding him this is all fake, and I would punch him if he tries to touch you.”
A chuckle escaped my mouth the moment the words left his. Maria looked back at me. “And you find that funny?”
