Page 88 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
The man I had let into my life and had trusted with my son. The man who had held my hand just minutes ago and made me feel safe.
I felt sick.
Luca turned to me, his face filled with shock and confusion. “Maria…”
I stood up too fast, the room tilting for a moment. “I need air.”
“Maria, wait—”
But I was already moving out the door and down the hall. My hands were shaking. My heart was shattering.
Lorenzo was Shade. The man I loved. He was the man who had killed my father and who might be the father of my son.
I was trying to catch my breath when I saw Luca run past me. I knew that look, the darkness in his eyes.
Shit.
“Luca, wait,” I called out to him, but he didn’t listen or even turned back. He got into his car and drove past me. I knew if I didn’t go after him, someone was going to die tonight.
But considering Lorenzo was stronger. I knew who. I quickly got into my care and chased after him.
My hands were shaking on the steering wheel. I could barely see the road through the blur of my own shock. My foot slammed against the gas pedal, the tires screeching as I sped after Luca’s car.
This couldn’t be happening. Lorenzo.
Lorenzo was Shade, the man I was about to marry and who I might have had a one-night-stand with years ago. He was the man who might be the father of my son and possibly the man who killed my father. He had acted like he wanted me and cared for me and my son. Was that all part of his act—to hide in plain sight so we never suspected him? But I had known Lorenzo since I was a young girl. He had shown me care. Or was I just imagining that?
I felt like I was choking on my own thoughts, unable to grasp onto a single one before another crashed into me like a tidal wave. My heart was hammering so loud in my chest that I almost didn’t hear the honking behind me as I swerved to follow Luca.
I knew where he was going.
Lorenzo’s house.
I saw Luca’s car screech to a stop in front of the driveway, and I barely had time to park before he was already storming out. I yanked my door open, stumbling out, my lungs burning as I shouted his name.
“Luca! Wait! Just stop for a second!”
He wasn’t listening. Of course, he wasn’t listening. His fists were clenched at his sides, and his shoulders were rigid with rage. Luca wasn’t thinking. He was reacting.
I ran after him, nearly tripping over my own feet as he shoved the front door open without knocking.
Lorenzo was standing in the middle of the room, a glass of whiskey in his hand, his face tense like he already knew what was coming.
Luca didn’t hesitate.
The glass shattered to the ground as Luca’s fist met Lorenzo’s jaw with a sickening crack. Lorenzo barely moved, his head snapping to the side, but he didn’t hit back. He just stumbled, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as a drop of blood smeared across his knuckles.
“You—” Luca’s voice was shaking. “You son of a bitch”
Another punch. This time, Lorenzo’s back hit the wall.
“I swear on everything, Luca, I didn’t kill your father.” Lorenzo’s voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes. I expected him to punch back, but he didn’t. He held back.
I ran between them, pushing against Luca’s chest, but he was a rock.
“Luca, stop it! Just—stop! Listen to me!”
Luca shoved me gently to the side, his hands shaking. His eyes were wild and filled with betrayal, fury, and a pain so deep that it made my stomach twist into knots.
