Page 82 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
Something twisted in my chest. Even after everything—after the argument, after what I had said—Lorenzo still thought about Matteo. Still made sure he had something. Matteo ran inside to play with it, and Kayla followed, and suddenly, it was just the two of us.
I cleared my throat. “When did you have time to get that?”
Lorenzo shrugged. “Yesterday. When you were sick.”
My chest tightened. That was… thoughtful. Too thoughtful. I took a breath, steadying myself. “About this morning—”
Before I could finish, Luca’s voice interrupted.
“Thank God you’re back!”
He strolled over, looking far too excited for my liking. “I have so much to tell you, sis. I think I am also going to get my inheritance very soon.”
Lorenzo crossed his arms. “This sounds like a family matter.”
Luca smirked. “Oh, you’re family now, aren’t you?” His tone was teasing, but my stomach knotted at the implication. “I mean, I don’t know what happened on that trip, but…”
Lorenzo and I both stiffened.
“Nothing,” we answered at the same time.
Luca’s eyes flicked between us, suspicion clear on his face, but he let it go. “Anyway, I have news.”
I folded my arms. “What news?”
Luca’s grin faded slightly as he turned serious. “Uncle Enrico thinks he’s close to finding Shade. I overheard him speaking to one of his goons.”
The world around me dimmed. Shade. The name hit like a gunshot, echoing in my head and making my hands turn cold.
Lorenzo went rigid beside me, but I barely noticed. My heartbeat thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. Luca kept talking, but I wasn’t listening. My mind was spiraling, unraveling at the edges.
I hadn’t told anyone the truth. I hadn’t told anyone that Matteo wasn’t just some nameless man’s child.
That Shade—the Shade—was his father. At least, that was what I believed sometimes, while other times, I wasn’t sure. But if Uncle Enrico really found him…I forced myself to swallow and forced myself to breathe.
Luca glanced between us. “You both look weird.”
Lorenzo recovered first. “Just tired,” he said smoothly. “Long drive.”
Luca didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.
I turned to Lorenzo. “I need space.”
His jaw tightened.
I continued before he could argue. “We should stick to the script. Keep things for PDA only.”
His expression darkened, but he nodded. “Fine.”
He turned to leave but hesitated. “I’ll come over tomorrow to pick you up. We need to go see my mum so she will know I am taking the whole marriage thing seriously.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t know what to say because somehow he just affirmed that what we had was just for the public. Instead, I turned on my heel and went inside, heading straight for my room and closing the door behind me.
The second I was alone, I let out a shaky breath. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the dresser, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Shade.
The past I had buried was clawing its way back. And if they found him and found out the truth, I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen next.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
