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Chapter 9
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BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 10
The restaurant's dim lighting cast a warm, intimate glow over the tables, enhanced by flickering candles and the occasional sparkle of glassware. Soft jazz filled the space, a gentle hum that seemed to drift and weave around the diners. Roberto sat across from Kylie, or "Kyls," as she had recently insisted, feeling the weight of a thousand unspoken words hovering between them. His gaze traced her face, lingering on the way the candlelight caught her features—her dark, cascading hair, and those deep blue eyes that held worlds he longed to explore.He reached across the table, hesitating before gently brushing a stray strand of hair back behind her ear. His fingers lingered for just a moment longer, savoring the softness of her skin. "If you could see the way you’re looking at me right now," he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips.Kylie glanced down, a hint of a smile playing on her lips before meeting his eyes again. "How am I looking at you?"He was caught, suspended between t
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 11
Roberto watched Kyls from across the table, his gaze unblinking, as if studying every shift in her expression. She looked guarded, a trace of wariness hidden beneath her steady gaze, but also… intrigued. The warm glow of the restaurant's lights softened the lines of her face, casting a golden hue over her skin, but she remained alert, perhaps ready to retreat if he pushed too far.“You enjoyed that kiss,” he murmured with a hint of amusement, testing the waters. It wasn’t a question—it was as if he already knew.Kyls’s fingers tightened on her wineglass, eyes darting away for a brief second before returning to him. Her voice was measured, edged with challenge. “You’re sure of yourself.”“That’s not an answer.” Roberto’s voice was steady, calm, yet beneath it lay something deeper—an invitation for honesty, if she dared. A faint smile crept onto her lips, and after a brief pause, she gave in, her words soft but unhesitant. "Fine. Yes."At that, Roberto allowed a satisfied grin. Reachin
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 12
Kyls stepped out of her car, the distant glow of the house lights casting long shadows against the driveway as she made her way toward the garage door. The Sheridan estate loomed in front of her like a brooding giant, an ever-present reminder of the weight she carried as a member of her family. Just as she reached the door, the faint scent of cigar smoke reached her, mingling with the cold tang of metal and engine grease. Her father’s right-hand man, John, leaned against the wall just inside the garage, his face hidden in shadows, yet the set of his shoulders conveyed disapproval. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze with a calm expression, though she could feel the tension tightening her spine. She’d known this was coming; there was no avoiding it.“I had something to take care of,” she said, her tone steady but laced with subtle defiance.John’s expression remained unreadable, his eyes narrowing as he evaluated her response. Without a word, he turned on his heel, motioning for her
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 13
The heavy tick of the grandfather clock punctuated the silence as Kyls hovered in the doorway of her father’s study. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a desk lamp casting shadows over shelves filled with leather-bound books and portraits of ancestors. Kyls felt those long-departed eyes on her, their gazes following her every move, as if they knew the secrets she kept and judged her for them.“Come in, Kyls,” her father’s voice broke the quiet, calm and steady. But Kyls heard something beneath it—something unspoken yet profound. It was a tone that brought her back to childhood when every word he spoke held gravity, and every silence felt loaded with implications.She stepped forward, forcing herself to meet his gaze. Papa was standing by his desk, tall and unyielding as always, his frame casting a dark shadow on the wall behind him. His suit was immaculate, the only sign of weariness a slight slump in his shoulders and the shadow of stubble that marked his chin.He walked
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 14
The late evening cast long shadows over Roberto Connolly's office, the dim lighting accentuating the tension that hung thick in the air. Roberto sat in his leather chair, fingers interlaced as he leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the city lights beyond his office window. The glittering skyscrapers and bustling streets seemed a world away from the turmoil that gnawed at his insides.Seamus's grip over the Connolly empire tightened each day. His brother ruled their world with an iron fist, ruthless and unyielding, leaving no room for dissent or even hesitation. Every day, Roberto felt more like a pawn in Seamus's intricate game of power-a carefully positioned piece ready to be sacrificed at a moment's notice. And his younger brother, Liam, who once stood by Roberto's side, now seemed to support Seamus's unforgiving vision. It was as if the two of them had become faceless soldiers in Seamus's war, blind to any path other than the one paved in blood and dominance.Roberto's chest tightene
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 15
Sophia’s povI pressed myself against the wall, letting the shadows in the narrow nook outside the library wrap around me. Roberto walked by, eyes straight ahead, his face set in that determined way he got when he thouhen he passed earlier. They never did. Years ago, I learned that if I wanted the real story—the kinght no one was watching. He didn't see me here, hiding. Liam hadn't noticed me, either, wd that didn’t come filtered through the family’s polite lies and careful smiles—I’d have to find it on my own. And I’d gotten good at it, too. Dangerous secrets tended to drift around this house, and I’d gathered more than my share by listening from the edges, out of sight. Like the fact that Roberto now had an FBI contact on speed dial.I shook my head, feeling a bitter twist of frustration. He’d always been so idealistic, even as a kid. For him, everything was so simple, so black and white. Right or wrong. He didn’t get that in our world, those lines blurred until you couldn’t tell o
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 16
Kylie’s PovThe home gym’s cold walls loomed around me, and the sharp scent of rubber mixed with sweat filled the air. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city stretched endlessly, a stark reminder of the freedom I lacked. My feet pounded against the treadmill, the rhythmic thud echoing in my ears like a relentless heartbeat.“Come on, faster,” I muttered, slamming my hand against the speed controls. The treadmill whirred in response, but my thoughts drifted back to the Hayes and my father’s last words. “Focus on planning the wedding. Leave the family business to me.” Frustration surged through me, and I recalled snapping at Micah. “I don’t need the perfect flowers. I need to be in that room with my father!” The memory ignited my anger.Finally, my legs felt like lead, and I slowed the machine, gasping for breath. “I can’t stay locked up like this. Not anymore,” I whispered to myself, determination flooding my veins.As I climbed the stairs, each step burned with exhaustion. Th
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 17
Kylie’s PovI couldn’t make sense of him, of the way he looked at me—like he was starving but still holding back. I’d come here ready to let go of every last inhibition, every doubt, to peel myself down to bare skin and heat, ready to have him any way he wanted. But he’d…turned me down. Well, not exactly turned me down. It was there, clear as a flame in his eyes—the way he looked at me, dark and deep, like he wanted to drown in me. It terrified me. Because beneath that want was something more, something that felt bigger than anything I could give.Everything.Then his lips claimed mine, coaxing me open, his kiss deep and consuming. My mind went blissfully blank as he pulled me in, his touch gentle but firm, one hand cradling the back of my head, the other resting at my waist. He didn’t rush. God, no, he took his time, like he was savoring each moment, each tiny sigh he coaxed from me. We were both fully clothed, just a breath of distance between us, but I could feel his desire all the
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BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 33
The weight of Kylie's words hung in the air, thick with the grief she hadn’t fully expressed. “That’s how I felt about Ronan,” she said, her voice soft but firm, as though saying it aloud might force the emotions she kept buried inside to the surface. “He was always in my corner, even when we were growing up, fighting like cats and dogs.” A deep, painful shadow flickered across her face, and Roberto could see the grief she’d held in check for so long breaking through the cracks. “I miss him,” she added quietly, her voice thick with unshed tears.“I’m sorry, angel,” Roberto murmured, instantly regretting his choice of words, as if simply mentioning her loss would bring it rushing back in full force. He pulled her into his arms, not sure what else to say, but knowing he had to say something. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”She pulled back slightly, her gaze steady but heavy. “No, it’s okay,” she replied with a shaky breath. “He’s gone, no matter if we talk about it or not. An
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 32
Roberto wasn’t ready for the effect Kylie would have on him. He swung open the door, and there she stood—softly flushed from the bite of the cold air, her hair tussled from the wind, her blue eyes locking onto his like they had all the time in the world, drinking him in just as much as he was drinking her in. The sight of her made the knot in his chest loosen, and he couldn’t keep himself from speaking the words that had been building in him all day.“I missed you.”Her smile was like the warmth of the sun breaking through the clouds after a storm. It hit him with the force of something deeper than simple affection—like an anchor in the middle of a tumultuous sea. “I missed you, too.”The words were barely out of her mouth before his lips were on hers, unable to wait another second. Her lips were soft and warm, and when they met his, everything else in the world faded. She melted against him, her arms sliding around his neck, pulling him in, just as much as he was pulling her. He nipp
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 31
“I will say, Kylie, I’m surprised by what you’re proposing.”Kylie felt the familiar weight of her father’s gaze on her, but she refused to let it show. She’d been working toward this moment for days, weeks even, ever since Roberto’s attack had thrown everything into chaos. She had pushed and prodded her father relentlessly, and only today had he finally relented. He promised to hear her out—though whether he truly believed in her plan or was just indulging her, she wasn’t sure. His admiration now, that glint in his eyes, almost made the whole fight worthwhile.Almost.She swallowed her nerves and steeled herself. “They’ll be expecting a full-frontal assault. But that's exactly what makes it a bad idea. They’ll be prepared for it. They’ve already fortified their positions. Instead, we hit them where it hurts, without risking lives. Destroying one of their factories will cripple a major source of income for them. And we’ll be able to do it with minimal casualties.”The words felt like
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 30
Four days later, Roberto trudged up the stairs to his room, his body dragging like a weight had been tethered to his feet. The exhaustion wasn't just physical—it was the kind of weariness that seeped into your bones after days of futile phone calls and failed plans. He felt as though he had been sprinting a marathon, and yet, he had nothing to show for it. James hadn’t returned a single one of his calls. The men he’d sent to canvass the area around *Tit for Tat* had been chased off by Halloran’s men—again. His father was incommunicado, and Aiden? The same damn thing. No one was talking to him about the larger plans, the ones that really mattered. It felt like everything was slipping through his fingers.To top it all off, his younger sisters had taken it upon themselves to ensure he made a full recovery. Every time he turned around, Sloan was there, pushing him into the nearest chair with a soft, worried smile and draping a blanket over his shoulders. Keira was just as bad, practical
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 29
He met her dark eyes, so strikingly similar to his own, and felt the weight of every unspoken word between them. “I’ll be okay. Promise.” His voice was rough, but the sincerity was there, even if the words didn’t fully match the storm brewing inside him.“You can’t promise that, and you know it.” Sloan’s voice was tight, the tension in her words hanging like smoke. She leaned back, her shoulders stiff with the weight of it all. Her eyes shimmered, that familiar look of quiet devastation he had seen countless times before. Her gaze shifted to the altar ahead, but her mind wasn’t there—he could tell. He should have said something more. Should’ve tried harder to comfort her. But what could he say? His promises felt hollow in the air between them, and he knew it. He couldn’t even promise himself that things would get better, let alone her.A bitter laugh tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he swallowed it down, unable to bring himself to express the overwhelming frustration swirling i
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 28
He took her hand, his thumb grazing over her knuckles in a gesture of quiet reassurance. “I’ll take care of myself. I promise.”She didn’t flinch, but the skepticism in her eyes was sharp. “Liar.” A faint, wry smile tugged at her lips. “You’re going to go rushing into danger at the first opportunity, and we both know it.”Maybe. Probably. The thought didn’t bother him as much as it should have. He brushed his thumb across her skin again, as though grounding himself in the connection between them. “What if I promise to be as careful as I can be?”“It’s better than nothing, I suppose.” Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, fingers intertwined, as if seeking strength in the simple act. “I don’t like the idea of losing you, Roberto.”His chest tightened at the words, a raw surge of panic clawing at him. He could feel the weight of her worry in his bones. The thought of losing her—of anything happening to her—was a jagged knife twisting in his gut. But he knew better than to show her how
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 27
Roberto woke in staggered waves of pain, his body protesting every tiny movement, every breath that strained through his battered ribs. He couldn’t tell if it was the weight of the world that had crushed him or if he'd simply forgotten how to exist without agony. It felt as if a train had collided with him—or maybe two. Every inch of his skin felt bruised, raw, as though it had been scraped off. Breathing was a struggle; moving was an impossibility. His eyes cracked open, the dim light from an unfamiliar room seeping in, casting soft shadows on white walls, white furniture, white everything. A bed sat in the center—four-poster, canopy draped in gauzy, delicate fabric. A scene straight out of a fairy tale, though he was sure no one had ever told a story like this one. His head throbbed like a drumbeat in his skull, too loud, too insistent. And then he heard her voice.“You’re awake.”Roberto winced as he turned his head. The world spun on its axis, a blur of white, but there she was—
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 26
James cradled his second whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass as the minutes stretched into hours. He was acutely aware of the weight pressing down on him, a heaviness that gnawed at his chest and kept him rooted in place. Calls were piling up, things left to be done, but still he hadn’t moved. Not since Roberto had left hours ago. The man’s decision—choosing family over all else—stuck with James. He admired it, in a way, but it also left a bitter taste in his mouth. Roberto’s choice was noble, sure, but that didn't make it right. Not in a world where families like the Connollys, Hayes, and Morgans were anything but innocent. They weren’t the naïve, wide-eyed victims people liked to pretend they were. They were players in the same game, just with different stakes. And Roberto? He let the girl—maybe a killer, maybe not—slip away, no questions asked.If their father knew, James could already hear the sharp crack of his rage. The skin between his shoulder blades tightened, th
BRIDE TO THE MAFIA HEIR Chapter 25
The younger ones, like Micah? I could almost feel the weight of their expectations pressing down on me. I knew they’d hoped I’d choose one of them to marry, believing it would elevate their status within our circle and save us from the trouble of inviting an outsider into our lives. Their ambitions were so painfully short-sighted. Thank God none of them had openly voiced their opinions about my marriage; I didn’t have the time or energy to deal with that kind of mess right now. Not when Roberto was lying here, bruised and battered, and I had no idea who had done this to him.Dr. Harris pulled out a pair of scissors, his movements steady and deliberate as he cut away Roberto’s shirt and pants. I winced, my heart tightening as I watched the fabric fall away, exposing the damage beneath. When he paused at Roberto’s underwear, I felt an odd mix of relief and discomfort. I could have told him it wasn’t necessary, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I focused on the mass of bruises d
