MYACOMFORTI watched Angelo’s expression carefully as I spoke, the words came rolling out before I could second-guess myself. It had taken a lot for me to tell him what my brothers were like. Even though I wasn’t sharing everything, I felt exposed, like a piece of me was being put on display. I half-expected him to shrug it off, but he didn’t. Instead, his jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened in a way I hadn’t seen before.He was angry—really angry. His knuckles whitened where his fists clenched at his sides, and the sharp line of his lips told me he was holding back words he wanted to say. I froze, unsure of how to react. His reaction wasn’t what I’d expected.“I need to talk to them,” he said suddenly, his voice low and controlled, but the undertone of fury was unmistakable.“No,” I said quickly, almost panicked. “You don’t have to do that.”He ignored me, already turning toward the direction my brothers had gone. His broad shoulders were tense, and the way he moved made me certain
MYAIt was hard to breathe with them around me. The air suddenly felt thick and toxic and I wanted nothing more than for them to move the fuck away. I forced myself to stay seated, my hands gripping the edge of the table to keep me from trembling. Their presence always brought unease, but now, surrounded by a room full of strangers, I felt exposed in a way I hadn’t before.“We’re here to congratulate you, Mya,” Carlos said, his voice smooth and disgusting. His eyes scanned me, and I resisted the urge to flinch.“Congratulations,” Nathan added, though his tone was far from warm.I didn’t believe them. I never believed them. “What do you really want?” I asked, keeping my voice steady, though my heart pounded.Carlos, the animal who had touched in very wrong ways in the past inched closer, his lips curling into a smirk that made my skin crawl. “We just want to see how our dear little sister is doing. And, of course, we’re curious,” he said, his tone mocking. “Has your husband finally mad
MYAThe ride home was. I sat beside Angelo, my hands folded neatly in my lap, while I stared out the window. Everything that happened today replayed in my mind in an endless loop—the vows, the crowd, the kiss. Especially the kiss. The thought alone made my cheeks burn, and I pressed my fingers to them, trying to take the heat away but it was useless.When we arrived at the house, I realized how much I was going to need to get used to. There was never a time that I walked in and I didn’t feel out of place.The wedding dress, once beautiful and exciting, now felt like a trap. The bodice was too tight, the skirt too heavy, and every breath seemed harder to take. I was desperate to get out of it but didn’t know how to excuse myself without seeming rude.Angelo opened the door for me, extending a hand to help me out of the car. I hesitated before taking it, his touch firm and steady as he guided me up the steps.“You’ve been quiet,” he said, breaking the silence as we walked inside.“I’m j
MYA The silence was short-lived. Angelo leaned back, his arms resting casually on the seat, though his tone was anything but casual when he finally spoke. “My enemies have tripled overnight because of you.”I froze. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My hands clenched into fists on my lap, and my heart began to race. A wave of guilt swept over me, so powerful that I felt sick.“I-I’m sorry,” I stammered, unable to meet his gaze. My mind spiralled with worst-case scenarios. What if he regretted marrying me? What if he blamed me for all of this? My thoughts grew darker, imagining him taking out his frustrations on me—what if he hit me or abandoned me entirely?“Hey,” his voice softened, breaking through the storm of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”I shook my head slightly, still staring at my lap. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.“For what?” he asked, his tone curious rather than accusatory.“For making things harder for you,” I said, my voice barely audible.He shifted in his seat, le
MYAThe car door clicked shut as Angelo slid in beside me, placing me carefully on the plush leather seat. My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I fixed my gaze on my hands, clasped tightly in my lap. I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes, no matter how much I told myself to act normal.How had I fallen asleep so deeply? The whole situation played in my mind on repeat, from the moment I woke up in his arms to the flashing cameras. I wanted to disappear into the seat.“Are you okay?” his deep voice broke through my spiralling thoughts.I glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away again. “I’m fine,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible.He raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “You’ve been quiet since we got in the car.”I bit my lip, struggling to find the right words. “I’m sorry,” I blurted out, still not looking at him.“For what?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused.“For… falling asleep on the plane,” I admitted, my cheeks heating further. “And for making you carr
MYAAs I followed Angelo down the grand staircase, the faint creak of the polished wood under our feet seemed to echo louder than necessary. His calm voice broke the silence between us.“I’ll order food for us,” he said, glancing over his shoulder. His tone was casual, but there was something definitive about it. “You don’t have to cook while we’re here.”I hesitated, my grip tightening on the smooth railing. The idea of just sitting back while someone else handled everything felt weird. I swallowed hard, then spoke up, my voice softer than I intended.“Won’t that be a waste?” I asked, trying to sound practical. “I mean, I know how to cook. I actually enjoy it. I wouldn’t mind making something for you… especially after everything you’ve done for me.”Angelo stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turning to face me fully. His dark eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of curiosity and something unreadable flickering across his face.“Trust me,” he said, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “It
MYA The warm water dripping over me felt soothing as I stood under the showerhead, letting it wash away the sleep from my eye. My thoughts were all over the place as I rinsed the soap off my face. I got a little in my eye and it took a little while to get it all out.I was still unable to fully grasp the reality of my new life. Everything felt surreal—the luxurious surroundings, the endless opportunities for quiet alone time, and, of course, Angelo.He was wish-washy, alternating between moments of surprising gentleness and a calculated distance that left me second-guessing everything. Last night’s conversation lingered in my mind, his words cut deeper than I cared to admit. I tried to convince myself it didn’t matter, that I didn’t care what he thought of me, but the truth was harder to ignore.After drying off and dressing in a light sundress, I made my way downstairs. The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I entered the dining area. The table was set, and a plate
MYA The initial warmth in their smiles felt genuine, even welcoming, but as soon as Angelo walked off, the air shifted. It was subtle at first but when one of the women, the one with sleek black hair and piercing green eyes, leaned in closer, her smile twisted into something far less friendly. It was a full blown sneer. “So,” she said, her tone sharp and icy, “how does it feel to wear a ring you clearly don’t deserve?”I blinked, caught completely off guard by the hostility in her voice. “Excuse me?” I managed, unsure if I’d misheard her.“You heard me,” she snapped, her green eyes narrowing. “You’re sitting here acting all sweet and innocent, but do you even understand who Angelo is? Who we are?”“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”The other woman, a blonde with an icy smile, chuckled coldly. “Oh, she doesn’t know. That’s adorable.”Their sudden change in attitude threw me completely off balance. Just moments ago, they had been all smiles and polite questions. Now
Mya I wrinkled my nose as I averted my gaze. He reeked of feminine perfume and that irked me. It made me feel irritated and I cursed myself for not noticing the different scent clinging to his heady cologne. Perhaps if I had noticed that, I’d not have asked him to wait. The thought of what he was clearly doing before returning home made me uncomfortable. “Couldn’t this wait until morning?” he asked, his voice calm and a little irritated, like he had somewhere better to be. I shook my head quickly, deciding to get on with it. “No. You’d be gone before I woke up.” He tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Fine. Go on, then.” I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. “I… I just wanted to thank you,” I began, my voice lower than I intended, almost shaky but I had that in control. His brow arched, and he crossed his arms. “Thank me? For what?” “For helping me,” I said, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “For making sure I’m… safe here. For everything so
Mya The next night Angelo didn’t come home until late, I’d been waiting in the living room with a book I wasn’t really reading. When I heard the front door click open, I couldn’t help but look up, feeling something close to relief at the sound of his footsteps. But that relief was short-lived when he walked in, his shirt rumpled, hair tousled, and that same scent of perfume lingering in the air around him. “Goodnight,” he said, his tone indifferent as he walked past me without a second glance. I nodded, swallowing the questions that rose to my throat. “Goodnight,” I murmured, but he was already halfway up the stairs. The next night was the same. He left before I even woke up, and when he returned, it was late, and he looked just as rough. The faint lipstick mark on his collar didn’t go unnoticed. I didn’t say anything, though. What could I possibly say? By the third night, I told myself I wouldn’t wait up for him. It wasn’t like I had any reason to. Yet there I was again, curled
Mya Back in my room, I finally felt like I could breathe again. Being home brought a comfort I hadn’t realized I needed. After everything that happened on the trip—the near-accident, the tension with Angelo, the endless emotional twists—it was good to be in a space that felt like mine, where I could think clearly. I stretched out on my bed, letting myself sink into the softness. My mind wouldn’t stop wandering, though. It kept going back to that moment on the plane. When Angelo’s hands had slipped under me, ready to lift me up, and then our eyes met. Those few seconds felt like forever, his gaze holding mine as if he were searching for something. I don’t think I’d ever been more tense in my entire life, the feeling was one of a kind and it was definitely something that I wasn’t going to be forgetting anytime soon. The way he’d pulled back after that, as if burned, left a strange ache in my chest. He dropped me like a hot towel as soon as he could and that hurt more than I would
The morning we left the villa, I found myself unusually eager to head back home to Italy. This entire trip had been a whirlwind—one moment I was hiding from gunfire, the next, I was head over heels for Angelo’s effortless charm and sharp looks. The man had a way of taking up my head space, even when he was quiet. I smoothed the hem of my dress as I stepped into the car, determined not to overthink anything on the journey. It was a sleek, black luxury vehicle that screamed Angelo in every way—demure, commanding, and just a little intimidating. He was already inside, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, his suit impeccable. His head tilted slightly as he glanced my way. “Comfortable?” he asked, his voice low. Of course I wasn’t comfortable. How could I be? “Yes,” I replied, trying to sound just as relaxed, though my heart was racing. As the car began to move, the gentle hum of the engine filled the air. I looked outside because it was the safest choice, staring anywhere el
Angelo I adjusted my cufflinks, staring at my reflection in the mirror. Tonight was the last function we had to endure before returning home. This trip had been strangely peaceful, even if it came with its share of trouble. I hadn’t worked much, which was unusual for me. Instead, I’d spent days idling, something I wasn’t accustomed to. And then there was her. My so-called wife. She had been... present in ways I hadn’t seen coming. Her clumsiness, her nervous energy, her stubborn little quirks—it was all becoming a distraction. A distraction I couldn’t afford. I sighed, running a hand through my hair as I tightened my tie. Returning home couldn’t come soon enough. At least then, I could slip back into my routine—work, focus, control. The past few days had left me feeling oddly horny, and I knew exactly why. I hadn’t been able to shake this persistent tension in my body, a tension I was determined to resolve once we were back. “Angelo?” Her voice was soft, hesitant, coming from b
ANGELOThe door to her room was cracked open, and for some reason, I found myself hesitating. It was late, and I should’ve already left for the night, but something made me linger. Pushing the door open just enough to peek in, I saw her lying there. She was curled up on the bed, her bandaged hand resting against the pillow, her chest rising and falling in soft, steady breaths. The light from the lamp cast a warm light over her face, making her look... fucking beautiful and peaceful too. I leaned against the doorframe with my arms crossed, watching her.She was beautiful and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. She was so beautiful that I couldn’t exaggerate it even if I wanted to. I didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to acknowledge it, but it was impossible not to notice. Her lashes were dark against her cheeks, and the way her lips parted slightly as she slept—it was distracting. Too distracting.I thought back to this morning. The panicked scream, the sight of her clutching
The man fell on his knees, trembling, his face pale and streaked with blood. Tears ran freely down his cheeks as he begged for his life, his voice laced with desperation. “Please… spare me. I didn’t mean any harm. I was just following orders. I swear, I didn’t want to hurt anyone.”Angelo looked completely unbothered by his tears, his expression looked like it was carved from stone, eyes cold and unforgiving. He twirled his knife lazily in one hand, the blade glinting under the lights. His voice was calm but laced with danger. “You didn’t want to hurt anyone?” he repeated, stepping closer to the man. “Yet you came here armed, disrupted my evening, and terrorized my wife. Forgive me if I find that hard to believe.”The man flinched as Angelo crouched in front of him, the knife was still in his hand. “Give me one good reason not to end your pathetic existence right now,” Angelo said.My breath hitched in my throat as I watched the scene unfold. The sheer ruthlessness in Angelo’s
MYA The sound of gunfire was deafening. My ears rang, my chest tightened, and I was too scared to breathe. My back pressed against the cold walls as I tried to make myself smaller, trembling so hard my teeth chattered. This wasn’t supposed to happen—not here, not now. For once, I thought we’d get through a single day without chaos.Angelo crouched beside me, his jaw tight and his eyes scanning the room as though he could see through walls. He turned to me, his voice cutting through the panic. “Are you okay?”I shook my head frantically, unable to find my voice. My hands gripped the edge of my dress like it was a lifeline. “No,” I finally whispered, my voice trembling. “No, I’m not okay. What’s going on?”“Shh.” His gaze softened for a brief moment. He reached for my face, cupping it with both hands, forcing me to meet his eyes. “Breathe,” he ordered.“I—I can’t,” I stammered, the words choking me. My chest felt like it was caving in.“Yes, you can,” he said, his thumbs brushing aga
Everything felt weird as I stood in front of the mirror, judging my reflection for what must have been the hundredth time. The dress I was wearing was elegant, with a soft, flowing material that clung to my frame just enough to look flattering without being too revealing. My hair was styled to perfection, and my makeup—light and natural—highlighted my features just right. I knew I looked good, but the nervous knot in my stomach refused to loosen.Why was I nervous? I hated that I felt this way. Angelo had been absent the entire day, handling whatever “important” business he’d mentioned earlier. Part of me was glad for the space, but another part—one I didn’t want to acknowledge—wondered what he’d think of how I looked tonight.I shook my head, scolding myself. Why does it matter? I reminded myself of his words, the ones that had played on a loop in my head since the day he’d said them: “I’m not attracted to you. You’re like a child.” It stung at first, but now, I knew better. I