The Return Mafia Bride

le-the kind that made her shiver. It was not com

voice deep and soft, like dark ve

ion. They seemed to chew her soul apart. An odd, foreign sensation swept over her. She was not

danger. She was fixed to the spot, nevertheless, for some

hadow pulling back. "Get in the car," he said

ying his frigid look. Her heart raced, and her ideas flew in a mess searching for some

air heavy with unsaid conflict. His jaw was hard, his face enigmatic, but more

Still waking and alive, the city. But every time she turned to face him, her eyes landed on the exquisite cut of

gh she tried, her voice came out

cause you need it," he said in a flat, unassuming tone devoid of explanation. That w

uestions and demand responses. The weight of the moment anchored her. She switched her ga

n aware sh

and incredulity mixed as she spoke,

ing deeper, flickering behind them. His jaw tightened just so slightly.

ty. With its large doors gently swinging open to greet them inside, the villa resemb

epped out with reluctant legs as well. Her cold night air enveloped her, much different from the heat Maxi

oors of the villa and whispered, "Come ins

l beauty of Venice she had just left behind, almost frightening. But right now there was no choice. H

of chandeliers, high ceilings, soaring columns, and polished marble flooring shined. The air itself seemed heavy,

ept chilly, perfect luxury. The bed was big, covered in white linens, and a

voice was so quiet, so under control that it simply mad

seemed to be closing in on her, quietly pressing against her skin. Though the words

. But Cathy saw something through the wind

atis

ding ou

gloom of the grounds remained motionless. The man was tall, skinny, and armed. She

t missed

mself; his presence

ated across from her, the distance between them hardly sufficient to keep the intensi

fork; her appetite vanished. Though it was excellent, the meal seemed like the last thing she could be thinking about right now. She kept thi

were dragging her towards him. Her anxiety was exacerbated by his calm demeanour; his domin

ctive. His voice was low, silky like the fabric of his suit. Tho

ted great, it had little effect to calm the tempest developing insid

The electricity was tangible, as though the simple act of their looking a

" Still, I guess we ought to reach some understanding. He slanted back in his

answer or express the questions raging in her chest. Was this genui

just slightly. Maximo's eyes tracked the movement, a

he table without thinking; her

in the room, but he no longer talked. His silence ate at her; it was a statement in and of itself that she could not understand. Maximo was

t crawling under her skin. She left this room unable to stay. Not when ev

ed her with the same fierce, impenetrable stare as his figure was just partially hid

gh the silence had gotten more profound. Every inch of the villa felt as tho

the storm building inside her. She wanted to challenge him, demand th

efore she could say. He overre

e rigidity in his features as he came into the light; his jaw closed ev

n keep your distance," he murmured.

f control, her pulse accelerated and her hands sh

n soon enough. This, us, has already begun, you