The Mafia Crimson Desire

h step. She could feel her sister's worried eyes on her, but she had no time to comfort Ivy or explain h

he saw him sitting at the head, the usual commanding presence of Don Giovanni Morelli looming over the room. His cold, calculating

tures, highlighting the dangerous edge of his expression. He was even more intimidating up close, and the chill that cre

contact with him. The air between them was thick with te

omentous occasion. Tonight, we lay the foundation for a union that will

e than just a mere marriage proposal. His gaze was intense, almost predatory, and for a moment, Sophia wondered if he saw right through her caref

ess, Don Morelli." He turned his attention to Sophia then, his gaze unwaverin

f it made her feel like a lamb facing a wolf. "I understand," she said, her

ulated, and without warmth. "Good. We woul

reputation spoke for itself. He wasn't someone who would play games or entertain anything less than total submission. I

ontrolled, too deliberate. Everything about him exuded danger, and she knew that being married to him would not be easy. She would be expected to co

g back to the conversation she had with Ivy earlier. Her twin sister's protests e

eep to sever, and Luca's presence here was proof enough of that. The Vieri family was a force to be reckoned with. If she tried to br

to the present. "Let's discuss the details of the wedding. We'll m

the way he watched her that made her skin prickle with unease. She couldn't read him. He was a mystery, an enigm

ontinued, Sophia couldn't focus. Every time Luca's gaze found hers, her

chest like a stone. She made her way up the staircase, each step heavier than the last, the echo of her heels a constant reminde

voice low and full of concern. "He's dangerous, So

closing her eyes for a moment. "

n wh

she spoke. "It's not just about me, Ivy. It's about everything. Our fam

d Sophia into a tight hug. "I'll always be here for y

rself to soak in the comfort of Ivy's warmth. But deep down

ngs being pulled by forces beyond her control. Every day she spent in Luca Vieri's presence only solidified her fear. He was always close-always watchi

in the drawing room, a soft

n," she

pression unreadable. He stepped inside and c

orelli," Luca said, his voice smooth, his gaz

feel the walls of the room closing in around her. Married soon-t

her voice steady, but it trembled slightly wit

To remind you that this marriage is more than just a

her heart poundi

didn't reach his eyes. "Good. You'r

settled in her chest like lead. She w

y anything; the presence he exuded was enough to fill the space with tension. The dim lighting c

nsion, but seeing him in person-standing just feet away-was something else entirely. Luca wasn't just a na

e echoed in her mind, their weight settling on her like a stone in her stomach. The air around them crackled with un

ng the hunt. "Tell me, Sophia," he said, his voice low and smooth, li

ing between them. It was a loaded one, designed to test her. To gauge whether she

, her voice betraying none of the turmoi

licker of something else in his eyes. Something far deeper than mere calculatio

d softly, almost to hi

own situation? Was he acknowledging their shared impriso

distance between them. His presence was overwhelming. The space between them seemed

ine. And whether you accept it or not, our fates are intertwined. The wedding is not just a formality. It's

a threat. She could feel the weight of his expectations, and the knowledg

said, her voice trembling despite her best effort

not see it now, but you're already in the game, Sophia. You've been in it for a

at. Respect? From him?

ct you, Sophia. In the way that someone like me respects his partner. You may not b

ived under her father's thumb all these years, and she could survive this too. But the idea of being with Luca- of being his

e said firmly, trying to regain

hia, is something we both desire. But in our world, it's a luxury we c

he blood that had been spilled to build it, was too great. Freedom wasn't an option for her. N

, almost to herself. "There's

low step back, as if giving her space to breathe, but it did

et promise. "There's no escapi

ight of unspoken truths and the inevitable path that lay ahead. Sophia didn't know h

n his heel and walked toward the door, his movements smooth, confident. A

hia," he said, his voice low, but

that, he

a whirlpool of thoughts she couldn't seem to control. She wasn't sure what terrified her more: the fact that she was about to m

the path ahead was fraught with d

riage. It was a war. And she would be forced to f