CHAPTER 26
MIA
Turns out, Zane and I managed to clear out our pasts... between a lot of make-out sessions, of course. I told him everything I could about mine, and he connected the dots, casually mentioning that my sister—yeah, the one I didn't even know was looking for me—was now hunting me down.
So, here I am, waiting to meet her. Because, why not? Life’s just full of these neat little surprises, right?
The white lab coat was a little tight on Zane’s broad shoulders, and I bit the corner of my lip, enjoying the view. The contrast between him and the tattoos that peeked from beneath his rolled-up sleeves was a kind of delicious visual irony.
“You look handsome in a lab coat, husband,” I teased, the corner of my mouth pulling into a mischievous smile. “I thought you were just a tattoo artist.”
Zane, as always, looked away for a second before answering. It was a small detail, but I already knew it meant he was uncomfortable being the center of attention.
That only made it better.
“I majored in Chemistry in Canada. Never really used it for anything useful,” he said, slipping his hands into the pockets of his lab coat, as if trying to hide how naturally it fit him.
I laughed, leaning against the cold laboratory counter.
“Says the guy who makes bombs for a secret society.”
The shadow of a smile flickered across his face, and I took the opportunity to move closer. My fingers trailed over the crisp fabric before gripping the collar, tugging him down just slightly.
“You really do look good in this,” I whispered, my lips barely brushing his.
Zane sighed, and I felt his hesitation in the way his hand ghosted over my waist, almost as if asking permission. It killed me.
He was always so careful, so intense and silent at the same time.
“Mia…” His voice came out hoarse, sending a shiver down my spine.
My fingers traced his jawline before slipping into his blond hair.
“What’s wrong? Can’t kiss me in a lab? Is that against the code of conduct?”
This time, his smile grew, and before I could tease him again, Zane closed the distance between us and kissed me.
It was slow but deep, as if he were trying to memorize me. His firm hands pressed against my waist, pulling me closer, and a delicious warmth spread through my chest. The scent of coffee mixed with the faint chemical tang in the air, making everything feel even more intoxicating.
When he finally pulled back, my fingers were still curled around the collar of his lab coat.
“You know…” I muttered, catching my breath. “This lab seems like a great place to explore some new chemical reactions.”
Zane let out a low laugh, and the way his eyes darkened made my heart stutter.
“You’re a problem,” he murmured, his forehead touching mine.
“And you love problems, husband.”
Zane sighed against my skin, and I felt his smile before I even saw it. My fingers were still tangled in the collar of his lab coat, and I took the opportunity to tug on it again—just to feel that fleeting moment of hesitation before he inevitably gave in to me.
"I can't believe you never told me you had a genius chemistry diploma," I teased, sliding my hands over his chest. The soft fabric of the coat contrasted with the warmth of his skin beneath it. "That changes everything, you know? Now I can call you 'Doctor Husband'."
Zane rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched with a smile.
“I’m not a doctor, Mia.”
“It doesn’t matter.” I leaned up on my tiptoes, bringing my lips close to his ear. “It still sounds sexy.”
The way he swallowed hard made me grin. I loved breaking through his walls of silence, loved watching the tension build before he lost control just a little.
“You really don’t know when to stop, do you?” he muttered, sliding his hands down my back, his thumbs drawing lazy circles against my skin.
“Never,” I assured him, biting my lip.
He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb brushing over my cheek while his eyes traced every detail of my face.
My heart stopped.
I had seen that look before—that moment of silent vulnerability, as if he were deciding whether to run or stay.
“You really like seeing me like this?” His voice was low, almost hesitant.
I blinked, surprised by the question.
“In a lab coat? Of course. You look like a sexy scientist who can blow up a building and then tattoo a dragon on someone’s back.”
He laughed, his chest vibrating against mine.
“I meant…” He gestured vaguely with his hand, as if struggling to explain.
But I understood.
He wanted to know if I liked seeing him like this—more open, less withdrawn into his usual silence.
My answer was simple.
“Yes, Zane. I love seeing you like this.”
His gaze darkened, and before I could say anything else, he kissed me again—this time with more urgency. My back hit the counter, one of my hands still gripping the collar of his lab coat while the other got lost in his hair.
The chemistry between us didn’t need any experiments to be proven.
The kiss still burned on my lips when a sharp knock echoed through the lab.
“If you guys are naked, let me know now. I don’t want to burn my retinas,” Lara’s voice called out, completely unfazed.
Zane immediately pulled back, rubbing his face with one hand, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at his expression. He always got a little nervous around Lara, and that just made it even more fun for me.
“You can come in,” I called out, straightening my top and tossing my hair back.
The door opened, and Lara stepped inside with the air of someone who had just completed a mission. She wore a blazer that screamed "I’m a serious professional," but the mischievous glint in her eyes completely ruined the image.
“Good to know you’re still dressed,” she said, crossing her arms and looking at us like a teacher catching students misbehaving. “Laura Barone is outside, waiting to come in, and I was sent as the sacrificial lamb to make sure you two weren’t getting… sidetracked.”
Zane let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. I, on the other hand, stepped forward and took Lara’s hands in mine, giving her the most dramatic expression I could manage.
“Friend… You sacrificed yourself for us.”
“That’s right,” she sighed, throwing her head back as if carrying the weight of the world. “You don’t know the terror of checking the time and thinking, ‘Oh God, are they on the experiment bench? Am I about to witness something that will traumatize me forever?’”
“You live for danger,” I teased.
“Only when I’m forced to!” She pointed at Zane with a knowing look. “He looks way more embarrassed than you. Does that mean I succeeded in annoying him?”
Zane just crossed his arms and muttered, “You two are insufferable,” before turning to grab something from the bench.
“That’s a yes!” Lara celebrated, clapping her hands.
I laughed, patting her shoulder.
“But seriously,” she continued, adopting a more professional stance. “Laura’s waiting. You two should take a deep breath and pretend to be mature, responsible adults.”
“You literally said ‘pretend,’” Zane pointed out, not even looking at her.
“I did,” Lara confirmed matter-of-factly. “Because I know you two.”
She patted my cheek twice before turning to leave, but not before shooting Zane a knowing glance.
“If you want to impress Dr. Barone, keep the lab coat on. Who knew the sexy nerd was hiding there all along?”
And with that, she disappeared down the hallway, leaving behind the echo of my laughter and the sound of Zane huffing in frustration.
“I told you.”
“You told me.”
But the humor faded when the door opened again.
Laura stepped inside.
For a moment, everything stilled.
The lively, teasing atmosphere Lara had left behind was suddenly suspended in time. I had never seen Laura like this—dressed as a real academic, her lab coat perfectly fitted, hair tied back in a quick bun, glasses balanced on the tip of her nose.
Her eyes found mine.
And just like that, the past came rushing back.
The musty smell. The cold drafts. The voices beyond doors that never opened for us. The nights when we whispered to each other, trading fragments of our small internal worlds to keep from going insane.
Laura’s lips parted, but no words came immediately. Her gaze swept across my face, as if trying to convince herself that I was real.
"You are…" she started, then stopped. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Not hallucinating?" I finished for her, a hesitant smile tugging at my lips.
The corner of her mouth twitched, as if she wanted to smile but wasn’t sure how.
"I was going to say… 'different.'"
"Well, you don’t look much like a figment of my imagination either," I joked, trying to lighten the weight pressing on my chest. But as I took a step forward, I realized—Laura didn’t know what to do.
She was brilliant, a genius, but emotions were not her strong suit. And what were we supposed to do after all this time? Hug? Pretend the past never happened?
I made the decision for us.
I closed the distance and pulled her into a hug.
For a second, Laura was completely rigid. Then, slowly, her arms lifted, and she hugged me back.
"I thought I’d never see you again," she admitted in a whisper, her voice raw with vulnerability. She clung to me, almost as if she didn’t believe I was real.
I closed my eyes, squeezing her just a little tighter.
"Me too, little sister."
A throat cleared behind us.
Laura pulled back slightly, her expression shifting as if only now realizing we weren’t alone.
"Zane, this is Laura," I introduced, my hands still resting on her shoulders. "Laura, this is my husband."
Laura gave him a suspicious look, her gaze lingering a little too long before she spoke.
"Hi."
"Long story," I muttered.
Zane only nodded at her, but I recognized that look. The serious expression, the slightly tense posture, the way his eyes analyzed Laura without a trace of softness. He was still on the defensive.
"I heard you helped me," I said, lightly touching the sleeve of Laura’s lab coat. "You got me out of there."
Her gaze shifted, and she adjusted her glasses mechanically.
"It was nothing."
"It was everything."
Laura exhaled deeply and glanced at Zane again, as if expecting him to say something.
He just crossed his arms.
"Why now?" His voice was firm.
Laura blinked, processing the question. "Why what?"
"If you helped Mia escape, why are you only showing up now?"
I felt the tension between them. I knew Zane was just trying to protect me, but Laura didn’t deserve his suspicion.
"Because my father was watching me," she answered simply. "And because I needed to be sure that if I reached out to her again, I wouldn’t be putting either of us in danger."
Zane didn’t respond immediately. He was studying her, searching for something only he could see.
"You trust her?" he finally asked, without taking his eyes off Laura.
I squeezed her hand tightly.
"With my life."
Laura glanced down at our joined hands, and this time, a small, almost imperceptible smile appeared.
"You were never good with metaphors," she murmured, and I knew that despite the years, we were still the same girls, just trying to survive together.
Then a voice cut through the air, sharp and edged with suspicion.
"You think I didn't notice your psychopath husband hiding?" Zane growls, his voice low and lethal. "I don't trust you."
But instead of reacting with alarm, Laura just smiles, as if her husband's presence is the most natural thing in the world.
"Pietro, step out. You're scaring them," she says lightly. "I told you I'd be fine."
The shadow moves. Pietro Barone steps into the light, and I see what Zane already has—what he noticed the second he laid eyes on him. This man is no ordinary presence. His sharp gaze assesses us with precise calculation. His broad shoulders and rigid posture radiate control, discipline. He isn’t here for casual conversation.
"I'm just looking after my wife," Pietro says, his voice calm but unshakable.
"I'm not scared," I reply in a soft tone, stepping forward to study him at my own pace.
Pietro doesn’t seem like someone easily intimidated, but I also don’t sense hostility—only extreme vigilance.
Then, I turn to Laura with a thoughtful tilt of my head.
"Does he like hugs?"
Laura laughs, a light, unexpected sound in the midst of the tension.
"Not really."
I nod. "Good to know. Boundaries, after all."
Pietro watches me for a moment before extending a hand in a formal gesture.
"I'm Mia Hill," I introduce myself with an easy, diplomatic tone. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Barone."
As he shakes my hand, I see the shift in his expression—the exact moment he recognizes what Zane already has. My posture, my tone, the unwavering eye contact. The way I carry myself isn’t natural. It’s learned. Crafted.
I was trained to speak this way. To move this way.
I was raised to be a mafia princess.
"Nice to meet you, Mia," Pietro replies, his voice carefully measured. "I'm Pietro. Laura's husband."
"I hope you're treating my sister well, Mr. Barone."
His eyes glint with interest, reevaluating me.
"You don’t need to worry. Laura is in good hands."
"That’s good to hear," I say evenly, holding his gaze. "We know what mafia men are like." I pause before adding, as casually as possible, "Was your marriage arranged by my father?"
The air shifts.
"Laura and her father don’t speak," Zane cuts in before either of them can answer. "She’s not on his side, Mia."
A heavy relief escapes my lungs, and I realize I had been holding my breath. I turn back to Laura, studying her more intently now.
"It’s good to see you doing well, little sister," I murmur, pulling her into a tight hug. There’s something grounding about the warmth of her touch, the way she hesitates for a fraction of a second before returning the embrace. But then, like an invisible alarm ringing in my mind, I pull back.
"Did you want to talk to me for a reason?"
Laura straightens, her sharp gaze scanning me before flicking to Zane.
"I just wanted to check in. To see if you were okay, if no one was taking advantage of you."
Her eyes meet mine pinpoint accuracy, studying my face. Heat creeps up my neck.
"Zane is a perfect gentleman," I say, my voice steady. "He’s taken good care of me. You don’t have to worry."
"Of course I worry," Laura says, softer now. "I always will."
"I don’t think it’s wise for people to know I’m your sister, though," I whisper.
"I get it. Too much blood has been spilled."
"Yeah… And as much as I want to keep seeing you, little cricket, it’s too risky."
"Pietro can help with that," Laura suggests, but I shake my head.
"People are already suspicious of why you want contact with me."
"I can protect you," Pietro states firmly, his tone devoid of any pretense. "Feel free to speak openly—I’ve ensured the room’s security."
No matter what precautions Pietro has taken, I never trust that walls don’t have ears. Laura nods in understanding.
"Trevor, his brother-in-law, leads TSOC. You'll have an abundance of influential allies at your disposal," Laura adds, her voice calm but calculating. I can see the understanding settle over Zane’s face as the pieces fall into place.
I offer a faint smile, one that doesn’t quite reach my eyes.
"I’ve killed a lot of TSOC men," I say quietly. "God, I’ve probably tortured plenty of Evermore, too. They’ll never accept me if they know who I am."
Laura's eyes flicker, but she remains impassive. "None of that matters now," she says. "It’s in the past. What matters is what you do next."
"It does matter," I whisper, feeling the weight of my past pressing down on me. "Torture is still torture."
"Excuse me for a moment," I say quietly, stepping away from the conversation.
I move a short distance from them, allowing myself a few moments to breathe. My mind is a whirlwind, and I can’t make sense of everything at once. Zane follows me, standing just close enough to offer silent support but not pushing.
"You’re my family, Zane," I say quietly, my voice carrying a touch of bittersweetness. "I know being around me means dealing with a lot of people you probably don’t want in your life. And I get it. I don’t need more people either. Wherever you go, I go. Remember?"
He smiles at my words, his lips gently pressing against my forehead in a soft, reassuring kiss. “Yeah.”
“Good.”
"I can learn to adapt, though," he says, his voice low and steady, carrying a quiet determination. "If it means you’re safe, I’ll figure it out."
I glance at him, a flicker of warmth stirring in my chest. "I know you will, Zane. But I like our bubble. I like the way things are between us, just the two of us. I’m not ready for everything to change."
Zane looks at me for a long moment, his jaw tightening. "You’re impossible," he murmurs, though his voice carries a mix of affection and frustration.
I can’t help the faint smirk that tugs at my lips. "Impossible is what I’d do to you in that lab if we didn’t have an audience," I tease softly.
He chuckles, the warmth of the sound making my chest tighten. "You really are something else," he says, though his smile never fully fades.
I take a deep breath, feeling the pressure lift slightly with his reassurance. "I just need some space to figure this out, okay?"
Zane’s expression softens. "I’m here, Mia. Always."
I nod, a small sense of comfort settling within me. I walk back to Pietro and Laura, but before I can say anything, Zane steps closer, his hand brushing against mine.
“It’s lovely seeing you, sis," I say, forcing a smile, though I can’t help the tension in my voice. "But I will have to decline your offer for protection."
Laura’s eyebrows raise, concern flashing across her face. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, I can handle myself," I say, my voice firm but not unkind. "But I would like to keep in touch. I’m not cutting ties completely."
"Of course," she responds, her tone softening. "We’re always here if you change your mind."
I nod, a weight lifting from my chest, knowing I’ve made the right choice—for now, at least.
I’m not an idiot. I know Laura is probably part of that circle now, and I don’t want anything to do with the people who hurt my brother. I understand that she doesn’t get it—she’s never met One—but I owe him at least that much.
Zane moves closer to me again, his presence a comforting reminder that whatever happens, I don’t have to face it alone.