Chapter 50 Mara
MARA
The limo pulls up to the reception hall, and I don’t know how much longer I can be in the same space as him. I’m out of there before the car comes to a full stop.
Nicolo calls my name, but I don’t stop. Emiliano just got here as well, and I make my way toward him.
“I need to talk to you.”
He nods and follows me inside. I find an empty room, away from the chaos of the reception.
“What happened to the original groom?” I ask, chest heaving.
“Nicolo struck a better deal.”
Pressing my lips together, I let out a sigh before asking, “Is that all I ever am? A chess piece for you to move around to get the best deal?”
My brother says silent, his hands tucked in his pockets.
“Answer me!” I demand.
“This was for the best.”
I shake my head. “The best for who, Eli? For me? Or for you? I don’t know what’s happening to you, but this isn’t the brother I grew up with. First, you cut off Lucio because he fell in love, and now you sacrifice me for your own benefit.”
“Lucio wasn’t punished for being in love. He betrayed the Camorra for a woman and opened us up to an attack that cost Ma her life.”
“No. That’s not the reason, and you know it.”
He shakes his head. “You wouldn’t underst—”
“Because you won’t tell me anything! This whole mess is because you chose Valentina over the Camorra. Lucio can’t choose the woman he loves over the Camorra, but you can?”
“Enough! I’m done talking about this.”
The door clicks shut, and our heads snap toward my husband.
“Careful how you talk to my wife.”
Eli clicks his tongue. “I’ll talk to my sister how I want to.”
“The fuck you will.”
“Get out, Nicolo,” I interrupt.
His gaze slides over to me, and he wants to say something, but whatever he sees on my face makes him nod. “I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
“You know he came to me over a month ago?” Eli says.
I don’t care when he saw him or why, but Emiliano continues.
“He said he wants to marry you to benefit us. But I don’t believe him.”
“And why is that?” I voice the question without fully processing it.
“He may not admit it, but I saw the look of pure desperation on his face.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
He shrugs. “I’m not lying. That man is down bad. I don’t want to know what happened between the two of out in Italy because that’s none of my business. But I knew the moment he asked me to let him marry you that he would do whatever was in his power to have you again.”
My throat tightens, and I fight the tears that well up in my eyes.
“Get out. And tell him to not come in.” The words barely leave my lips.
I can’t face my brother like this, so I turn my back to him. Emiliano leaves, and the door clicks shut behind him.
Silence fills the room, thick and suffocating. I keep my back to the door and breathe, slow and shaky, forcing my spine straight even though everything inside me feels like it’s folding inward. Then the door opens again.
“Eli, I said—”
“It’s me.” His voice is deep. Controlled. Too damn careful.
My stomach twists; I don’t turn. “Didn’t Eli tell you not to come in here?”
He steps inside anyway, closing the door with a soft click. The room instantly shrinks, like it knows he’s in it.
“I’m not leaving you alone like this,” he says quietly.
A bitter laugh slips out. “You don’t even know what this is.”
“Mara.” My name sounds like gravel in his throat. “Look at me.”
“No.”
Silence stretches between us, sharp as a blade.
He exhales, ragged around the edges. “I’m not here to fight.”
“Then what are you here for?” I finally turn, my chest tight and trembling. “To justify what you did? To explain why you traded for me like a fucking asset?”
His jaw clenches, but he doesn’t step closer. “You know that’s not—”
“Don’t.” My voice threatens to crack. “Emiliano said you struck a better deal. A deal, Nicolo. Do you know how that sounds? Like I’m leverage. Like I’m a bargaining chip.”
His gaze darkens with something that looks too much like hurt. “I did it to protect you.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Tell me the real reason.”
Silence. A heavy, damning silence.
“You’ve made a decision about my life without me,” I whisper. “Again.”
His jaw locks.
“And you want to know what’s worse?” I take a step toward him, fury flushing hot beneath my skin.
“You had me first. You were the one who walked away. You were the one who said no.” My voice breaks.
“You refused to even try. You pushed me away because you were too much of a coward to open your damn heart.”
The word lands between us. Coward. He goes absolutely still.
“You gave me up,” I continue, voice trembling but steadying with each word. “Not because you didn’t feel anything—but because you did. And you were scared of it. Scared of me. Scared of us.”
His breath hitches, barely audible.
“And now…” I whisper. “After breaking me, after letting me believe I meant nothing, you decide you want me? Now you want a second chance?”
Pain flickers across his face, fast but unmistakable.
“I have always wanted you,” he says quietly.
“That’s the problem.” I laugh bitterly. “You wanted me, but you still let me go. And now you’re doing it all over again. Deciding for me. Taking away my choices because you’re terrified of what it means to let me have them.”
He steps forward, then stops himself with a violence that shakes through his whole body. His restraint is its own kind of confession.
“Mara,” he says quietly. “Tell me what you want from me.”
I swallow hard. Anger is easier. But honesty? Honesty burns.
“I want my life back. And I want you to stop making decisions for me like my feelings don’t matter.”
He nods slowly, like each inch of movement costs him something. “I hear you.”
I move toward the door. My heart is hammering, my vision stinging, but my voice doesn’t waver.
“And Nicolo?”
He lifts his head sharply. Always responsive to his name coming from my mouth. Always.
“If you ever want me to forgive you…” I pause, breathing through the ache. “You’re going to have to give me back the choice you stole.”
Then I walk out. The door closes behind me, and I don’t look back. Because if I do…I’m afraid I won’t leave at all.