6. Mia
6
MIA
T he cool night air is a blessed relief after the stifling heat of the ballroom. I lean against the balustrade, taking deep breaths, trying to calm my racing heart. The sound of the party feels distant out here, muffled by the thick stone walls of the estate. For a moment, just a moment, I can pretend I’m alone.
But then I hear the door open and close behind me, and I stiffen. God, I hope it’s not one of the suitors hoping to compromise me. My hands clench into fists as I whirl around, ready to give whoever it is a piece of my mind.
But the words die in my throat as I find myself face to face with a stranger. A handsome stranger. My breath catches as I take in his strong jaw, his piercing eyes, the way his tailored suit fits him perfectly.
“Oh, hello,” I manage to say, my voice embarrassingly breathy. “I hope I’m not intruding on your solitude.”
He smiles, and it’s like the sun coming out from behind a cloud. My knees feel suddenly weak.
“Not at all,” he says, his voice deep and smooth. “I was hoping for a bit of fresh air myself.”
And just like that, nervous excitement floods through me, setting my skin tingling and my heart racing. Could this be it? Could this be the one I’ve been waiting for all night? But I try to play it cool. I’ve never seen this man before, and years of caution drilled into me by my family make me wary.
“I’m so sorry,” I say, straightening my posture slightly. “I don’t believe we’ve met before. How do you know my family?”
The man’s smile doesn’t falter. If anything, it grows warmer. “My name is Leonardo,” he says. “My father has done business with your father in New York. I’m here representing our family’s interests.”
I nod, still blown away by this handsome stranger. God, his smile makes my knees weak. I’ve never reacted this way to anyone before. Is this what Sofia felt when she first met Dom? What Bianca felt with Rork? How Chiara felt with Dante?
Good manners prevail, and I force myself to speak. “It’s nice to meet you, Leonardo. I hope you’re enjoying the ball.”
But Leonardo’s expression shifts slightly, his eyes studying me intently. “You seem troubled,” he says gently. “Is everything alright?”
I’m startled by this—how did he know? Has he been watching me? But then I dismiss that thought. It’s silly. I’m out here by myself and I’m the guest of honor. Of course it's obvious I’m upset.
I hesitate for a moment, then decide to be honest. There’s something about Leonardo that makes me want to open up. “It’s just… this ball is meant to help me find a husband. But I don’t want to get married. Not like this, anyway.”
There. I said it. I thought this was what I wanted in order to fulfill my father’s wishes, but now I’m not so sure. I feel like a piece of meat and hungry wolves are surrounding me.
“That must be difficult,” Leonardo says softly, his voice full of understanding.
You have no idea.
I nod, my eyes distant. “I know it’s my duty, but… I wish I had a choice in the matter.”
“What would you rather do than get married?” Leonardo asks as he steps closer. His cologne is intoxicating, a heady mix of spice and wood that makes my head spin.
I smile at that question—it’s the first time anyone has ever asked me this. “I’ve always wanted to travel. Somewhere other than Italy. I want to see the great libraries of the world, to walk in the footsteps of history’s greatest minds.”
I can tell Leonardo is surprised by this. His eyebrows raise slightly, and there’s a new light in his eyes. “That’s… not what I expected,” he admits. “Tell me more. What libraries? Whose footsteps?”
And just like that, we’re off. The words pour out of me, years of dreams and aspirations that I’ve kept bottled up inside. “The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.,” I say, my voice growing animated. “The British Library in London. Oh, and the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris!”
Leonardo nods, his eyes never leaving mine. “And the footsteps?”
“Voltaire in Geneva,” I say without hesitation. “Virginia Woolf in London. James Joyce in Dublin.”
“You have quite the literary bent,” Leonardo observes, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
I blush, suddenly self-conscious. “I know it’s silly…”
“No,” Leonardo insists, his voice firm. “It’s not silly at all. It’s… refreshing. Most people in our world are only interested in power and money. But you… you want knowledge. Understanding. That’s admirable.”
I feel a warmth spreading through my chest at his words. “You really think so?”
Leonardo nods. “I do. In fact…” He pauses, seeming to consider something. “Have you ever heard of the Library of Alexandria?”
I nod eagerly. “Of course! The greatest library of the ancient world. It’s said to have contained hundreds of thousands of scrolls before it was destroyed.”
“Did you know there’s a modern Library of Alexandria?” Leonardo asks, a twinkle in his eye.
My jaw drops. How did I not know this? “What? Really?”
Leonardo chuckles, the sound sending shivers down my spine. “Really. It was opened in 2002, built to recapture the spirit of the original. It’s quite something to see.”
“You’ve been there?” I ask, unable to keep the awe from my voice. You would think as the child of the most notorious Don, I would have been able to travel anywhere I desired, but unfortunately, Papa only liked to go to Italy.
He nods. “A few years ago. It’s… well, it’s hard to describe. The architecture alone is breathtaking. All glass and aluminum, designed to look like a giant sundial. And inside… inside, it’s like stepping into a dream of what a library should be.”
I listen, enraptured, as Leonardo describes the library in vivid detail. The way the light plays off the walls, the smell of books both ancient and new, the quiet hum of scholars at work. As he speaks, I can almost see it, can almost feel myself there.
“It sounds amazing,” I breathe when he finishes.
Leonardo smiles, and there’s something in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat. “Maybe you’ll see it someday.”
“Maybe,” I agree, though I know it’s unlikely. My life is here. My duty is to my family, to the legacy I’m meant to continue.
We fall into an easy conversation after that, talking about books we’ve read, places we’d like to see. Leonardo is well-traveled, and he paints vivid pictures of the cities he’s visited. Paris, London, Barcelona… they come alive in his words, and I find myself hanging on every syllable.
Time seems to slip away as we talk. The party inside fades into background noise, and all I’m aware of is Leonardo. The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles. The graceful movement of his hands as he gesticulates. The deep, rich timbre of his voice.
I can’t remember the last time I felt so… seen. So understood. It’s intoxicating.
But all too soon, Leonardo glances at his watch and sighs. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, Mia,” he says, and I can hear the regret in his voice. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”
What? No. He can’t be leaving yet.
As he turns to leave, panic seizes me. I can’t let him go, not yet. Not when I’ve finally found someone I connect with. In a moment of boldness that surprises even me, I reach out and grab his hand.
A shock of electricity passes through me at the contact, and I gasp softly. Leonardo turns back to me, his gaze scorching hot. My breath catches in my throat as our eyes lock.
For a moment, we just stand there, frozen. The air between us feels charged, alive with possibility. My heart is pounding so hard I’m sure he must be able to hear it.
And then, moving with aching slowness, Leonardo raises his free hand to cup my cheek. His touch is gentle, almost reverent, and I lean into it without thinking.
“Mia,” he breathes, and my name on his lips sounds like a prayer.
I’m not sure who moves first. All I know is that one moment we’re standing apart, and the next his lips are on mine.
The kiss is soft at first, tentative. But then something ignites between us, and suddenly, it’s all heat and passion. His arms wrap around my waist, pulling me flush against him, and I twine my fingers in his hair.
I’ve only read about first kisses before and dreamed of my own.
But this… this is something else entirely. This is a revelation. This is coming home and setting out on an adventure all at once.
When we finally part, we’re both breathless. Leonardo rests his forehead against mine, and I can feel his heart racing in time with my own.
Oh, God , I think, dazed. I’m falling in love. It seems impossible—we’ve only just met. But I’ve never felt anything like this before. This connection, this understanding… it has to mean something, doesn’t it?
“I should go,” Leonardo says softly, though he makes no move to release me. “Your family will be missing you.”
I want to protest, want to beg him to stay. But I know he’s right. I have responsibilities, expectations to meet. With great reluctance, I step back.
“Will I see you again?” I ask, hating how vulnerable I sound. I hope he seeks Dom out and immediately asks for my hand. I would say yes in a heartbeat.
Leonardo smiles, but there’s an odd expression in his eyes. “I hope so,” he says. And then he’s gone, slipping back into the party before I can say another word.
I stand there for a long moment, my fingers pressed to my lips, still feeling the ghost of his kiss. Then, taking a deep breath, I smooth down my dress and head back inside.
The noise and heat of the ballroom hit me like a physical force after the quiet of the terrace. I blink, momentarily disoriented, before I spot my sisters huddled in a corner.
“Mia!” Bianca calls as I approach. “Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
“I was just getting some air,” I say, unable to keep the smile from my face.
“You shouldn’t be disappearing for too long,” Chiara says, her eyebrows knit. “It can be dangerous.”
Sofia narrows her eyes, studying me intently. “You look… different,” she says. “Did something happen?”
I bite my lip, hesitating for a moment before the words come tumbling out. “I met someone,” I confess. “Out on the terrace. His name is Leonardo, and he’s… he’s amazing.”
My sisters exchange glances, and suddenly, they’re all talking at once.
“Leonardo?” Chiara repeats. “I don’t remember seeing him on the guest list. Do we know a Leonardo?”
“What does he look like?” Bianca demands.
“Where is he from?” Sofia asks, her brow furrowed.
I try to answer their questions as best I can, describing Leonardo’s appearance, his charm, the easy way we connected. “He said his father did business with Papa in New York,” I explain. “He’s here representing his family’s interests.”
As I speak, I see Dom approaching, a concerned look on his face. “Everything alright?” he asks, placing a hand on Sofia’s shoulder.
Sofia frowns, turning to her husband. “Mia says she met someone named Leonardo. Do you recall inviting anyone by that name?”
Dom's frown matches Sofia’s. “No,” he says slowly. “I don’t…”
But before he can finish his sentence, a loud crash echoes through the ballroom. We all whirl around to see a table overturned, glasses shattering on the marble floor.
And then, in the sudden silence that follows, a single gunshot rings out.
Chaos erupts.