Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Mia woke sore but content, the ache in her body a tender reminder of the night before.
Her muscles protested each small movement, yet the soreness felt intimate.
Her skin still carried the ghost of his touch—the slide of his hands, the press of his mouth, the heat that had stolen her breath.
Something had shifted inside her, humming quietly beneath her ribs, a dangerous awareness that last night had meant something. Not just to her, maybe to Luc too.
She wanted to believe that.
Half-tangled in the sheets, she reached for the new phone Luc had given her days ago and pressed call before she could talk herself out of it.
“Hullo?” Bianca’s familiar voice was small and hesitant.
“It’s me,” Mia whispered.
There was a sharp intake of breath. “Mia!” Her friend’s voice cracked before dissolving into tears. “I was so worried. You vanished.”
Mia smiled faintly. “I’m safe, I promise. I’m sorry to make you worry.”
In a rush of relief, she told Bianca everything—the contract, the marriage, the year she had promised to stay.
“So you’re married?” Bianca asked softly.
“Yes.”
“Has he been cruel?”
Mia hesitated, glancing at the closed bedroom door. “No. Not cruel. I can even see myself being happy for the year.”
Bianca’s tone softened. “And maybe more than a year?”
Mia laughed nervously, her throat tight. “I don’t know. He’s a mafia kingpin, Bee. He’s killed people. How could I ever want a life like this forever?”
“I understand,” Bianca said. “You can come to me when the year ends. I’ll always have a place for you.”
They talked for nearly an hour—about nothing and everything. The sound of Bianca’s voice grounded her, tethered her to the girl she used to be. When they finally said goodbye, Mia felt both lighter and lonelier.
She slipped from bed and stepped into the bathroom.
Hot water poured over her, soothing sore muscles, washing away the remnants of sleep—but not the memory of Luc.
His eyes, the heat of his touch, the way he had claimed her body and left something raw humming beneath her ribs… she could not scrub it away.
By the time she dressed in soft cotton shorts and a loose shirt, damp hair tied back, the light had shifted toward afternoon.
The quiet hum of the house wrapped around her, yet beneath it, a restless pulse stirred in her chest. She descended the wide staircase, carrying both the serenity of the morning and the ghost of last night.
Gabriella’s delighted squeal broke the stillness. “Your wedding night must have been something! You slept past noon. We have brunch on the patio—come join us!”
Mia flushed but smiled as Gabriella looped her arm through hers and led her outside.
“Tonio has left,” Gabriella said, “that means more for us!”
Mia inhaled the fresh air. The patio overlooked the sea, a sweep of blue stretching endlessly to the horizon.
White curtains billowed in the breeze, carrying the faint cries of gulls and the rhythmic crash of waves below.
The scent of the ocean mingled with warm bread and citrus, filling the air with a delicious contentment.
A round table sat beneath a shaded pergola woven with climbing jasmine. Flaky croissants, warm rolls glistening with butter, smoked salmon, jewel-like fruit, and small delicate cakes tempted from silver trays. Slender carafes of orange juice and wine caught the sunlight in amber hues.
Mia settled into a sun-warmed wicker chair and accepted a glass of juice. They were alone, and conversation flowed easily, light and teasing. Gabriella’s laughter was infectious, bright as the sunlight glinting on the sea.
Mia found herself admiring her cousin-in-law’s ease.
How could she live in this dangerous world, laughing so freely, appearing so happy in a life shadowed by power and blood?
And beneath it all, the memory of Luc whispered insistently, a reminder that even the brightest morning carried its own fire.
As the meal lingered, laughter faded into a comfortable silence. The sea breeze lifted strands of Mia’s hair, carrying the scent of salt and jasmine through the air. Gabriella poured them each another glass of wine, her tone still light but threaded with something more deliberate.
“You’re glowing,” she said, eyes glinting over the rim of her glass. “Luc must be treating you well.”
Mia smiled faintly, unsure how to answer. “He is… complicated.”
Gabriella’s laugh was low and knowing. “That’s one word for it.” She leaned back, her chair creaking softly. “I’ve never seen him look at a woman the way he looks at you.”
Mia’s heart stuttered. “How does he look at me?”
“Like he wants to devour you whole.”
Heat rose to Mia’s cheeks, and Gabriella giggled at her reaction.
“You’re married to a man most people fear to even speak to,” Gabriella went on. “But you don’t look afraid when you’re with him. That tells me he shows you something the rest of us never see—tenderness.”
Mia’s fingers tightened around her glass. “You say that as if I should be frightened.”
“Oh, not frightened.” Gabriella tilted her head, studying her.
“Just aware. The men in our family aren’t made for peace, Mia.
They build with one hand and destroy with the other.
Luc…” She paused, her expression softening.
“He’s different, though. I love him, but he’s cold.
Calculating. I used to think he was incapable of love. ”
Mia’s pulse quickened. “Do you still believe that?”
Gabriella’s smile turned wistful. “I’m not sure anymore.
He’s different with you. I caught him smiling at you three times today.
That’s practically a miracle. He’s capable of loyalty, maybe even tenderness.
But love?” She exhaled. “If he ever gives it, it’ll be the kind that consumes… and leaves nothing untouched.”
The waves crashed against the shore, echoing the ache that tightened Mia’s chest. She stared at the horizon, unsure what frightened her more—the idea that he might never love her, or that he might love her too much.
Gabriella reached across the table and squeezed her hand. “Be careful, cousin. You’re not just his wife now. You’re part of the Valachi legacy. In this world, your heart isn’t the only thing at risk.”
Mia managed a small smile, though the warning clung to her like salt in the air.
“Mama and I are going to Italy for a few weeks. Would you like to come with us?”
“Perhaps another time.” Mia smiled faintly. She wanted to stay, to learn the man who was her husband, to peel back his layers one by one. That kind of knowing couldn’t come from running away.
They laughed and chatted for another hour before Gabriella was called away for a phone call.
Left alone, Mia wandered through the quiet halls until she found herself in the library.
Sunlight streamed through tall, arched windows, glinting off rows of polished shelves lined with leather-bound volumes and first editions.
She trailed her fingers along the spines, plucked a book at random, and sank into a velvet armchair by the window.
Within moments, the world around her vanished, lost in a story of alien romance and impossible love.
The soft chime of her phone startled her. With a small sigh, Mia reached into her pocket. Luc’s name lit up her screen like a secret she didn’t dare hope for. She read the text:
Come with me to the movies tonight.
She read it three times before a smile curved her lips. Their wedding night had been… overwhelming. Beautiful. Terrifying. And when she hadn’t seen him all day, uncertainty had pressed on her chest like a weight she couldn’t shake.
Yes,
She typed.
What are we seeing?
Retro movie night. Jurassic Park. The first one. Apparently, there are several.
Mia laughed softly, warmth blooming through her.
What time are we going?
Be ready by eight.
When he arrived hours later, the world seemed to tilt slightly on its axis. He stood at her door in a black suit and shirt, dark fabric molding perfectly to his broad frame. Dangerous. Impossibly elegant.
She wore high-waisted skinny jeans and a soft purple sweater, feeling both feminine and comfortable. A sleek Porsche gleamed under the moonlight. She couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped her lips as he opened the door.
“No bodyguards tonight?” she asked.
Luc’s gaze flicked to the empty street before he slid behind the wheel. “No one would expect me at a cinema. Even if Intel suggested it, they wouldn’t believe it. We’re safe.”
Mia nodded, glad for the normalcy. “I found The Princess Bride on Prime,” she said. “We could watch it when we return.”
He made a low sound—not quite agreement, not dismissal. Mia smiled. It was enough.
The drive to the cinema didn’t take long, and Mia liked the easy quiet that settled between them. It wasn’t awkward, just… comfortable. She reached forward, turned on the car’s audio, and scrolled through stations until one promised Oldies but Goodies.
“Yes!” she said when This Magic Moment came on.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the faint curve of Luc’s mouth—a small, fleeting smile—but he didn’t comment. She sang along anyway, off-key and completely unashamed, her laughter mixing with the music as the city lights blurred past them.
When they parked, she could hear voices and laughter from the crowd entering the cinema.
Luc opened her door and held her hand as they crossed the parking lot.
Inside, the scent of butter, sugar, and salt wrapped around her.
Posters of classic films lined the walls, curling slightly at the edges, while newer ones teased upcoming films.
She could feel Luc’s gaze scanning the crowd behind her—always aware, always calculating. The contrast between his vigilance and her wide-eyed wonder made her heart twist tighter.