MARKED BY THE MAFIA
Marked By The Mafia – Episode 47&48
[…BOUND BY DUTY…]
GENRE: Dark Romance
TAGS: MAFIAS, OBSESSION, POSSESSIVE, LOVE, STEAMY, LOVE TRIANGLE, EMPIRE, BETRAYAL, CRIME, VIOLENCE, DEATHS AND MANY MORE…
✧༺✰༻✧
✮{…THE BLIND DATE…}✮
The candles flickered out one by one as the storm swallowed the night, leaving only the sound of the rain and the echo of their hearts beating in unison.
___
Aurora sat still for a moment, rainwater trickling down her arms as the storm raged on. The air smelled of wet roses and smoke, her pulse still racing from what had just happened. Matteo’s fingers brushed against her jaw, tilting her face up to his again.
“Cold?” he murmured.
She shook her head faintly, though the truth was, she couldn’t tell if it was the rain or the way he looked at her that made her tremble.
He smiled slightly, slow and dangerous.
“Let’s get you inside”
He lifted her easily from the table, carrying her through the open doors of the villa. The storm roared behind them, but inside, everything was warm… too warm. The glow from the fire caught on their wet skin as he set her down gently on the couch.
She was shivering now, small tremors running through her body. Matteo’s gaze softened, and without a word, he scooped her back into his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.
The room was dimly lit, the sound of rain pattering against the wide windows. He set her down and began pulling off her damp clothes with careful hands.
When he slid the wet fabric off her shoulders, his eyes fixed on the faint scar just below her shoulder blade.
The branded mark.
The mark he had burned into her skin.
He froze for a second, guilt flickering through his expression. His fingers hovered above it before finally tracing the edges, the memory hitting him harder than any bullet ever could.
“I’m sorry” he whispered against her skin, his lips brushing the mark in a soft, remorseful kiss.
Aurora closed her eyes, not trusting her voice to speak.
He reached for a dry robe, wrapping it gently around her body and pulling the blanket close.
“I’ll be right back” he murmured, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face before walking out.
When Matteo returned with a cup of steaming tea, he found her standing in the middle of the room, barefoot and curious, eyes scanning the space.
“You own here?” she asked.
“Obviously” he replied, setting the tea down.
“Dickhead” she muttered under her breath.
“I heard that” he said with a smirk.
Aurora laughed, the sound light and genuine.
“It’s my mum’s” he finally said, leaning against the wall.
Her laughter softened. “Oh”
Matteo crossed the room, closing the space between them. He snuggled up to her, sliding an arm around her waist, his head finding the crook of her neck. She shivered, not from cold this time, but from how close he was.
He pressed a kiss there, slow and warm.
“It’s beautiful” she murmured.
“Just like you” he said, his voice low, the words brushing her ear like velvet.
Aurora smiled faintly, but then she froze as his next words fell softly, almost lost to the sound of rain.
“I love you”
Her breath hitched. She went completely still, heart thundering in her chest. Did he just say he loved her?
His wet shirt clung to his skin, dark hair falling across his forehead as he spoke again, voice rough and real.
“I’ve always had” he said quietly. “I just accepted the fact recently. My father taught me not to love or give in to feelings… but this is you we’re talking about here, Mia. I can’t hold it any longer”
Her lips parted, but no sound came out.
She turned to face him, her eyes searching his, and without a word, she wrapped her arms around his neck. The warmth of his embrace cut through the chill that lingered on her skin.
When they finally pulled apart, she reached for the cup of tea and took a slow sip, feeling it chase the last of the cold from her veins.
Matteo had changed into a dark shirt and loose pants, his damp hair brushing against his forehead. He crossed the room quietly, his gaze never leaving her.
When he stopped in front of her, his hands found the wall behind her, caging her in, his nearness stirring something fierce and familiar in her chest.
“I can’t get enough of your beauty” Matteo said before he continued.
“There were times I secretly watched you without you knowing. Your beauty baffles me every single time”
Aurora’s eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. “You… you watched me?” she asked.
A rush of heat flooded her cheeks, and she looked away, heart hammering wildly in her chest.
Matteo’s lips curved into a faint smirk, his gaze soft but intense.
“I couldn’t help it. You drive me insane, Aurora”
She opened her mouth to say something, but before the words could form, he closed the gap between them.
His hand slid around her waist, pulling her close as his lips crashed into hers. She gasped softly against his mouth, the sound swallowed by the warmth of his kiss.
Her hands found his chest instinctively, feeling the steady thud of his heart beneath her fingertips.
She could not think of anything but only him, his lips, his warmth, his breath mingling with hers.
When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathing unevenly, their faces still inches apart. “You are reading from www.mhiztaemy.com.ng” thumb brushed her lower lip, eyes locked on hers, and Aurora could only stare back, her pulse racing like it might give her away.
Without a word, he slid an arm beneath her legs and another around her back, lifting her effortlessly.
Aurora let out a soft gasp, her hands clutching his shoulders as he carried her toward the big bed.
The sheets were smooth beneath her as he laid her down gently, his body hovering over hers. His gaze roamed her face, tracing every feature like he was memorizing her all over again.
Aurora’s body responded to his nearness, but her mind tugged her back to reason. She placed a trembling hand on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart under her palm.
“We can’t make love yet” she whispered, voice shaky but firm.
“You know that. The medics said for two weeks”
Matteo froze, his chest rising and falling as he tried to steady his breathing. For a moment, he just stared at her then he nodded slowly, his expression softening.
He exhaled softly and shifted beside her, lying down on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight as he pulled the blanket over them both.
Aurora turned instinctively, curling into his warmth. The sound of rain filled the silence, each drop beating wildly against the windows while thunder cracked in the distance.
Matteo’s arm slipped around her waist, pulling her closer until her head rested against his chest. Her lashes brushing lightly against her cheeks as sleep claimed her.
He stayed awake, eyes tracing her peaceful face. His fingers brushed against her skin, tracing the curve of her cheek with a tenderness he rarely showed anyone.
The chaos outside didn’t matter. In that quiet, storm-wrapped moment, all that existed was her.
•••
LE CIEL ROUGE*
The rain had softened to a drizzle by the time Bianca stepped out of the sleek black car. Her umbrella barely shielded her from the Paris chill as she hurried across the marble walkway toward the entrance of Le Ciel Rouge, one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants.
By the time she slipped inside, her coat was speckled with raindrops and her hair slightly damp, strands clinging to her face. She exhaled quietly, adjusting the belt around her waist before handing the umbrella to the doorman.
Everything around her whispered wealth: the soft hum of jazz, the scent of aged wine, and the muted glow of chandeliers that painted the room in gold.
She smoothed her dress and walked toward the host stand.
“Bonsoir, mademoiselle” the host greeted. “Table for the DeLuca reservation, yes?”
“Yes, for Mr. Nicholas DeLuca” she replied.
He nodded and gestured for her to follow.
As Bianca trailed him through the rows of glittering tables, she caught the faint reflection of herself in the glass. Composed, elegant, beautiful.
Twenty women had been chosen before her. Nineteen had failed to impress him. But tonight, failure was not an option.
Her pulse quickened as she reached the corner table, where a man sat quietly. Tall, sharp-featured, the kind of cold beauty that drew attention without trying.
Nicholas DeLuca.
He looked up from his phone, his expression unreadable.
Bianca forced a polite smile and greeted softly, “Mr. DeLuca”
His gaze flickered briefly to her damp hair, then to her eyes.
“You must be Bianca Rossi”
“Yes” she said, settling into the seat opposite him, her tone light and composed.
“Sorry for being a little late. The rain decided to test me”
He leaned back slightly, one brow lifting in faint amusement.
“Paris has a way of doing that”
The waiter poured wine between them.
The waiter stepped away, leaving a quiet tension lingering between them. Bianca crossed one leg over the other, her eyes fixed on the man seated before her.
Nicholas wasn’t one to fidget or speak unnecessarily. He had an aura of control that filled the silence easily, and it both intrigued and irritated her.
She tilted her head slightly, watching him.
“Am I what you’re looking for in a woman? Am I your spec?”
Nicholas’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. His mind drifted for a moment to the memory of Aurora at the mall, her laughter, her eyes that held both innocence and fire.
He looked back at Bianca and said simply, “No”
Her brows lifted, surprise flickering across her face.
“You’re blunt” she said with a soft laugh, masking her irritation with charm.
“Well… I’m here to change that. I heard that you reject most of your blind dates, but trust me, I will be exceptional”
She winked, her voice carrying a teasing confidence that matched the glimmer in her eyes.
Nicholas’s smirk deepened slightly as he swirled the wine in his glass. “You sound sure of yourself”
“I am,” she replied, leaning forward just enough to hold his gaze. “I don’t like losing”
He studied her for a moment longer. “You won’t have to worry about that. I’m not playing any games tonight”
Bianca’s lips parted in a slow smile, her mind already calculating every move.
If he wasn’t playing games, then she would make sure he did.
He wasn’t giving her much to work with, and that annoyed her more than she wanted to admit. Men usually fell over themselves back at the club then when she smiled like that, but not him.
She leaned forward, letting her voice drop into a soft, sultry tone.
“You know, Nicholas, I can be very persuasive when I want to be”
He looked at her without moving, eyes steady and unreadable. “This won’t work on me, Miss Bianca”
Her lips curled into a confident smile. “It sure will” she whispered.
Nicholas set his napkin down neatly beside his plate and rose from his chair.
“It was nice meeting you, by the way,” he said politely.
Bianca blinked, caught off guard by how quickly he was leaving.
“Not so soon, future husband” she said, standing as well. Her hand reached out, lightly brushing his sleeve.
“Let me have your digits. I’d love to see you again. I’m not giving up on us”
Nicholas paused, amusement flickering in his eyes as he looked at her.
“You’re stubborn, aren’t you?”
“I don’t take no for an answer, future husband” she replied with a playful grin.
For a brief moment, his lips twitched into a faint smile. He handed her his phone, and she quickly typed in her number before returning it.
“Don’t make me regret that” he said lightly, slipping the phone back into his pocket.
“You won’t” she replied smoothly, her eyes glinting.
Nicholas gave her one last look before turning to leave. The rain had stopped outside, the night air cool and fresh as he stepped through the restaurant doors.
Bianca watched him go, her lips curving into a slow, knowing smile. The game had just begun.
•••
THE DELUCA’S ESTATE*
Nicholas’s car rolled to a stop in front of the tall iron gates of the DeLuca Estate. The guards recognized him instantly, stepping aside as the heavy gates creaked open.
The rain had stopped, leaving the cobblestone driveway slick and gleaming under the faint glow of the lanterns.
He stepped out, straightening his suit jacket, the cool air brushing against his face. His driver collected the umbrella and trailed behind him as Nicholas made his way into the mansion.
Inside, the familiar scent of cigars and polished leather filled the air. The grand chandelier sparkled above, throwing fragments of light across the black marble floor.
The sound of quiet classical music drifted faintly from the sitting room where Antonio DeLuca waited, seated like a king surveying his empire.
“Any one who caught your attention yet?” Antonio asked without looking up, his voice calm and heavy with authority. The smoke from his cigar coiled lazily into the air.
Nicholas stopped a few steps away, his hands slipping into his pockets.
“None, Father” he replied. Then a faint, almost reluctant smile touched his lips.
“But one might have caught my attention at the mall today”
Antonio’s gaze lifted then, his sharp eyes glinting with interest. Slowly, the corners of his mouth curved into a sickly smile.
“Then what are you waiting for” he said smoothly, tapping the cigar against the ashtray. “Bring her home already”
Nicholas gave a slight nod before turning toward the grand staircase, his shoes clicking softly against the marble floor.
As he disappeared up the stairs, Antonio leaned back into his chair, smoke curling around him like a dark crown. His smile lingered, cold and calculating.
•••
NEXT MORNING, LE MONARCH HOTEL*
Morning light bled softly through the tall curtains of The Monarch Hotel suite.
Enzo stirred on the bed, the sheets tangled around his waist, the faint scent of smoke and whiskey lingering in the air.
He sat up, running a hand through his tousled hair, his gaze drifting toward the balcony. .
Enzo reached for his phone from the nightstand, the screen lighting up to reveal the same unanswered calls he had made since last night.
Aurora. It’s still unreachable.
He exhaled slowly and rose to his feet, crossing to the balcony. The cool morning air met his bare skin as he stepped outside. Below, the streets were slick from the night’s rain, the hum of traffic distant and steady. He leaned against the railing, phone still in hand, waiting for something that refused to come.
The device buzzed suddenly in his palm.
The unsaved number.
Again.
He stared at it for a moment, jaw tightening, then pressed the green icon and lifted it to his ear.
“Hello”
A beat of silence and then…
“Yeah, I get it. Don’t rush me. We both want this, but I’m not desperate like you are. I know what I’m doing, all right? Just drop it”
He ended the call without another word and lowered the phone, his reflection staring back at him from the glass door.
The screen dimmed and silence filled the room again, thick and heavy.
He reopened his contacts and tapped Aurora’s name once more. The call rang, then went dead. The same empty pattern.
A muscle jumped in his jaw.
“We have to meet soon, Feather” he murmured, voice rough with quiet frustration.
•
•
TBC😈
