Page 75 of Broken Mafia Bride

I blink, stunned. “Isabella? Feelings for me?”

I shake my head. “She’ll probably be relieved not to go through with the marriage.”

“I know she does, Raffaele. I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

The words hit harder than I expect—not because I feel the same, but because I hadn’t known. Hadn’t even considered it. And now, it sits like a stone in my chest.

Giulia’s voice softens, but her eyes stay locked on mine.

“You can’t seriously tell me nothing ever happened between you two.”

My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.

I could tell her the truth. Maybe now’s the time—to finally explain what happened that night. That it was a mistake. Too much whiskey. Too much grief. A moment of weakness I can barely even remember.

But saying it wouldn’t change anything.

It wouldn’t erase the weight in Giulia’s voice.

And it wouldn’t stop the storm I know is coming.

She pauses—not accusing, just trying to understand.

“I can’t just reappear in your life like none of this exists. There’s a bond between you two now.”

I should tell her.

But I don’t.

Because that would hurt her.

And god knows she’s been hurt enough already.

And right now, all I can think about is Giulia. And that goddamn fisherman. Her and him, tucked away somewhere, playing house, maybe even?—

Fuck.

The mere thought of him touching her skin makes something savage twist inside me. It makes me want to erase every traceof him from her mind—from her body. Like he was never there. Like he never deserved to be.

I bite down the wave of jealousy threatening to boil over. My jaw tightens. What happened between Isabella and me was a misunderstanding. It never mattered. And telling Giulia now would only drive her further away.

I shift slightly, closing the space between us, my voice low and steady.

“I never thought of her that way.” I cup her face gently, trying to ground both of us. “You’re all I’ve thought about for years, baby. Nothing’s changed. Not for me.”

“You may not feel anything for her,” she whispers. “But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t feel something for you.”

I flinch, but she pulls back slightly, and her voice softens, full of exhaustion.

“Everything’s a mess for me right now. I’m sorry, but I can’t just jump back into this. I’m not thinking clearly… and right now, my only focus is finding Noemi.”

“What are you afraid of?” I ask softly. “That it’ll hurt again? That you’ll lose me? That this won’t last?”

I shake my head. “I won’t let that happen. Not to you.”

“Whatever it is, you’re not facing it alone this time. We’ll get through it—together.”

“Raffaele—”