Page 15

SERGIO

The sun was barely up when Mirella arrived at the mansion, her heels clicking against the marble floor like a countdown to trouble. She looked stunning. Too stunning, if I was being honest. Her red dress fit her like it had been designed with sin in mind, and her hair was pinned back just enough to show off her neck—a neck I’d spent too much time thinking about since last night.

I was waiting in the foyer, pretending to go through some papers, but all I could do was stare at her. The kiss we’d shared felt like a brand on my skin, and I was desperate to bring it up. Just once, to see if it had left her as rattled as it had me.

“You’re early,” I winced, trying to sound casual, though my voice came out rougher than I’d intended.

“I wanted to be prepared,” she answered, smoothing the skirt of her dress like it was nothing—like she didn’t know exactly how much she was throwing me off.

“We should talk,” I started, taking a step closer. “About yesterday.”

Her eyes flicked up to mine, calm and steady. But there was something guarded behind them. “There’s nothing to talk about. It’s in the past.”

In the past? Was she serious? “Mirella, you can’t just—”

“I can,” she cut me off, her tone firm but not unkind. “It’s better this way.”

Better for who? Because it sure as hell isn’t better for me. I wanted to push, to tell her it wasn’t just a kiss, but before I could, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall. My father was waiting, and if we were late, it wouldn’t matter what either of us felt about last night.

We walked to his office in silence. I wanted to tell her all I felt. But what difference would it make now? As we entered, Don Carlos was sitting behind his massive desk, sipping his coffee like a king surveying his court.

“You’re late,” he mumbled without looking up, though we weren’t. He liked to say things like that just to keep people on edge.

“Good morning to you, too, Father,” I greeted dryly, trying not to sound bitter, taking the seat across from him.

Mirella followed, sitting with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap like she was auditioning for sainthood. It was impressive, really, how composed she looked, considering the storm she’d walked into.

“I trust you both slept well,” my father said, his eyes glinting with something I didn’t like.

“Fine,” I answered quickly, hoping to move things along.

Mirella nodded, keeping her response short. “Yes, thank you.”

His gaze shifted to her, sharp and calculating. “That’s interesting. I could’ve sworn I saw you leaving the mansion about an hour after you told me you were going home when you left my office yesterday.”

My stomach dropped. Mirella and I exchanged a quick glance, but neither of us let it linger. He couldn’t know. Could he?

“I...” Mirella began, her voice steady despite the trap he’d just laid. “I wasn’t feeling well after everything that happened. The stolen shipment, the danger—I was feeling overwhelmed. I went to cool my head in the guest room and must have dozed off. I didn’t realize how much time had passed.”

Her explanation was flawless, and she delivered it with a calmness that would’ve made any seasoned liar proud. My father stared at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before finally nodding.

“Ah, of course. Women can be weak when it comes to such things. Emotional. Fragile. It’s natural.”

My hands curled into fists under the table. I could feel the heat rising in my chest, and I was one second away from telling him exactly where he could shove his outdated opinions. But then, Mirella laughed, a light, easy sound that somehow diffused the tension.

“You’re absolutely right,” she said, her tone playful. “We women can be such delicate creatures. Thank goodness for strong men like you to guide us.”

It was a masterstroke. She turned his insult into a compliment, disarming him completely. I hated that it worked, but I couldn’t deny it was impressive.

My father chuckled, clearly pleased with himself. “Yes, well, it’s good to see you understand your place.”

I bit my tongue so hard I tasted blood. Mirella gave me a quick glance, her eyes saying let it go . For now, I did.

“Enough pleasantries,” my father continued, leaning forward. “We’ve confirmed it was The Raven who intercepted the shipment. She’s been a thorn in my side for too long, and I want her dealt with. You two are to do whatever it takes to bring her down and recover what’s mine.”

The room went silent. Mirella’s posture didn’t change, but I could see the tension in her jaw. The Raven wasn’t just a rival—she was a ghost, impossible to pin down. This wasn’t going to be a simple task.

“We’ll handle it,” I responded, keeping my voice even.

“You’d better,” my father snarled, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I don’t tolerate failure. You already failed once when you let her get away with the shipment. Twice would be inexcusable.”

As we left the office, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. Mirella walked beside me, her face calm but her eyes distant.

“You were incredible in there,” I told her, meaning every word. “Quick thinking with the guest room story.”

“I’ve had practice,” she teased lightly, but there was a weight to her words that made me wonder just how much practice she’d had.

“About what he said...” I hesitated. “You know he’s wrong, right? You’re not weak.”

Her lips curved into a small, tired smile. “I know. But sometimes it’s easier to let people think you are. They underestimate you that way.”

I nodded, understanding more than I wanted to admit. We both had our masks, our ways of surviving in a world that didn’t allow for weakness. But as I watched her walk ahead of me, strong and unyielding despite everything, I couldn’t help but think she was the strongest person I’d ever met.

*****

The engine hummed softly as we drove toward the next town, the morning sun painting the sky in streaks of gold and pink. Mirella sat beside me, staring out the window, her face unreadable. It wasn’t the usual silence between us—the kind where tension hung so thick you could cut it. This one felt... thoughtful, like she was piecing something together in her mind.

Finally, she broke the quiet. “Sergio, you don’t care about your father’s business. Not really. So why are you so keen on bringing down The Raven?”

Her words surprised me. She had a way of cutting straight to the point, no dancing around the edges. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, debating whether to brush her off or give her the truth. This was Mirella, though—she’d see right through me if I tried to dodge the question.

“It’s not for him,” I said after a pause. “I couldn’t care less about his empire. If it all burned down tomorrow, I wouldn’t shed a tear. I wouldn’t give a fuck.”

Her head turned toward me, curiosity sparking in her eyes. “Then why?”

“Because of them,” I gestured vaguely out the window. “The families, the jobs, the people tied to this mess. My father’s business—illegal or not—puts food on the table for a lot of people. If we let The Raven and others like her tear it apart, they’re the ones who’ll suffer. Not my father. Not me.”

She stayed quiet, letting my words settle. I could feel her studying me, peeling back the layers I usually kept locked away.

“But it’s not just that,” I continued, my voice softer now. “I’ve been thinking about ways to make it better. Safer. To legalize as much of it as I can. I’m not na?ve—it’ll never be clean. Not completely. But it doesn’t have to be the bloodbath it is now.”

“You think your father would go for that?” she asked, skeptical but not dismissive.

I snorted. “Not a chance. He thrives on chaos and fear. But he won’t be in charge forever.”

Her lips twitched, a half-smile playing there. “So, you’re the future of the empire, huh? The golden boy with a heart of gold?”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I grinned. “Maybe just a tarnished heart trying not to rot completely.”

She laughed at that, a sound that felt like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. For a moment, the tension eased, and I let myself enjoy the moment. But deep down, I knew it wouldn’t last. Not with where we were heading.

As we pulled into the town, I parked the car outside a café. Mirella looked around, her brow furrowing.

“This is it?” she asked.

“No, but we’re close. The Raven is known to visit a particular restaurant here. If she’s in town, that’s where we’ll find her.” I glanced at her outfit—a simple but elegant dress that was fine for most occasions but not for this. “You’ll need something flashier, though. She won’t show herself to just anyone.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Are you telling me we’re going shopping?”

“That’s exactly what I’m telling you,” I smirked, already imagining how she’d react to the ordeal.

*****

The boutique was one of those places that smelled like perfume and money, where everything was overpriced but worth it. Mirella walked in like she owned the place, and I followed, grinning at how easily she commanded the room.

“You’re enjoying this too much,” she muttered as a saleswoman fluttered around her, holding up dresses like offerings to a queen.

“I live for moments like this,” I teased, leaning against a rack of suits. “The great Mirella, out of her element.”

She grabbed a sequined dress from the rack and held it up, glaring at me over the fabric. “You think I’m out of my element? Watch and learn, Sergio.”

What followed was a whirlwind of fabric, color, and Mirella’s sharp wit. Every dress she tried on seemed designed to drive me insane. There was one in particular, a black number with a plunging neckline, that nearly had me forgetting how to breathe.

“What do you think?” she asked, spinning in front of the mirror.

I couldn’t speak for a moment. My throat was dry, and my brain was working overtime to keep my thoughts PG. “It’s... fine.”

She smirked, clearly seeing through me. “Just fine?”

“Don’t push it,” I teased, turning away before I gave myself away completely.

By the time we left, she was carrying several bags, and I was down a ridiculous amount of money. Not that I cared. The way she laughed as we walked back to the car was worth every penny.

Back at the hotel, I walked her to her room, carrying the bags like some kind of overpaid chauffeur. She unlocked the door, and as she turned to thank me, something shifted in the air. The playful banter we’d shared earlier faded, replaced by something heavier.

Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, neither of us moved. My gaze dropped to her lips, and before I could stop myself, I leaned in, dropping the bag at the doorstep. I wanted to fight with everything in me, but I couldn’t. The pull was stronger than my resistance.

The moment our mouths touched, it was like a dam breaking. Her lips were soft and warm and tasted faintly of the coffee she’d sipped earlier, but I could still taste the cherries in them. She always tasted like cherries. I pressed closer, my hand finding the curve of her waist. She didn’t pull away. Instead, her arms looped around my neck, pulling me closer.

Her lips lingered on mine. I pulled her tongue with mine playfully but enough to deepen it, turning urgent. My heart raced as her fingers tangled in my hair, and I lost myself in her completely. Her scent, her touch—it was intoxicating, like nothing I’d ever felt before. Every part of me screamed to take this further, to forget about the world outside and just stay here with her.

But then reality slammed back into me. Mirella wasn’t mine. Not really. She was supposed to marry my father, and no matter how much I hated that, it was the truth.

I pulled back, my breathing heavy. Her lips were slightly swollen, her cheeks flushed, and she looked at me with a mixture of confusion and longing that nearly broke me.

“We shouldn’t...” I began, though the words felt like a lie.

She nodded, though she didn’t look convinced. “I know.”

I stepped back, putting space between us before I did something I couldn’t take back. “Get dressed. I’ll come back for you in twenty minutes.”

And then I left, shutting the door behind me before I could change my mind.