Page 18

MIRELLA

“Because I want to know who The Raven really is,”

Raven. I wasn’t the girl who ran away, who left behind heartbreak and questions she didn’t know how to answer.

The question is who really is The Raven?

Sergio stared at me across the room, his eyes searching for something he’d never find unless I wanted him to.

“You asked to see who I really am,” I began, my voice calm but deliberate. “I can't show you my face. I can’t risk that. But I can show you pieces of me.”

His brow furrowed, and his lips pressed into a thin line, but he nodded. “I’ll take what you’ll give.”

That was Sergio—unrelenting but patient in a way that disarmed me every time.

I led him out of the restaurant and onto the quiet streets of Montclair. The town wasn’t busy. It was quiet, too quiet. I almost changed my mind, but I navigated the shadows, guiding him away from prying eyes. He didn’t ask where we were going, but I could feel his curiosity building.

We stopped at a secluded overlook, the kind of spot that felt like a secret even though it wasn’t. The lights stretched out before us, glittering like stars trapped in a web of steel and concrete.

“This was one of the first places I came to when I left my hometown,” I said, keeping my words measured.

Sergio stepped closer, his gaze flickering between me and the view. “Why here?”

“It reminded me of something I lost,” I answered. “And something I wanted to find again.”

I didn’t elaborate, and he didn’t press me. Instead, he leaned on the railing, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the glow of the skyline. He didn’t realize how much he stood out—how his very presence demanded attention even when he tried to blend into the background.

“I come here to remember who I was,” I added. “And to remind myself of who I need to be.”

He looked at me then, his eyes softening in a way that made my stomach flip. “That’s a hell of a thing to say.”

I shrugged, turning away before his gaze unraveled me completely. “It’s the truth.”

We didn’t linger long. The night had more to show him—or rather, I had more to show him.

The bar was tucked away in an alley, the kind of place only locals knew about. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, filled with the sound of low chatter and soft jazz. I chose a corner booth, and Sergio slid in across from me.

“You don’t seem like the type to drink,” he winced, his voice almost teasing and complimenting me at the same time. He was eyeing me curiously as I ordered a sparkling water.

“You’d be right,” I responded casually, watching the waiter place his whiskey on the table. “But I don’t judge those who do.”

He took a sip, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re full of surprises.”

The corner of my lips tugged upward. “You have said that already tonight, but I must confess, so are you.” I didn’t know why, but I felt more comfortable talking to Sergio as The Raven than as plain old Mirella. Maybe because talking to him as The Raven revealed a part of me he didn’t know, yet he accepted.

He chuckled, the sound deep and genuine. “How’s that?”

“You’re not what I expected,” I admitted. I didn’t expect him to be this comfortable around The Raven. Considering she is supposed to be an enemy who stole his shipment.

“And what did you expect?”

“Someone colder. More ruthless.”

He leaned back, swirling his drink. “I can be when I need to.”

“I’m sure you can,” I replied, tilting my head. “But that’s not all there is to you, is it? There is something deeper,” I paused for a split second before adding. “Or someone.”

His smile faded, replaced by something more serious. “No. It’s not.”

I watched him closely, waiting for him to say more. And then he did.

“There’s someone,” he began, his voice quieter now. “Someone who gets under my skin in ways I don’t know how to describe.”

My chest tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. “Go on.”

“She’s complicated,” he continued, his eyes staring into the amber liquid in his glass. “Stubborn and frustrating as hell. But she’s also brilliant and kind in ways she doesn’t even realize.”

My fingers curled against the edge of the table, hidden beneath the black gloves. I knew he was talking about me, Mirella.

“She has this way of making everything else fade away,” he said, his voice growing softer. “When I’m with her, nothing else matters. Not the business, not the danger, nothing.”

I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. “She sounds remarkable.”

“She is,” he declared, looking up at me with an intensity that made it hard to breathe. “But it doesn’t matter. I don’t think she feels the same way.”

The sincerity in his voice cut through me like a blade. For a moment, I forgot I was wearing a mask. I forgot that he didn’t know it was me sitting across from him.

“Does she know how you feel?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.

“It’s complicated,” he replied in a low tone, running a hand through his hair.

I leaned forward slightly, my voice softening. “Don’t let it be.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. “Sometimes, we hold back because we’re afraid of what might happen if we’re honest. But if you care about her as much as you say, don’t waste time. Tell her. Show her.”

I don’t know why I would say such a thing knowing how it would fuck my life up if he told me, but right now, I was speaking from the heart.

He studied me for a long moment, and I wondered if he could hear the truth in my words.

“You’re good at this,” he said finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Giving advice.”

“I’ve had practice,” I said, leaning back.

His smile grew, and he set his glass down. “This was nice. Unexpected, but nice.”

I nodded, feeling a crick of disappointment as he stood. I wanted to keep talking to him as Raven. I didn’t want to go back to being Mirella and hiding this part of me from him.

“I need to go,” he said, his tone apologetic but firm.

I knew where he was going—back to Mirella. Back to me.

“It was nice. I know the next time we see each other, it might not be this peaceful, but for what it is worth, it is just business,” he added. I could hear sincerity in his voice as he stood up and gave me a curt nod.

“Safe travels,” my voice was barely above a whisper, watching as he walked away.

The moment he was out of sight, I slipped out through the back entrance. If he was going to beat me to the hotel, he’d have to try hard. I know every short route in this town, and there was no way he would beat me back to the hotel.

****

The door to my hotel room felt more solemn than usual. I leaned against it, trying to steady my breath. I had barely made it to my room and changed hurriedly before I heard footsteps.

I knew who was on the other side. I knew because I felt him before I even opened the door. Sergio.

Part of me didn’t want to answer. The other part? It ached. It ached for the way he looked at me, the way he made me feel like the Mirella I’d buried so long ago.

The moment I opened the door, it seemed to spark with colors in my heart, igniting the part of me that I had tried to hide. I could feel it on my skin. Sergio stood there, his eyes, dark and full of something between longing and restraint, met mine. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

His shirt was slightly untucked, and his hair was disheveled in that effortlessly charming way. His gaze pinned me, making my breath catch.

I was painfully aware of my slightly rumpled shirt. The top button was undone, revealing just a hint of skin. His eyes lingered there for a moment before flicking back to mine. It was subtle, but I saw it. Felt it.

“Mirella,” he finally spoke in a hoarse tone, my name soft and low on his lips. My pulse quickened.

“Hi,” I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Damn it.” The words escaped him like he’d lost some internal battle, and before I could process it, his hand was on my waist, pushing me inside.

The door shut behind us, and in the next moment, his lips were on mine. It was soft at first, almost uncertain, but when I didn’t pull away, his tongue was encircling mine, claiming me in the most breathtaking way possible. It was electrifying, exhilarating, and thrilling as his mouth familiarized with every detail of mine.

Every nerve in my body seemed to wake up under his touch.

His hands were on my waist, pulling me closer until there wasn’t an inch of space left between us. I let out a small gasp as his lips moved against mine, his breath warm and intoxicating.

The tension that had been simmering between us boiled over.

My hands slid up his chest, my fingers tracing the hard lines of his muscles. He groaned a low sound that made my knees weak, and I clung to him, needing his strength to hold me up.

He tilted his head, deepening the kiss, his hands roaming over the small of my back, grazing the bare skin where my top had ridden up. It sent shivers down my spine, and I couldn’t help the soft moan that escaped me.

“Do you have any idea what you do to me, Mirella?” he murmured against my lips, his voice husky and full of need.

“Sergio,” I whispered, barely able to think past the feeling of his hands on my hips and his lips trailing down my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. His hands cupped my breasts, and I buckled under his touch.

I pressed against him, feeling his heartbeat pounding in rhythm with mine. Every kiss, every touch, felt like a dam breaking. We moved together as if we were the only two people in the world. The rest of it didn’t matter.

But then, my phone buzzed. A sharp, jarring noise that snapped me back to reality. It was a phone call that I didn’t want to check because I wanted to stay in the moment.

Sergio gazed at me, tilting his head to kiss me when my phone buzzed again.

Shit!

We froze, breathless and tangled, as the sound broke through the haze. It was my phone again, and immediately I knew I had to check this time. I reached for it reluctantly, my hands trembling as I checked my phone. There was a missed call from Dahlia followed by a message.

Alex is running a fever, taking him to the hospital, the message read. It was sent multiple times from Dahlia. I gripped the phone tightly, panic rushing through me like cold water.

“Mirella?” Sergio’s voice pulled me back, his concern evident.

I forced a shaky smile, “It’s nothing,” I said quickly. “Just an emergency I need to handle.”

He frowned, stepping closer. “At this hour? What’s going on?”

“It’s personal,” I responded. My voice was sharper than I intended. But I was trying to hide the storm brewing inside me. His expression softened, but the concern in his eyes remained.

“Let me help,” he offered, reaching out as if to steady me.

I shook my head and moved away from his reach. “No. I’ve got it under control.”

He sighed, frustration flickering across his face.

I bit my lip, guilt munching at me as I grabbed a jacket and shoes. “I just need to take care of this.”

He didn’t say anything as I slipped past him, but I could feel his eyes on me, full of questions I wasn’t ready to answer. As I walked down the hall, my chest ached. I hated lying to him, but I needed to be anywhere but here right now.

But Alex needed me, and right now, that was the only thing that mattered.