Page 19 of Mine Again (Mafia Bride #2)

Chapter Eighteen

Isabella

“ Y ou’ve caught Mateo’s cousin’s attention,” I say to Mia, catching Maximo watching her yet again from across the room. His eyes have been on her far too often since his arrival yesterday.

She laughs, easy and light, but doesn’t bother looking his way.

“Can you blame him? This dress is doing me a lot of favors.” She winks, playful but self-assured.

And it’s true. Mia looks stunning, even in black, the dress hugging her curves in all the right ways despite its conservative cut.

Leaning in closer, she lowers her voice. “Maximo isn’t the only Chicago mobster eyeing an Accardi.”

I blink. “What do you mean?”

She nods discreetly toward the bar. “Aldo Marino. He’s been hovering near Mamma all night. And she’s definitely not brushing him off.”

My eyes drift in that direction. Sure enough, there he is, the Chicago consigliere to Maximo’s family, leaning toward our mother as she smiles up at him.

Her posture is relaxed, her expression open. It’s not the look of someone being polite, but of someone enjoying herself.

“She’s been laughing a lot. I’m telling you, Isa, she’s into him.”

“Well, good for her,” I say, unable to hide my smile. “She deserves a bit of positive male attention after being married to Antonio Accardi.”

“No kidding. You think he’s serious?”

“What? No, they only just met. And Aldo and Maximo leave the day after tomorrow. But honestly, I hope she’ll have wild sex and make some juicy memories.”

Mia snorts into her glass. “God, can you imagine? Mamma getting laid. That would be… weirdly amazing.”

“Right? She deserves something just for her. For once.”

Mia smiles faintly, her gaze shifting again, scanning the glittering crowd.

“Speaking of male attention… it’s kind of strange, don’t you think?”

“What is?” I ask.

“With Father gone, men are actually allowed to talk to us. And they do.”

She’s right. All night, I’ve felt it too, those lingering glances, the sudden interest, like we’ve become visible for the first time. And not just to the eligible ones.

“Hardly surprising,” I mutter, shifting my glass from one hand to the other. “Now that we’re connected to the Don, we’ve become hot property.”

“Has anyone caught your interest?”

“Ha,” I huff, sharper than I mean to. “Not a chance. I’m not going to bind myself to any of these men. All our lives, we’ve been bargaining chips for our father. Now we might actually have a say in who we marry.”

“ Might being the operative word,” Mia says, daring a glance in Maximo’s direction over the rim of her champagne glass.

“Well, I’d rather die an old spinster than marry a man from our circles.” I glance at her, then lean in and whisper so only she can hear. “I want out, Mia. ”

There, I’ve admitted it to her as well.

She stills. “Out?”

“Out of the Mafia. Out of all of this. I want a normal life. Quiet, boring, mine. I want to wake up in the morning and make choices without asking permission.”

Mia doesn’t smile this time. Her gaze sweeps over the guests, her voice quiet but firm.

“What woman here wouldn’t? But don’t fool yourself. Just because Father’s gone doesn’t mean we’re free. The system’s still in place.”

I sigh. “You’re right,” I mutter, spotting Maximo rising from his seat, flanked by a few men I don’t recognize. They’re talking business, no doubt.

His steps are casual, but his focus? Direct. He’s heading straight for us.

“Mateo’s cousin definitely has his sights set on you,” I say, watching him weave through the crowd. “He’s on the move. What do you think of him?”

Mia raises a brow. “Are you asking if I’m interested in him?”

I tilt my head. “I suppose.”

She lets out a soft laugh and shakes her head. “For starters, he’s way too old.”

“He’s the same age as Mateo.”

“Exactly,” she says pointedly. “Mateo is ten years older than Mari. And I’m two years younger than her. Twelve years is ancient. I don’t care how good his jawline is. No, thank you.”

“Ah, so you noticed he has a nice jawline?”

Mia rolls her eyes.

I smirk. “He might just be your type. Brooding, intense, a little dangerous, and not to forget, devastatingly handsome.”

“Please,” she scoffs. “He thinks he hung the moon. Fun enough for a game of badminton, but you can already tell he expects the world, and especially women, to bend to his will.”

“Arrogant, chauvinistic, and controlling,” I finish for her.

She nods, lifting her glass again. “Bingo. No, thank you. ”

I glance up. “And he’s arriving here in three… two… one.”

Mia doesn’t turn, but the grin she gives me is pure mischief. I get the impression she’s not running from this encounter. She’s ready for it.

“Ladies,” Maximo says, his words smooth as silk as he steps up beside us. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Likewise, Signor Marcos,” I reply coolly, while Mia remains silent, sipping her champagne as if it’s far more interesting than he is.

“Please, we’re practically family. Call me Max.”

“As you wish,” I say with a polite smile.

“I’d like a word with your sister,” he says to me, turning his full attention to Mia.

Oh, he’s not mincing his words, is he? I shouldn’t have expected anything less.

Mia doesn’t flinch at his request, but the subtle narrowing of her eyes says plenty.

She straightens up, shoulders squared like she’s preparing for a duel.

With a smile so sugary it could rot teeth, she says, “If you’re still trying to convince me we won that badminton match because of you, don’t bother. I would’ve won either way. I am the reigning champion for a reason.”

He chuckles, the sound low and warm, the kind of laugh that could make a girl forget herself for half a second. Probably why it reminds me of Lu…

Nope, not going there.

He raises both hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough. I won’t bring up the game again, though I’m tempted to remind you who scored the match point.”

Mia shakes her head, her lips twitching as she tries not to let a real smile slip through.

“Let’s take a little walk in the garden,” he suggests, and I half choke on my drink.

A moonlit garden walk? Classic. I bite down on a grin. Didn’t I say we’d become hot property?

“No, thank you,” Mia says breezily, not missing a beat. Her smile turns sly. “That wouldn’t be appropriate. Father never approved of us being alone with a man.”

“Your father is no longer here,” he counters, one brow lifted.

“His spirit lives on,” Mia replies sweetly, absolutely enjoying the game.

He lets out a soft breath of laughter. “Alright. Let’s step out onto the terrace then. You’ll be well within view out there.”

Not waiting for Mia’s reply, Maximo steps forward and takes her elbow, guiding her toward the open terrace doors like it’s already been agreed upon.

She throws a bewildered, slightly alarmed look over her shoulder at me and mouths, stay close and rescue me.

I give her a subtle thumbs-up. We’ve had code words and signals for exactly this kind of situation ever since we were old enough to be paraded around at la famiglia functions.

I don’t think she’ll need my help. Of the five of us, Mia’s the one most likely to hold her own with a man like Maximo Marcos, age gap or not.

I grab another drink and drift casually closer to the door. Close enough to listen in without looking like I’m hovering.

“Now that you’ve got me alone,” Mia says without missing a beat, “what would you really like to talk about?”

Silence.

For a second, I think they might have taken the stairs down into the garden after all. I’m just about to sneak a peek around the corner when Maximo speaks.

“What are your plans now that your father is gone?”

“ Umm.” The sound escapes her like the question hit harder than expected. Fair. It surprised me too.

“It’s not something I’ve had much time to consider,” Mia admits. “He’s only been dead a little over three weeks, and I’ve been helping Mari pull this memorial service together. ”

“Yes, I heard the flower arrangements were all your doing. You’ve got a good eye.”

“I love flowers. Unlike people, they’re soft, fragrant… and don’t reek of ego.”

Oof.

That’s Mia. Direct with a smile sharp enough to draw blood.

Maximo chuckles. “Or you could say, they’re easy to love… and don’t need a leash to behave.”

Ohhh.

My lips part in surprise, and I have to turn away, pressing them together to stifle the laugh threatening to burst out.

Mia doesn’t bother hiding hers. Her amused hum floats through the open doorway. She’s enjoying this far too much.

“Or unlike people,” she counters sweetly, “they’re stunning, silent, and not obsessed with being in charge. Tempting, huh?”

“Hmm,” he drawls like he’s really considering it. “No. Not tempting at all.”

I can practically hear her squint at him.

“So what is it you want from me, Maximo? You’ve been staring at me all day.”

Another pause.

Then, implication lacing every word, he asks, “Were you aware your father was in the final stages of arranging your marriage?”