Belongs to Him CURRENTLY EDITING (The Mafia- El Ricci # 2)

CHAPTER 2 : FUCK, I MISSED HER

Sebastian

I linger at the balcony door, longer than necessary, watching her. She's standing there in the dress.

That dress.

The one I bought her. Dark blue, just a shade deeper than her eyes. Back then, I thought it was the perfect way to highlight them—and I was right. Those mesmerizing eyes could bring a man to his knees, have him worshipping her, doing whatever she asked without hesitation.

And then there's the body beneath the dress, a body I know better than I should, better than I want to admit.

Fuck, I miss her.

Not her body, though. Not just that. I miss her.

Olivia

I finally push the door open. It creaks louder than it should for a place this upscale, betraying me before I can steal another moment just watching her. She turns, and there they are—those damn eyes. They hit me like a punch to the chest.

"Guess you already knew the gender, foxy," I say, stepping onto the balcony and shutting the door behind me. I don't move closer. Not yet.

"And clearly you didn't," she shoots back, her gaze dropping to my pink tie.

I shrug, smirking. "What can I say? I was hoping Mateo would have a daughter. Imagine him as a girl dad—watching him lose it when some poor kid breaks her heart."

Olivia chuckles, the sound low and warm, a laugh that hits me harder than it should. "Let's hope we never have to find out."

"Agreed," I say, locking eyes with her.

But Olivia—sassy, sharp, and entirely herself—cocks a brow and crosses her arms. "What are you doing here, Sebastian?"

I play dumb. "I'm here for my best friend's gender reveal."

"No." She leans forward, narrowing her eyes like a hawk locking onto prey. "I mean, what are you doing here? As in, why aren't you with Ava Gilbert?" She says the name with so much venom it could poison the air.

I don't ask how she knows Ava's name. Olivia always knows more than she should. I glance away, buying myself a moment to think. Eventually, I go with the truth.

"It's not just you stuck in an arranged marriage," I admit.

Her eyes widen slightly, the surprise cracking through her usual mask. "What?"

"Ava's like Roberto," I explain. "I just had dinner with her and my parents. They insisted I bring her tonight."

Olivia snorts, the sound bitter. "Smart of your parents. She's beautiful. I bet every man in this room would kill to have her as arm candy."

Everyone but me.

I don't say it out loud.

"Staking claim early is a good move," she adds, her tone razor-sharp.

"I guess it is," I reply evenly, though my jaw tightens.

"You drunk?" I ask, noting the slight sway in her movements.

"Everyone's been telling me that," she says, leaning on the railing. The breeze catches her hair, but I'm too focused on the unsteadiness in her posture to admire it.

I take a step closer. "Please, Olivia. Don't get too close to the railing."

"As if you care," she mutters under her breath.