✍︎ 𝐑𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐃 [dark mafia romance] | 𝟏𝟖+

| 27 | 𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐂𝐓

The city skyline rushing past was so familiar, but once we left the horizon of New York behind, I started to feel anxious. The back seat of the car was stifling, yet Leonardo D'Angelo's presence beside me was even more unsettling. Whenever he pressed his knee against mine, I clenched my hands into the folds of my dress.

Being this close to him was uncomfortable – his lustful gaze made me inexorably nervous.

When the car stopped, Leonardo got out first and hurried away. Apparently, he wasn't the welcoming type, although I hoped he would show me his home himself.

Bob leaned over the front seat and turned to me, "We've arrived, Miss Fotos."

"Thank you," I thanked the man, forcing a small smile.

I lowered the car handle and got out, looking up.

The villa looked magnificent. The chirping fountains near the front entrance, tall columns, and carvings adorning the building. There were huge gardens planted with flowers and elaborate trees.

It was lovely to watch the luxurious building merge into the natural horizon, that I should call home temporarily.

Men and women carrying various tools wandered around the villa, while I stood in front of this paradise, surrounded by palm trees, admiring the scenery.

Bob touched my shoulder, urging me to move closer.

The man dragged the suitcases and kept turning back to see if I was following. Hesitantly, I dragged my feet through the marble entrance doors and Bob opened the villa's glass doors. Taking the first step over the threshold, my jaw dropped.

Inside, the villa looked even more grand and refined. In the middle of the hall, there were marble stairs, leading to the second floor. Long corridors extended in different directions, and next to the main hall was the living room. Modern floor-to-ceiling windows, mirrors, and intricate paintings created an atmosphere of luxury.

A woman bustling around the living room stopped dusting and, dropping her cloth, looked at us. She adjusted the apron around her waist and rushed over, "Gabriella, you're finally here! Welcome to the D'Angelo family's home."

She carefully took my hands. I didn't know what to do, so I foolishly shuffled in place, feeling the woman's curious gaze. After all, it was the first time I'd seen her in my life; I didn't even know what she was doing here. Her radiant face, work-worn hands, and uniform filled with red accents clicked something in my mind, but I didn't want to make assumptions.

Bob dragged the suitcases up the stairs and the woman standing in front of me was about to speak when her face froze.

A deep male voice spoke behind me.