MARRIED TO THE CAPO

Chapter 23

Eva

I hesitated, unsure of what to do, as the unknown man smiled and gestured to the table. "Please, come forward and have breakfast." But before I could react, Marco pushed me forward, his hand firm on my back. I stumbled slightly, but managed to catch myself before falling.

As I sat down in the chair opposite the stranger, my eyes finally fell on his face. And I was shocked to the core.

It was a face I knew, a face I thought I'd never see again. A face that brought back memories I'd tried to bury deep within me.

My heart racing, I tried to speak, but no words came out. I was frozen in shock, my eyes locked on the stranger's face.

"Someone from your past," Marco said, his voice dripping with malice. "I'm sure you two have a lot to catch up on."

The stranger's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yes, ma ange. We have a lot to discuss."

As soon as he uttered the endearment, "my angel", goosebumps arrived on my skin. It was a term only one person had ever used before, a person I thought I'd left far behind.

And then I saw him, really saw him, for the first time in two years. Louis Martin, the leader of the French mafia, sat across from me, his piercing brown eyes locked on mine.

I try to speak, but my voice is caught in my throat. Memories I've tried to bury for so long are flooding back, and I'm struggling to breathe.

How did I end up here? One minute I was living my life and the next, I'm face to face with the one person I thought I'd never see again.

Louis's gaze never wavered from me as he spoke, his voice firm and commanding. "Marco, leave us alone for now . I need to speak with Eva... privately."

Marco's eyes narrowed slightly, but he seemed to sense the tension between Louis and me. He nodded curtly and stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'll be going then," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Don't think about trying anything, bitch." As Marco exited the room, Louis leaned back in his chair .

Finally, Louis spoke, his voice low and husky. "It's been a long time, Eva. Two years, to be exact. I see you're still as beautiful as ever."

My heart raced as I tried to process the emotions. Fear, anger, and disgust swirled together in her chest. I didn't know what to say, or how to react. All she could do was sit there, frozen, as Louis's gaze bore into my soul.

He stood up from his chair, his movements fluid and deliberate. He walked around the table, his footsteps echoing in the silence, and stopped beside me.

Without a word, he reached down and grasped the arms of my chair, pulling it forward until I was facing him directly. My legs were now positioned between his, his knees brushing against mine.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt the heat from his body, his proximity making my skin prickle with awareness. I tried to push my chair back, but Louis's grip was firm, holding me in place.

He sat down in front of me, his thigh pressing against mine, and regarded me with an intensity that made me squirm uncomfortably. I felt trapped, caught in the web of his gaze, unable to look away.

Louis's face was inches from mine, his breath whispering against her skin. "How are you, ma ange?" he asks, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

"I...I'm fine," I stammer, trying to sound convincing.

Louis chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I doubt that," he says, his voice low and husky.