A Silent Surrender

THE OTHER WOMAN

When I got home, the first thing I did was look for Eva. I checked our bedroom, but it was empty. I searched the house, feeling a strange sense of anticipation, until I found her in the movie room, fast asleep on the couch with the TV still playing softly in the background.

God, was this woman sexy. As I stood there watching her, something stirred deep inside me. I cared for her, somehow, more than I thought I could ever care for anyone. I never imagined I'd feel this way about a woman. In my world, it was always just physical. I kept things simple, never too complicated, never too emotional. But here she was, curled up and completely unaware of how much she affected me.

Eva was stunning, her caramel skin illuminated by the soft glow of the TV. Strands of her dark hair fell across her face, and I couldn't stop staring. How could someone like her even exist? So beautiful, so perfect, yet so far from the world I lived in. The life I led was too dark, too dangerous for someone like her. She was too innocent, too pure. And yet, she was my wife.

She was going to be the Mafia queen someday, and I wondered if she truly understood what that meant. I'd been a part of this world since I was 17, taking lives, running businesses that thrived on the shadows. Eva probably knew what the Mafia was about, but could she handle it once she was truly in the thick of it?

She had dreams. She wanted to be a doctor, to save lives. And when she had asked me to let her continue her studies, I couldn't say no, even though I knew my family would be against it. But I wanted to fight for her. I wanted to give her the world she dreamed of, even if it meant pushing against everything I knew.

But I was selfish too. I wanted her to know she belonged to me and only me.

I bent down and gently lifted her from the couch, careful not to wake her. Carrying her to her bedroom, I laid her down and watched her for a moment. She looked peaceful, so different from the chaos in my life. I stared at her beauty for a while longer, resisting the urge to stay. Finally, I left the room and headed to the study, where I worked late into the night.

By the time I finished, I was tempted to go back to her room, to lie beside her and hold her. But instead, I went to my own room, knowing I had to keep my distance. The next morning, I woke up early and left for work. Before heading out, I instructed my assistant to find the best tutors for Eva. She'd study at home, in the safety of this house. A lab would be built for her, and anything she needed for her studies would be provided. I would make sure of it.

At my father's house, where we usually handled our business, the day was long and grueling. The office was a fortress, meetings about drug deals, arms shipments, and the illegal fights we ran through the underground networks. We ruled this world, but it wasn't one I wanted Eva involved in. She was too good for it.

During one of the brief lulls in the day, my father brought up Eva. He asked how my wife was doing, barely masking his curiosity.

"Fine," I answered, keeping my response short. I didn't want to talk about her with him. He'd only ask more questions, ones I wasn't ready to answer.

He looked at me with a raised brow. "Are you planning on giving me an heir? Or are you just letting time pass?"

I brushed him off. "I'm not waiting for anything. When the time comes, it will come."

But the truth was, I wasn't sure how to handle Eva. She was different from any woman I'd ever known, and the thought of her being a part of this world, the violence, the secrets, it didn't sit right with me.

After a long day, Carmen called, asking to meet up. We had grown up together, practically raised in the same circles. Our families had been business partners for as long as I could remember, and Carmen had always been a part of my life. She was strong, smart, and stood her ground, even when she had to take over her father's role after he passed. She never considered marriage, even though it was expected of her, knowing her brother's kids would eventually inherit the family business.

Carmen and I had been friends, and occasionally more than that, for a long time. There was no love between us, just mutual respect and understanding. I always thought I'd marry her, not out of passion, but because it made sense. But then duty called, and I married Eva. Now, Carmen and I were business partners, nothing more. Or at least, that's how it should've been.

We met for an afternoon drink, talking business and how our partnership with the French Mafia had strengthened our position. She asked about my marriage, and I told her the basics, enough to satisfy her curiosity, but not enough to reveal how much Eva was actually affecting me. Carmen was surprised when I mentioned taking Eva to dinner.

"You care about her, huh?" she teased. "Didn't expect that from you."

As she placed her hand on my thigh, moving higher, I stopped her. Her hand froze, and she stared at me, shocked.

"This isn't like you," she said, her voice questioning.

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "I'm just not in the mood today."

She gave me a look, half-amused, half-puzzled. "Your wife hasn't replaced me, has she?"

I laughed awkwardly, telling her no one could replace her. But deep down, I knew something had shifted. I wasn't sure what it was yet, but I wasn't interested in Carmen anymore. Something about Eva made it impossible to look at another woman the same way.

When I got home that evening, Eva was already having dinner. I joined her, and she smiled at me, the kind of smile that made me want to stare at her forever. But something was different. After dinner, she got up and left without a word, not even asking how my day was or if I wanted to join her. It felt off, like she was pulling away from me.

I followed her to her bedroom, finding her standing on the balcony, staring out into the night. Quietly, I walked up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist. I felt her muscles tense under my touch, as if she was ready to run, but she stayed. I pressed a kiss to her neck, one hand cupping her breast while the other slowly unzipped her dress.

She gasped and turned toward me, her wide eyes searching mine. Without a word, she tiptoed, closing the distance between us. I leaned in, our lips meeting in a heated kiss. I lifted her onto the balcony railing, the wind whipping around us as we kissed, the passion between us intensifying with every second.

The night air was cool, but her body was warm against mine. Her fingers tangled in my hair as I kissed her deeply, my hands tracing the curves of her body. But I didn't push it any further. This moment wasn't about sex; it was about the connection we shared, the one I was just beginning to understand.

I carried her back into her room, laying her gently on the bed. That night, I stayed with her, holding her in my arms as we slept. Something in me wanted her to be mine forever, to own her completely. I didn't know how she felt about me, but I hoped she was feeling the same.

As I drifted off to sleep, thoughts of Eva and Carmen swirled in my mind. I needed to talk to Carmen, to make things clear. Whatever we had was over. There was no going back now.