Hidden Away [Mafioso Book #2] (SAMPLE)

Chapter V: Anniversary

Serafina found herself embraced in a different sort of warmth, one that didn't feel too much in this June season, but one that was comforting and familiar. She tried to shift onto her back, her movements met my a restraint as she peeked open her eyes, blinking away the blurriness before inhaling sharply at the sight of the tuft of brown hair.

The memories of last night came surfacing back to her, her cheeks flushing red at Paolo's words before he fell asleep.

"I'll marry you someday, Serafina" that is what he had said, and she did not know how to feel about it. He was nice, she wasn't going to deny that, but he was her brother's best friend and another Mafia heir. She wanted to get away from the Mafia, not more into it and besides, she didn't even like him in that sense.

But after his declaration, Serafina wasn't sure anymore in what sense she liked him to begin with because she knew, he wouldn't have made such a statement without having had proof that she likes him just as much as he likes her.

I should never have let him stay in my room, in my bed, in my arms. She worried her lip with her teeth, held in Paolo's sleeping embrace. But what could I have done if not comfort him?

Trying to wriggle out of his grasp, Serafina tried to come up with a way that did not include waking him, he hardly seemed to get any sleep anyway. Lifting his arm off her waist, she slid out from beneath him and replaced her body with a pillow, holding back a giggle to see him snuggle into it.

"Serafina," A voice called from behind her, her entire body tensing at the familiar baritone of her father.

Swallowing thickly, she slowly turned around to see her father sitting in her study chair, leaning forward with his elbows rested on his knees and looking at her with an impassive mask.

"I-I-I can...I can explain, dad," She stammered out in fright. "I-It's not what it looks like,"

"I understand that you just want to comfort Paolo, given that he has been an absolute wreck since Ricardo's cancer-"

"-Oh" So that's what he meant.

"You...you do know, don't you?"

"Yes!" She exclaimed a bit too loud, wincing before looking over her shoulder to still see him sleeping. "Well...not really. I just knew Ricardo was sick, I didn't know he had cancer."

Serafina watched her dad sigh and run a hand through his hair, seemingly pondering his next words given the crease between his brows.

"Look, the Costa family is falling apart, and Ricardo is at the hospital getting treatment and doesn't want Paolo anywhere near that stuff, so he's asked us to look after him." Her father began, scratching at his jaw. "And he can have whatever he wants to feel better, but...Serafina, baby, I don't want to be the one to say this...but he can't have you for comfort, that's not how you deal with trauma and recovery..."

"Dad, I'm not fucking him," Serafina blurted, catching onto what he was saying, onto what he meant. "I'm not, I swear,"

A pang of hurt shot through her to see the uncertain expression on her father's face, wrapping an arm around herself as she shook her head.

"I know how to comfort someone good enough, but I wouldn't give myself to him so that he feels better, I wouldn't degrade myself like that, dad,"

"Then why is he in your room? In your bed?"

"He..." Serafina trailed, uncertain. "He came crying to me last night..."

"Why you? Why not Salvatore? His best friend, literally one door down from you,"