Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss (Mob Boss’s Unexpected Twins Duet #1)

26. Chiara

CHAPTER 26

Chiara

I can’t take my eyes off Adriano. He’s telling me that he killed Filippo, but my brain can’t process it. Not too long ago, Filippo was just there, grinning at me. And now...

Is he really dead? Adriano’s face is serious and pensive. He’s gripping the steering wheel tightly enough that his knuckles are white. I don’t think he’s playing some sick and twisted game with me right now.

Filippo is dead.

But I still don’t know why Adriano killed him.

“So you knew him? Was he in the mafia too?” I ask because I have to know.

“No.”

“No? Not in the mafia and—”

“I didn’t know him.” His gaze briefly meets mine.

“Then why did you kill him?”

“Do you really need every single little detail?”

“Yes.” I’m trying to understand.

This night has been a rollercoaster. First I had to smile and pretend I was Adriano’s happy wife. Then I saw Filippo, and my world was completely shaken. I thought I’d put at least some of it behind me, but I was wrong. Seeing him there was worse than getting punched in the gut twice in a row. And finding out that he’s dead...

I’m relieved. I can’t deny that. But it also confuses me. My fake husband has done terrible things, and he plans to do something even worse. If he didn’t know Filippo, then why would he kill him? Just for the fun of it?

Adriano’s brow furrows. “Do you wish he was alive?”

“No.”

He glances at me. “Are you sure? Did you still have any feelings for him?”

“Feelings? No, only fear.”

“So why does the reason I did it matter? You’re free of him.”

“It does, because if you didn’t kill him for some mafia-related reason... What do you expect in return?” It’s the only thing I can think of.

Adriano did it either to have an excuse to keep me with him for whatever plan he has or because he needs me to do something else for him. The mafia never does anything for free. Maybe he thinks that I’m now in his debt and that I’ll comply easier.

He pulls over on the side of the road. “I did it for you. You’re my wife, and he hurt you and he didn’t mind doing it again. For that, he deserved to die. I don’t expect anything in return.”

I blink at him in surprise because his eyes are flashing with anger. “But I’m not really your wife—”

“Yes, you are. We’re currently married in the eyes of the law and the whole fucking world.”

I open my mouth to tell him that can’t be true, but I don’t get to say it because a wave of nausea rises at the back of my throat. I open the car door wide and stumble out. As I fall to my knees, staining my dress with dirt and mud, I throw up under a streetlight.

“Chiara!” I hear Adriano’s voice as he gets out of the car.

The whole you’re-my-wife thing must be something related to the mafia. He sees me as his property, and if anyone harms me, it’s a bad look for him. That’s why he couldn’t let Filippo live.

“Hey,” he says softly as he pulls my hair away from my face.

I spit out some saliva and glance at him. There it is again. Worry in his eyes. But why would he be worried about me? Why isn’t he getting away from me because I might puke all over his shoes?

Another wave of nausea hits me, but Adriano is right next to me. His warm body envelops mine, and I’m grateful because it’s cold out here. Without thinking, I lean into him as I try to catch my breath. What’s with all the nausea? It’s so annoying.

“What do you really want from me?” I whisper before taking a deep breath.

He doesn’t say anything.

“Help me up.” I don’t think there’s anything left in my stomach, and I want to see his face.

He gently lifts me to my feet, holding his arm around me so I wouldn’t fall. Then he fishes a handkerchief out of his suit pocket and dabs the corners of my mouth with it.

“I don’t get it. Do you have a split personality or something?” I pull away from him and cross my arms.

“What are you talking about?” He frowns.

“Before I knew who you were, I called you Blue, because of your eyes. Blue was good, and nice, and kind. Then I met Adriano, the selfish asshole who only cares about his stupid project and doesn’t give a damn about who he hurts.”

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shrugs out of his suit jacket and offers it to me. “But if you want to keep standing here, at least take this.”

“See? You cut off my dad’s finger to get what you wanted, and now you suddenly care if I’m cold! You clean my face... It doesn’t make any sense!” I should just get in the car and shut up, but I’m so tired and I don’t feel like myself at all.

“You’re overthinking it. I don’t want you to get sick because that’s inconvenient. And I don’t want my car to smell like puke. Happy?” His eyes are guarded, his face expressionless.

“You probably have puke all over your shoes anyway.”

“Do you want the fucking jacket or not?” he snaps.

I snatch it out of his hand. “We had a good time at Amore Bruciante.”

“We did. Do you want me to fuck you? Is that what you want? Do you want me to bend you over the hood of the car and tear off your panties?”

My insides tingle at the thought his words form in my mind. The answer is yes , but I hate it. Not just because it’s not the right moment for that, but also because Adriano is a killer.

In the end, he’s going to choose himself, no matter how many small demonstrations of humanity he shows. His bad side will always win. I can’t just focus on the good things and leave out everything else he’s done, even if a part of me wants to do it.

“No.” I take a deep breath.

“Then get in—” His words are cut off by the loud sound of a motorcycle engine.

We both stare in the direction of the noise. The light falls on the motorcycle guy, and I gasp.

He has a gun.