Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 10

Enzo’s pov

The cool night air hit me as we stepped out of the party, but it did nothing to clear my head. My thoughts were tangled, all of them circling back to one person–Aria.

I shoved my hands into my pockets, walking toward the car a little slower than usual. My mind kept replaying the way she had looked tonight. That dress–damn, that dress–it hugged her just right, the fabric clinging to her curves but still flowing like it had been made just for her. It was simple, nothing too flashy, but it suited her. She wasn’t like Cassandra or the other girls at the party who craved attention. Aria was different.

And her hair. It was pulled back, neat and perfect, not a single strand out of place. But I kept wondering what it would look like messy, after someone ran their hands through it. My hands.

it off. I had no business thinking about her like that. But then there I clenched my jaw at the thought and tried to shake were her lips–soft, pink, the perfect shade like she had just bitten down on them out of nervousness. I wanted to see if they tasted as sweet as they looked.

Damn it. What the hell was wrong with me?

I tore my gaze away from the pavement and focused on the sleek black car waiting for us. Matteo and Luca were right behind me, silent. It was weird. Usually, Matteo was cracking jokes by now, running his mouth about something stupid, but even he seemed lost in thought.

The only sound was the faint clicking of our shoes against the pavement, the distant hum of music from the party still going on behind us, and the rustling of leaves in the soft breeze.

I reached for the car door, but Matteo’s voice stopped me.

“You’re thinking about her.”

I turned my head just enough to glare at him. “Shut up.”

Matteo smirked, leaning against the car like he had all the time in the world. “I knew it. You’ve been quiet this whole time, and you don’t do quiet. Not unless something’s messing with your head.”

I rolled my eyes and got in the car, not in the mood to humor him. Matteo just laughed under his breath before sliding into the passenger seat while Luca took his usual spot in the back.

The driver pulled away from the party, the city lights reflecting off the windows as we moved through the streets. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, but my mind was still stuck on Aria.

That look on her face when Cassandra had spoken to her–it pissed me off. She had tried to act like it didn’t bother but I wasn’t stupid. I saw the way her shoulders tensed, the way she lowered her gaze like she wanted to disappear.nated that Cassandra had that effect on her. Whated that she let someone like Cassandra make her feel small.

I should’ve said something. I should’ve shut Cassandra up right then and there. But Aria didn’t need saving, did she? She wasn’t weak. She had this quiet strength about her, like she had been through worse and survived.

But still. I hated that she had to.

1/2

Chapter 10

She’s beautiful, Matteo said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I let out a slow breath, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. He wasn’t wrong,

“She’s more than that,” I muttered.

Matteo turned his head, raising an eyebrow at me. “Oh? Enzo, are you getting poetic on us?”

“Shut up.

Matteo just chuckled, but there was something in his tone, something softer. He wasn’t just teasing. He meant it.

Dante hadn’t said a word, but when I glanced at the rearview mirror, I saw the way he was staring out the window, his jaw clenched. He was thinking about her too. None of us wanted to say it out loud, but we all knew. Aria had an effect on us, and we had no idea why.

“Sounded thoughtful, like he was piecing together a puzzle. “I mean, 1

“She’s fragile,” Matteo said after a moment. He weak, but… she’s been through something. You can see it in her eyes.”

not

I nodded slightly, my gaze still locked on the road. I had noticed that too. The way she held herself, the way she hesitated

to interrupt her or tell her she was wrong. before speaking, like she was always expecting someone to

“She doesn’t trust easily,” I murmured. “She keeps people at a distance.”

Matteo sighed. “Yeah. And here we are, three idiots trying to figure her out.”

I smirked a little at that. “Pretty much.”

“So, what are we going to do?” Matteo asked, his voice turning serious again. “Because we can’t just ignore this. She’s different.”

I didn’t hesitate. “We meet her privately first.”

Matteo nodded slowly, letting the words sink in. I glanced at the mirror again, catching Luca’s reflection. He still hadn’t spoken, but I didn’t need him to. His silence was enough.

As the city lights flickered past us, I felt something settle deep in my chest. This wasn’t just curiosity. Aria was a mystery, a puzzle with too many layers, and for some reason, I wanted to unravel them all.

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