Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 109

Aria’s POV

I stepped out of the bathroom like I’d just survived a storm. My chest ached. My lips burned. My legs moved on their own, but my mind was stuck back there–trapped between the heat of their words and the weight of everything they didn’t say.

Dante. Enzo. Matteo.

Their voices still echoed in my head, curling around the edges of my sanity. The way they looked at me. The way they felt. It stirred something too dangerous to name. Something I didn’t have the strength to face.

The music outside was still loud, but it sounded far away, like I was underwater. My head was spinning. I needed to find Gloria, I needed to say something. Anything. I just needed to feel normal for five minutes.

I spotted her near the dance floor, still talking to that guy with the long hair and the cocky smile. She laughed at something he said, then turned and caught my eye.

“Aria!” she shouted over the music, waving me over. “Where have you been?”

I walked toward her slowly, forcing a smile onto my face. It felt weak. Fake. But it was all I had.

“In the bathroom,” I said, voice low.

Gloria tilted her head. “You okay?”

I nodded too quickly. “Yeah. Just needed a minute. It’s crowded in here.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure? You look… I don’t know. Shaken.”

I didn’t want to lie to her. But I also didn’t want to explain what just happened in that bathroom. I didn’t want to say their names out loud. It would make everything too real.

“I just need some air,” I said instead. “It’s too hot in here.”

Gloria reached out and touched my arm. “You want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s fine. Really.” I gave her a small smile. “Actually… I think I’m gonna leave. Head home. I’m not feeling it anymore.”

Her face fell. “Already?”

“Yeah. I know we just got here, and I’m sorry. I just “I looked around. The lights. The bodies. The pounding beat. “-I don’t feel like myself tonight.”

She studied me for a long second, then nodded. “Okay. I get it.”

“Thanks.” I gave her a quick hug. “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

She squeezed me back. “Be safe. And call me the moment you get home.”

I nodded. “I will.”

I turned to walk away, but her voice stopped me.

“Aria.”

1/4

Chapter 109

1 turned around.

“Whatever’s going on… don’t carry it alone, I’m here.”

My throat tightened. I nodded again, this time slower. “I know. Thank you.”

I walked away before I could change my mind. Before the emotions could rise and spill out of me in front of everyone.

I didn’t know what I was doing.

All I knew was that I couldn’t stay here anymore.

Not with the triplets still in the building.

Not with the taste of one of them still on my lips.

Not with my heart doing flips every time I thought of the way they looked at me–like they knew me. Like they saw me.

I needed a distraction. Something easy. Something normal.

That’s when I saw Henry at the bar.

And I made a choice.

I needed to feel nothing.

That’s when I saw Henry.

Leaning by the bar, drink in hand, smiling like the world hadn’t just cracked open in a bathroom behind him. He looked normal. Predictable.

Safe.

Exactly what I should want.

“Want to get out of here?” I said, surprising even myself.

He blinked, caught off guard, then grinned. “Hell yeah.”

I didn’t look back as we left. I didn’t have to. I could feel them watching me even through the walls. Like flames licking at my heels.

The cold air outside slapped my face, but it didn’t clear my head. If anything, it made the burn in my chest spread. Henry said something about

a song he liked, something about how hot I looked. I nodded. Smiled. Laughed when he did.

It was fake.

All of it.

But if I lied hard enough, maybe the ache would go away.

At my apartment, I fumbled with the keys. My hands were shaking, but I didn’t let myself stop. Henry walked in first, eyes wide, like he was impressed.

“Nice place,” he said, kicking off his shoes like he belonged here. “So… this is really happening?”

I didn’t answer. I just walked to the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water I didn’t drink. My heart was pounding like it wanted to run.

“Relax,” he chuckled, coming up behind me, hands brushing my hips. “You don’t have to be nervous.”

2/4

Chapter 109

I wasn’t nervous

I was numb

I let him kiss me. Once Twice. His mouth was warm, his hands eager. He torched me like I was something to take, not something to feel. I tried to give in. To let my body go limp and my mind drift. To pretend his touch was electric, that his breath on my skin sent sparks down my spine.

But it didn’t.

He didn’t taste like Dante.

He didn’t move like Enzo.

He didn’t look at me like Matteo–like I was something worth burning for.

I pulled back.

“Wait,” I whispered, stepping away.

Henry blinked. “Wait?”

I shook my head slowly. “1-1 can’t. I thought I could. I really did. But this… it doesn’t feel right.”

He frowned, stepping toward me. “Are you serious right now?”

“Yes.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “I’m sorry, Henry. I just–changed my mind.”

He laughed. But there was no humor in it. “So, what, you bring me all the way here to tease me? Get me all worked up for nothing?”

“I didn’t mean to lead you on,” I said quickly. “I thought I wanted this. But I don’t.”

His jaw clenched. “That’s not good enough.”

I backed away. “What?”

“You don’t get to do that.” His voice dropped, low and sharp. “Not after everything you’ve done tonight.”

He grabbed my wrist. Harder this time.

“Let go,” I said, trying to stay calm.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he shoved me. Not rough, not violent, just enough to make me stumble. My knees hit the edge of the bed. I fell backward, breath caught in my throat.

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