Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 125

Aria’s POV

The knock still hangs in the air, soft but commanding. The guys freeze.

Enzo groans. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Matteo glances at the door, and then at me. “You might want to hide.”

“Why?” I whisper, instantly alert.

Before he can answer, Dante walks into the living room, already scowling. “She always has the worst timing.”

The front door swings open.

“Good morning, degenerates,” Chiara announces as she breezes in, lips painted crimson like a warning sign.

And then she sees me.

A slow, satisfied grin spreads across her face. “Oh. Well, well, well.”

I grip the edge of the counter and attempt a smile. “Hey, Chi.”

She saunters over like a lioness who’s just spotted her favorite snack. “Aria. Didn’t know you’d be here. Though I should have guessed, with the air smelling like regret and testosterone.”

I laugh, half–hiding my face behind my coffee mug. “Please don’t make this worse.”

“No promises,” she purrs, throwing herself dramatically onto the armchair like a queen reclaiming her throne. “So, which one of my idiot brothers finally got the girl?”

Dante throws a cushion at her. She dodges it easily, smirking.

“Judging by the fresh marks on her neck, I’m guessing… all three?” Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “I’m so proud of you, sweetheart. Truly. They’ve been insufferable for months.”

“Chiara,” Matteo warns, pinching the bridge of his nose.

She holds up her hands. “What? I’m just saying, it’s about time someone humbled you all. And clearly Aria’s doing God’s work.”

Enzo grins. “She’s relentless. Can we send her back?”

Chiara kicks her feet up on the table and shrugs. “Nope. I live here now. I’ve decided. Aria, you’re stuck with me.”

“I’ve been stuck with you since the first day we met,” I reply dryly.

“Oh, you wound me,” she says, placing a hand over her chest dramatically. “After all I’ve done for you-”

Matteo chuckles under his breath, moving behind me to run a hand down my spine. I relax a little against him.

“Did you eat?” Chiara asks, suddenly more serious, eyes flicking over me like she’s checking for something invisible.

“Kind of,” I say. “They made me toast.7

1/2

Chapter 125

“That explains the burnt smell, she mutters, eyeing Enzo.

He scowls, “It was golden.”

“It was black.”

I laugh again, heart a little lighter. The teasing, the banter–it’s familiar. Easy. Chiara may be sharp–tongued, but there’s warmth beneath it. Protective warmth. Like an older sister who chooses sarcasm over affection, but still shows up when it matters.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify