Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 190

Chapter 190

Aria – First Person POV

The sea was the first thing I noticed.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t crashing or wild. It was calm and blue and stretched out so far it felt like we were at the edge of the world. The boat slowed as we pulled up to the dock, the engine humming low. I stood near the railing, my fingers curled tightly around the metal, the wind tugging at my hair as I stared at the island in front of us.

It was beautiful.

Not the kind of beauty that screamed for attention. Not glossy or perfect like something from a magazine. It felt natural. Real. Like a secret kept hidden for years. Tall green trees covered most of the land. I could see a white stone path weaving up to a villa that peeked out just beyond the trees. Palm trees swayed gently, and the dock looked untouched, like barely anyone had stepped on it.

Matteo stood behind me with one hand resting on my lower back. He wasn’t saying much, but I felt the way his fingers moved softly. Like he was reminding me he was here. That they all were.

Dante and Enzo were already off the boat, talking to the guards who had arrived ahead of us. Everything was moving smoothly. Quiet orders. Bags being lifted. Boxes stacked. Everyone had a job and they were doing it without noise or fuss. It was like a quiet machine, every piece working in sync. Even here, on a private island in the middle of nowhere, they were still in control.

Valentina stepped off the boat too, helping Chiara with her things. The two of them didn’t say much to each other, but I caught the way their hands brushed when they passed each other. The way Valentina looked at Chiara when she thought no one else was watching. Soft and warm and full of something that felt private. Something I understood now.

When it was my turn to step off the boat, Matteo reached out his hand for mine. I took it, feeling the solid weight of his palm as I climbed down slowly. The dock felt warm under my feet from the sun. The air smelled like salt and fresh wood. It was quiet except for the sound of the waves lapping gently against the edge of the dock.

The villa was even bigger than it looked from the boat. Pale stone, big windows, open space. It felt like it had been designed to breathe. Inside, the floors were cool and smooth, the ceilings high, and the air smelled like lemons and ocean air. I let my fingers brush against the wall as I walked in, like I needed to touch something real to remind myself I wasn’t dreaming.

“This place is incredible,” I whispered.

Matteo smiled beside me. “It’s ours. No one gets here unless we want them to.”

That was a strange kind of comfort.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Matteo gave me a slow tour of the villa, pointing out rooms and little details like how the shower in our room had a skylight or how the kitchen always stayed stocked even when no one was here. Enzo and Dante were all over the place, checking cameras, updating codes, making sure nothing was out of place. They didn’t talk much, but I could feel their presence everywhere. Focused. Sharp. Always watching.

I found Chiara and Valentina in one of the lounges, unpacking and lighting candles. Chiara immediately made me help her pick throw pillows, even though I told her I had zero taste. She just laughed and said she didn’t care. It was nice. Simple. For a little while, we talked about nothing. Snacks. Sunburns. Bad reality TV. It made me feel normal again, like the world wasn’t burning around us.

Later, I ended up in the room I was sharing with the triplets. I unpacked slowly, placing each item like it was a little piece of mysell. There was a big window facing the ocean, and I kept finding myself staring out at it without realizing I had stopped folding Matteo came in at one point. and just stood behind me, arms wrapped around my waist, chin on my shoulder. He didn’t say anything about my silence. He just stayed close

The sun began to dip low, casting golden streaks across the sky. I slipped out of the villa quietly after that, my bare feel soft against the as I wandered down to the beach. I just needed a second alone. Not because I didn’t feel safe. But because my mind wouldn’t sto

Chapter 190

After unpacking the last of my things, I wandered out onto the balcony connected to our room and leaned against the railing, letting the sea breeze wash over me. The air smelled like salt and something wild, something untouched. I could see the tops of the trees swaying gently, the edges of the island blending into the sea like it had no borders at all. For a moment, I let myself breathe without thinking. My fingers traced the edge of the smooth wood under my palm, and I thought about how far I was from everything I used to know. My old apartment, Glona laughter, even the familiar noise of the city seemed like part of someone else’s life now. It hit me in a strange way. I had been moving conston lately, shifting between danger and safety and kisses that made my heart feel like it would burst. But now that I had stopped, really stopped, there was a strange ache settling into my chest. I missed something I couldn’t name, Maybe it was the version of me that hadn’t known all this. Or maybe it was just the quiet, sneaking loneliness that crept in after too much change too fast. I pressed my forehead against the railing and closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the distant sound of the waves. I was safe now. I kept reminding myself. But even safety felt heavy when you didn’t know what was coming next

The sand was soft and cool beneath my toes. I walked to one of the lounge chairs near the dock and sat down, pulling my knees to my chest. The sky was turning pink and orange. The air was warm. Peaceful.

Then I noticed it.

A small white paper near the leg of the chair. Folded. Held down with a smooth stone.

I blinked at it, confused. Reached down and picked it up. It was light. Thin. My name was written across the front in neat, careful handwriting

I hesitated, then unfolded it.

Inside was just one sentence.

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