The Mafia's Secret Wife

Maya Collins couldn't sleep. The mansion was too quiet. At home, silence had never existed. There had always been something—a television murmuring in the background, pipes rattling inside the walls, or her sister moving around in the next room. Here, there was nothing. Only the slow ticking of a clock somewhere beyond the guest room. Tick. Tick. Tick. Maya stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. She had been given a bedroom larger than the entire apartment she had shared with her sister. Everything was expensive—the enormous bed, the curtains, the polished furniture, even the lamp beside her bed. But none of it made her feel safe. She turned onto her side. Her thoughts returned to the auction. The crowd. The masks. The shouting. And Dante Rossi. Two million dollars. That was what he had paid for her. Now she was in his mansion, wearing clothes his staff had provided, surrounded by guards she didn't know. And somehow, she was his wife. Maya closed her eyes. No love. No questions. No touching. Three rules. She had agreed to them because she had no other choice. But she was beginning to wonder whether agreeing to the contract had been a mistake. Her throat suddenly felt dry. Water. She sat up. Maybe a glass of water would help her sleep. Maya slipped out of bed and opened the door. The hallway was dark. She walked carefully, following the faint light coming from downstairs. She found the staircase and slowly descended. Then she heard a voice. Dante. Maya stopped. His voice came from a room nearby. "I already told you. No." She moved closer. Dante sounded different on the phone. Colder. More dangerous. "They don't get to decide what happens inside my house." Maya stayed behind the wall. There was a pause. Then Dante spoke again. "The Moretti family wants her dead?" Maya's heart stopped. Her. Was he talking about her? Dante continued. "Because she's my property now?" Maya's stomach tightened. She hated that word. Property. "I don't care what they think," Dante said. "She's under my protection." Another pause. His voice became dangerously calm. "If they touch her, they answer to me." Maya took a small step backward. Her foot caught the edge of the wooden floor. A quiet creak filled the hallway. Dante stopped speaking. Silence. Then his voice came from the room. "Who's there?" Maya froze. The door opened. Dante stood there, his phone still in his hand. His eyes immediately found her. For several seconds, neither spoke. Then Dante ended the call. "Get out." Maya swallowed. "I was looking for water." "You were listening." "No." "Don't lie to me." "I heard you talking." His expression hardened. "And you stayed." "I heard my name." Dante stepped into the hallway. "Why?" "I wanted to know what was happening." "You were given three rules." "I remember." "Then you already know the second one." Maya looked away. "No questions." "Exactly." He moved closer. Maya stood her ground. "I wasn't trying to spy on you." "You expect me to believe that?" "I don't care what you believe." His eyes narrowed. Maya immediately realized she'd said too much. Dante stepped closer. "You should." Maya backed away until her shoulders touched the wall. Dante stopped in front of her. The hallway suddenly felt much smaller. "You've been here less than one night," he said quietly, "and you're already wandering around my house and listening to private conversations." "I couldn't sleep." "That's your excuse?" "It's the truth." He studied her face. "You're a terrible liar." "I'm not a spy." "How do I know that?" Maya's voice became quieter. "You don't." Dante's expression changed slightly. She continued. "But I'm not going to apologize for worrying about my sister." His gaze sharpened. "Your sister is safe." "How do you know?" "I have people watching her." Maya stared at him. "Watching her?" "Protecting her." "Why?" "Because I gave you my word." Maya's anger softened for a moment. "You actually intend to keep your promise?" Dante looked at her. "I always keep my promises." She nodded slowly. "Then tell me why your enemies want me dead." His expression immediately hardened. "You heard too much." "I heard enough to know I'm in danger." "You were already in danger before you entered this house." "Because of the auction?" "Because of me." Maya's heart pounded. Dante stepped back slightly. "The moment you became my wife, you became connected to my enemies." Maya looked at him. "So I'm a target because of you." "Yes." "And you knew that before you bought me?" "I knew." "Then why did you do it?" Dante didn't answer. Maya waited. Finally, he said, "Because I made a promise." "To whom?" His eyes narrowed. "That's a question." Maya sighed. "Right." Dante moved away. "Stay out of my business, wife." Maya looked at him. "Or what?" His gaze returned to hers. "Or you'll regret it." For a moment, neither spoke. Dante's eyes remained fixed on hers. Maya became suddenly aware of how close he was. He took one step toward her. She didn't move. Their faces were only inches apart. The tension between them felt almost unbearable. Dante's gaze dropped briefly toward her lips. Maya's breath caught. He leaned closer. For one dangerous second, she thought he was going to kiss her. Then Dante stopped. His jaw tightened. He stepped away. "Rule three." Maya blinked. "No touching." "Exactly." He turned away. "Go to bed." Maya stood there for another second. Then she walked toward the kitchen, found a glass of water, and returned to the stairs. Before going upstairs, she looked back. "Thank you." Dante glanced at her. "For what?" "For protecting my sister." He said nothing. Maya went upstairs. --- She returned to her room and climbed into bed. The mansion was still silent. But now she couldn't stop thinking about Dante. Not because she trusted him. She didn't. But because she had seen something in his eyes when he spoke about protecting her. It wasn't kindness. It wasn't love. It was something darker. Possession. And somehow, that frightened her more. Eventually, exhaustion pulled her into sleep. She slept for several hours. Then her phone rang. Maya woke instantly. She reached for it. Her sister's name appeared on the screen. Maya immediately answered. "Hello?" There was silence. Then a shaky voice. "Maya?" Maya sat upright. "Sis? What's wrong?" Her sister started crying. "Maya, I need you." Maya's heart began pounding. "What happened?" "I don't know." "Where are you?" "I can't tell you." "Why?" "They found me." Maya froze. "Who?" "I don't know." Her sister's breathing became faster. "I think they're coming." Maya jumped out of bed. "Lock the door." "I did." "Stay inside." "I am." "Call the police." "I can't." "Why?" "I don't know who I can trust." Maya's blood ran cold. "Listen to me. You're going to be okay." "Maya..." "I'm here." "I think they're looking for you." Maya stopped breathing. "What?" "They kept asking about you." The call crackled. Maya gripped the phone. "What did they say?" Her sister didn't answer. "Sis?" A loud sound came through the phone. Then silence. "Sis?" Nothing. "Please!" The call ended. Maya immediately called back. No answer. She ran out of the bedroom. "Dante!" Her voice echoed through the mansion. "Dante!" A door opened downstairs. Footsteps approached. Dante appeared at the bottom of the staircase, dressed in black. "What happened?" "My sister." His expression changed. "What about her?" "Someone found her." Dante immediately pulled out his phone. "How long ago?" "Seconds." "Did she tell you where she was?" "No." "Did you recognize anyone?" "No." Dante made a call. "Trace the number." He listened. "Now." Maya rushed downstairs. "You said she was safe." "She was." "Then what happened?" "I don't know yet." "You promised me." Dante looked at her. "I know." "Then find her." His eyes hardened. "I will." His phone rang. He answered. "What?" He listened. His expression changed. Maya had never seen Dante look uncertain before. "What did you say?" Silence. Then he ended the call. Maya stared at him. "What?" "The safe house was breached." Her heart sank. "Where's my sister?" Dante's face became unreadable. "She's gone." Maya shook her head. "No." "Maya—" "You said she was safe." "I know." "You promised!" Her voice broke. Dante stepped toward her. "I'll find her." Maya stared at him through tears. "You better." Dante turned toward the guards. "Prepare the cars." Maya looked at him. "Where are we going?" He looked back at her. "To find your sister." She wiped her tears. "I'm coming." "No." "She's my sister." "Maya, this isn't safe." "I don't care." Dante stared at her. Then, after a long moment, he nodded. "Fine." He turned toward the doors. "But you stay beside me." Maya followed. As the mansion doors opened, the cold night air rushed inside. Somewhere beyond those gates, someone had taken the only family Maya had left. And Dante Rossi was about to remind the entire city why people feared his name. The cars roared to life. Maya stepped into the darkness beside her dangerous new husband. She had entered Dante's world to save her sister. Now she was about to discover just how deep that world really went.