The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

Leonardo opened the car door, and Sofia got in the back seat. He quickly followed her, and Mark closed the door and sat in the front passenger seat. Leonardo turned to Sofia with a softer expression on his face.

“How are you feeling? Are… you ok?” He asked, looking into Sofia’s eyes. Sofia couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort as she gazed into his kind and caring gaze. His eyes were the most beautiful she had seen since her mother’s.

Sofia’s voice trembled as she managed to gather the courage to ask him the question that had been gnawing at her mind. “What… What just happened?”

In a calm yet grave tone, he replied, “Sofia, there was a shot. Someone has targeted you.”

The words hit her like a ton of bricks, and her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She had never imagined that the things she had only heard about in movies and books could actually happen to her.

Leonardo’s stern gaze remained fixed on Sofia’s face as he assured her, “Rest assured, you have no need to worry. I will handle this matter personally, and Mark will be at your side around the clock. Additionally, we will assign a team of private guards to ensure your safety.”

“But… Why… Why would someone want to harm me?” Sofia’s voice trembled with fear as she asked.

Leonardo’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before shifting to the window.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

His face was now devoid of any emotion as he spoke, “I will ascertain the answer to that very soon.” His tone was cold and distant, and Sofia couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread wash over her.

Throughout the journey, neither of them spoke a word. The car eventually pulled up in front of a magnificent building, and Sofia’s eyes were drawn to the sign that read “Pantheon Relais.” She recalled Leonardo mentioning that it was one of his hotels, which made her realize that he was considerably wealthier than her father.

As the evening progressed, the once-blue sky slowly transformed into a dark hue. Mark held the car door open for Sofia. The moment she stepped out, the chilly wind sent shivers down her spine. Sofia instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, trying to retain some warmth. She rubbed her upper arm to generate some heat, but the cold air seemed to persist.

Out of nowhere, a jacket was draped over her shoulder, and she turned to see Leonardo standing behind her, wrapping his coat around her.

In a complaining tone, he reminded her, “I told you. It would be cold at night. But you never listen to anyone.”

“I d.. don’t have any warm clothes,” Sofia whispered.

She felt a little embarrassed to admit this to her husband, Leonardo. Back at her father’s place, Sofia used to wear Kat’s old clothes, but she didn’t bring any with her after marriage. When Leonardo saw the worry on her face, a furrow appeared in between his eyebrows.

“We will go shopping tomorrow,” he said reassuringly and held her hand, leading them both inside the hotel.

As they stepped into the lobby of the luxurious hotel, a man in a tuxedo suddenly appeared and made a beeline toward them.

“Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Morelli. Your suite is ready,” he announced with a courteous smile.

Leonardo wordlessly accepted the keycard from the man and pulled Sofia along towards the elevator. Sofia couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered by Leonardo’s possessive gesture, but she followed him obediently nonetheless.

Leonardo smoothly swiped the card, allowing the elevator to open. Sofia was guided inside by his gentle gesture, and he expertly pressed the button to their destination. Throughout the ride, he maintained a reassuring grip on her hand, steadfastly looking forward. While Sofia’s palm grew damp with perspiration, he never let go. Though Sofia felt uneasy about her clammy hand, she didn’t want to cause offense by retracting it. As soon as the elevator reached their floor, the doors slid open without delay.

As they approached the suite, Leonardo swiped the card and opened the door with a polite gesture for Sofia to step inside. Upon entering the room, Sofia’s breath was taken away by the spaciousness of the suite; it was almost like a studio apartment. The furnishings looked so luxurious that she couldn’t help but bite back a giggle of excitement, feeling like she was living in a dream.

The suite featured a large hall leading towards a luxurious bedroom, which opened onto a large balcony showing the most beautiful view of the city.

“Make yourself comfortable,” Leonardo suggested as he headed towards the hall. “I’ll take care of ordering dinner for us.”

Sofia rummaged through her bag in search of a suitable night dress, but to her dismay, she couldn’t find one. She had no idea where they were going since Leonardo didn’t tell her and only instructed her to pack. So She just packed some dresses randomly.

Finally, she found the light pink dress and decided it would be comfortable to wear while sleeping. She quickly made her way to the bathroom, where she indulged in a warm and relaxing shower. As she stepped out, she slipped into the dress and made her way back to the room. It was then that she saw Leonardo, who had just returned. His eyes were fixed on her, and Sofia couldn’t help but feel a sudden surge of nervousness and excitement run through her body.

Something changed in Leonardo’s demeanor, and she couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down her spine under his intense scrutiny.

Suddenly, he moved closer to her and spoke in a low voice. “I’ve ordered dinner for us, it should be arriving soon.”

Sofia noticed that his eyes were fixed on her lips, and she couldn’t help but bite down on them nervously. As she did, something changed in Leonardo’s eyes, and he gently cupped her left cheek. Bending down, he pressed his lips to hers in a tender kiss.

Sofia’s mind was filled with a sudden burst of excitement, and a strange sensation ran down her body, causing fireworks to explode inside her head. Overwhelmed, she closed her eyes as the intense sensation made her feel a little dizzy. She couldn’t help but notice the refreshing scent of mint and caffeine in his warm breath, causing her heart to race wildly in her chest. His lips were so alluring, she couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes. But before she knew it, the moment was over, and that spark had faded as he pulled away.

“Sorry,” he apologized in a deep, husky voice, his labored breaths brushing against her face.