The Mafia’s Substitute Bride

After their intense kiss, Leonardo reluctantly released Sofia when he sensed her need for air. As he pulled away, he couldn’t help but notice her lips were red and swollen, a clear indication of their passionate moment together. As he wanted to kiss her again, the sudden sound of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts. Despite feeling frustrated and angry, he composed himself and made his way to the door.

As soon as Leonardo opened the door, he saw that room service had arrived with their dinner. He invited the waiter to bring the food inside and stepped out for a brief moment. Upon returning to the room, he noticed that Sofia was standing there, looking quite embarrassed. She was blushing a deep shade of crimson, bowing her head down, and fidgeting with her fingers.

He knew that things had become awkward between them after the kiss. The room service staff had left after setting the table for them. Leonardo locked the door and returned to find that Sofia was still standing in the same place where he had left her. He cleared his throat to get her attention, but she didn’t look up.

“Food has arrived, Sofia. Come, let’s have dinner,” he tried, but she turned her back to him.

Oh shit. He cursed inwardly.

Leonardo could feel miserable as he tried to think of something to say. He was never a sweet talker. Sofia’s silence only made the situation more tense. He took a deep breath and reached out to gently touch her arm, hoping to convey his desire to make things better between them. Slowly, he turned her to face him and lifted her chin with his finger, hoping to make eye contact and communicate his sincerity. Despite his cold demeanour, he knew that he had to find the right words to make her feel at ease.

“Look at me, Sofia,” Leonardo demanded, his voice tinged with desperation.

But still, Sofia didn’t raise her lashes. She seemed nervous. He became even more impatient, his desire to have her look into his eyes and make him drown in them again overwhelming him.

“There’s really nothing wrong with kissing your husband,” Leonardo reassured her, his voice gentle and kind. “It’s completely natural, so there’s no need to feel awkward about it. Okay?” He couldn’t believe it was him talking sweetly with a girl.

Slowly Sofia raised her eyes peering through her lashes shyly and Leonardo found it utterly irresistible not to pull her into his arms and kiss her senselessly..

“Come on, and food is getting cold,” he said, urging her to come to the dining table. He took her hand and guided her towards the table.

“I didn’t know what you prefer to eat for dinner. So I ordered almost everything they had on their menu,” he said, pulling out a chair for her.

Sofia’s eyes widened as she saw the spread of food on the table.

“Oh my God, that’s too much food,” she exclaimed.

“You need to eat more,” he said, looking at her slim frame with concern.

“But I won’t be able to finish all this food,” she said innocently, making him laugh.

“Oh no, you don’t have to finish all this food. Just eat as much as you want. But I would like it if you eat more because…,” Leonardo trailed off. He didn’t want to make Sofia feel uncomfortable by revealing that he liked women with curves. He didn’t want to say anything that might make her feel self-conscious.

During their meal, Leonardo observed Sofia eating like a child with fascination. She ate without inhibition, unburdened by any concerns of societal judgement. Her unselfconsciousness was a breath of fresh air to him. He hadn’t met any girls who ate without worrying and freely as he had only dated models and rich heiresses. Unbeknownst to him, he had been watching her intently, lost in contemplation. When Sofia noticed his scrutiny, she became flustered and dropped her fork. She retreated into herself, fidgeting with her fingers and averting her gaze in a display of embarrassment.

Leonardo inquired with concern, “May I know what has caused you to stop eating, baby girl?”

Sofia expressed her displeasure by pouting and stated, “You are staring at me.”

Leonardo chuckled, reassuring her, “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. I was merely admiring the way you relished your meal. Moving forward, I will refrain from observing you if it makes you uneasy.”

He noticed a delightful grin forming on her countenance, and it brought him immense joy.

Leonardo leaned towards Sofia, his chair scraping against the floor as he did so. He held out a napkin to her, a polite gesture to help her wipe a crumb from the corner of her mouth.

Concerned for her appetite, he inquired, “Would you like me to order more food?”

He spooned up a delicious mouthful of the dish and offered it to her, waiting patiently for her response. Sofia shook her head, taking the food in her mouth and relishing the flavors of the meal in her mouth.

“Thank you, but I am full,” she declared after swallowing.

“Are you absolutely certain?” he persisted, holding another spoonful of food in front of her.

She pondered for a moment, savoring the flavors of the meal, before nodding.

Slowly and gently, he made her finish all the food on her plate. It was a strange feeling, having someone care about whether she ate or not. He had never taken care of anybody before, but with her, it felt different. He found her to be unlike anyone he had ever met before. She was nothing like the rumors he had heard about her. She was beautiful, innocent, fragile, and vulnerable. These virtues attracted him to her even more and made him want to protect her from the whole world.

As Leonardo finished his shower and slipped into comfortable sweats, a sense of unease settled within him. The knowledge that someone had targeted Sofia sent a surge of anger coursing through his veins. It was as if every drop of blood in his body had begun to boil, his protective instincts overriding all rational thought.

Exiting the bathroom, his senses heightened, Leonardo’s eyes immediately fell upon Sofia, who sat on the edge of the bed. He approached her with purpose, his footsteps steady and resolute. He couldn’t bear the thought of her being in danger, he didn’t know why he felt so possessive and protective toward her.

“Why are you sitting, Sofia?” Leonardo’s voice held a gentle concern. “You also could be tired. Do you not want to sleep?” he asked, his eyes searching hers for any sign of weariness.

Sitting down on the left side of the bed, Leonardo patted the space beside him, inviting Sofia to join him in the comfort and security that his presence offered. His authoritative voice, while unintentionally forceful, stemmed from his desperate desire to shield her from harm. He wanted nothing more than to hold her close, to provide solace in the face of the danger that lurked in the shadows.

However, as Sofia’s eyes met his, he was met with a chilling sight. The horror that flashed across her gaze caused his heart to skip a beat. She swallowed hard, the sound audible in the tense silence that enveloped the room. In that instant, the realization hit Leonardo with full force, his heart sinking into the pit of his stomach.

Oh, fuck. The realization dawned upon him.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.