Mafia Boss Discovers His Bride Is a Virgin… He Thought His Innocent Bride Was…
Chapter 6
The first month of their marriage changed them.
Slowly.
Matteo still worked late.
Isabella still avoided crowded rooms.
But they began eating together.
Talking.
Learning each other’s habits.
He discovered she loved old movies.
She discovered he hated black coffee.
He discovered she sang quietly when she thought nobody was listening.
She discovered he couldn’t sleep during storms.
They became comfortable.
And somewhere between midnight conversations and shared breakfasts, something dangerous happened.
They started caring.
One evening, Isabella asked:
“Can I ask you about the reports?”
Matteo nodded.
“Why did you believe them?”
“Because they came from your family.”
“My brother?”
“Yes.”
She looked down.
“I never told him anything about my personal life.”
“So?”
“So he couldn’t have known.”
Matteo frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“I had never been with anyone.”
He already knew.
But hearing her say it made the false report feel worse.
“Then why would he invent it?”
She thought.
“Maybe to make me look less vulnerable.”
“Or more disposable.”
She looked at him.
“That word hurts.”
“I know.”
He reached for her hand.
She allowed him to hold it.
“You are not disposable.”
Her eyes filled.
“Thank you.”
That night, they almost kissed.
But neither moved.
A phone rang.
Matteo answered.
“Boss.”
“What?”
“Bellini’s men found the old property.”
Matteo stood.
“Which property?”
“Your wife’s mother’s house.”
Isabella froze.
“That house was sold.”
“No,” Matteo said.
“It was never sold.”
They drove there.
The house looked abandoned.
Inside, the walls were covered in dust.
But someone had been there recently.
Matteo found fresh footprints.
Isabella noticed a painting.
“That wasn’t there before.”
She removed it.
Behind it was a compartment.
Inside was a small black book.
Her mother’s handwriting filled the pages.
Names.
Payments.
Dates.
And one repeated name.
Matteo Romano.
Isabella stared.
“What?”
“My mother was investigating your family.”
Matteo took the book.
His expression changed.
The final page contained a list.
Isabella.
Adrian.
Matteo.
Victor Bellini.
Then one final name.
Matteo’s father.
Isabella looked at him.
“Your father was involved.”
Matteo said nothing.
She whispered:
“Did he know my mother?”
“Yes.”
“Did he hurt her?”
“I don’t know.”
The uncertainty between them returned.
For the first time, Isabella wondered whether the man she was beginning to trust was connected to the reason her family had suffered.
Matteo looked at her.
“I will find out.”
She nodded.
“I believe you.”
That mattered more to him than she knew.
