Share

CHAPTER 21

Author: Nancy Grey
last update publish date: 2026-03-19 04:36:49

Andrea's POV

The rest of the week, I behaved exactly as Dante wanted me to act. Professional and distant.

It was easier than I'd expected, honestly. Easier to shut down, to build walls, to become the polite, emotionless stranger he'd made it clear he wanted me to be. I stopped asking questions. Stopped trying to engage him in conversation. Stopped looking at him with anything other than cool indifference.

When he drove me places—which Luca still insisted on, much to both our displeasure—I sat i
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Locked Chapter

Latest chapter

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 24

    Andrea's POVMy hands fisted in his shirt, pulling him closer even though we were already pressed together. His lips moved against mine with a desperate intensity that stole my breath, like he'd been starving for this and couldn't hold back anymore.The kiss deepened, his tongue sweeping against my bottom lip, and I opened for him without thinking. The taste of him flooded my senses—mint and coffee and something uniquely Dante that made my head spin.His hand slid from my jaw into my hair, his fingers tangling in the strands, angling my head so he could kiss me deeper. A small sound escaped my throat—half gasp, half moan—and I felt him shudder against me.This was nothing like I'd imagined a first kiss would be. This wasn't sweet or gentle or tentative. This was desperate and hungry and consuming, like we were both trying to pour weeks of pent-up tension and want into this single moment.His other hand moved from my waist to my lower back, pressing me impossibly closer. I could feel e

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 23

    Andrea’s POVHis voice stopped me in my tracks. He still hadn't turned around, still had his back to me, but somehow he'd known I was there.I stood frozen in the doorway, torn between running and staying."Andrea." Now he did turn, and even from several feet away, I could see the intensity in his dark eyes. "Please. Don't leave."Something in his voice—the rawness, the vulnerability—made my feet move forward instead of back. I walked through the French doors and onto the balcony, stopping a few feet away from him."How did you know I was there?" I asked quietly."I always know when you're near me." He said it simply, like it was an undeniable fact. "I heard about your mom. Luca told me." He paused, his jaw clenching. "I'm so sorry, Andrea."The genuine concern in his voice, the softness in his eyes, was my undoing. All the fear and panic and terror I'd been holding back since Luca had told me the news came rushing to the surface.A tear slipped down my face, then another, and then I

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 22

    Andrea's POV"I know you do. That's why I already arranged everything." Luca reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, showing me a screen with flight details. "My private jet is fueled and ready at Teterboro. We can leave whenever you're ready."Relief and gratitude flooded through me, mixing with the fear and panic. "Thank you. Thank you so much.""You're family, Andrea. Of course I'm going to take care of you." He squeezed my shoulder. "Go pack whatever you need. I'll have Dante drive us to the airport."At the mention of Dante's name, something twisted in my chest, but I pushed it away. This wasn't about him. This wasn't about hurt feelings or complicated attraction or any of that. This was about my mother."Okay." I was already moving toward my closet, my mind racing. "Okay, I'll pack. Just give me ten minutes.""Take your time. The plane isn't going anywhere without you." Luca headed for the door, then paused. "Andrea? She's going to be okay. I really believe that."I wa

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 21

    Andrea's POVThe rest of the week, I behaved exactly as Dante wanted me to act. Professional and distant.It was easier than I'd expected, honestly. Easier to shut down, to build walls, to become the polite, emotionless stranger he'd made it clear he wanted me to be. I stopped asking questions. Stopped trying to engage him in conversation. Stopped looking at him with anything other than cool indifference.When he drove me places—which Luca still insisted on, much to both our displeasure—I sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window in silence. When he stood nearby while I explored museums or bookstores or walked through Central Park, I pretended he didn't exist. When our eyes accidentally met across a room, I looked away immediately, my expression carefully blank.I became exactly what he'd accused me of being that day in the food court: a spoiled college girl who was just passing time until she could go home.Except I wasn't spoiled, and I wasn't just passing time. I was prot

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 20

    Dante’s POVLeft, right, left, right. Over and over, putting all my strength behind each punch. My knuckles split after the first few minutes, blood smearing across the bag, but I didn't stop.I kept seeing her face. The way she'd looked at me in the food court when I'd taken that fry from her hand. The heat in her eyes, the slight parting of her lips, the flush on her cheeks.Left hook. Right cross.The way she'd challenged me in the store, telling those girls I was gay with that defiant tilt to her chin. Standing up for herself even if her method was completely insane.Uppercut. Jab.The way she'd looked sitting on that bed while I bandaged her knees. Vulnerable and strong at the same time. Trusting me to take care of her even though she had no reason to trust someone like me.Combination. Harder. Faster.The way her skin had felt under my palm. Soft and warm and perfect. The way she'd trembled slightly when I'd touched her thigh. The way those blue eyes had darkened with want.I hi

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 19

    Dante's POVSeeing the hurt look on Andrea's face hurt me more than I cared to admit.The words I'd said to her had been cruel. Deliberately cruel. I'd watched her face crumble with each cutting phrase, watched the light in those blue eyes dim and then go out completely. Watched her blink back tears that she refused to let fall in front of me.And every single word had felt like swallowing glass.I hadn't meant them. Not a single fucking one.But she needed to hear them.She needed to believe that what had happened between us in her room was nothing. That I didn't think about her constantly. That I hadn't spent the past five days avoiding her because being near her made me want things I had no right to want.She needed to think I was an asshole who saw her as nothing more than an annoying obligation. Because that was safer. For both of us.I didn't want her thinking I was like the prince charming in her romantic novels. I wasn't. I was a dangerous man and I was bad news. My hands were

  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 80

    Dahlia’s POVI laughed through the tears and hurried off to grab brushes, paints, and a big blank canvas. He followed behind me, watching with quiet amusement as I piled things into a basket. Every time I looked at him, he had that small, content smile on his face&md

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-22
  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 75

    Dahlia’s POVHe looked straight at me, smiling like he knew me. I didn’t recognize him at all.“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “You must have the wrong person.”But he shook his head and took a step closer, his breath sm

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-22
  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 60

    Dahlia’s POVLuca had gone out for business earlier that afternoon, and by the time the sun went down, he still hadn’t returned. I tried to distract myself by reading, but the words on the page just blurred together. I even went to the kitchen and sat at the dining table, hoping that eating would he

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-21
  • SUBSTITUTE BRIDE FOR THE MAFIA DON   CHAPTER 65

    Dahlia’s POVWe sat there for a while, our feet dipped in the pool as the warm water rippled around our ankles. The sky above us had started turning orange and pink, the sun slowly dipping toward the horizon. It was peaceful, the kind of moment that made you forget everything else for a while.“I ca

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-21
More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status