Lahat ng Kabanata ng BENEATH THE MAFIA'S BULLET: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Theo's POV I sat behind the massive oak desk in my private office as the morning sun cast long shadows across stacks of reports. The background check on Mirabelle Brown lay open in front of me and every detail of her modest life stared back; her coffee shop job, her devoted mother and brother.I rubbed my temple as Irritation built inside my chest. I should focus on the Marseille situation. Marc had sent another warning about unknown attackers but Instead my mind kept drifting back to soft brown eyes, defiant words, and the way she had trembled under my hand last night; soaked, flushed and fighting her own desire."Fuck," I muttered and pushed away from the desk.I stood up and walked to the private gym attached to my office and stripped off my shirt. My muscles flexed as I started my usual brutal routine; hit the heavy bag hard, each punch landed with force.But my phone rang and estopped and answered it."Talk," I said.Xavier’s voice came through, smooth and amused. "Morning,

Mirabelle's POVSunlight hit my face before I even opened my eyes. I groaned and rolled over, squinting at the clock. It was already eight in the morning but body felt heavy, like I had not slept at all.The events of last night played in my head. Theo in his lap, his hands on me. The way he touched me like he owned every inch of my skin and the way I let him.But a soft knock interrupted my thoughts. "Miss Brown, come downstairs now. Theo requests your presence in the main hall," Celeste's voice came from the other side of the door.My heart jumped as my eyes widened. Requests? That word felt different, like something was wrong.I pulled myself out of bed, freshened up and changed into the maid uniform quickly and my hands shook as I tied the apron. What did he want? Was he sending me away? Was last night too much? Did he regret touching me?I made my way down the grand staircase, holding the railing as my legs felt weak. But when I reached the main hall, I stopped dead. The entire

Mirabelle's POVThe black dress slipped over my skin perfectly and Theo had chosen every stitch.I stood in front of the mirror, the fabric hugged my curves and fell to my knees in a way that made me look sexy. The neckline dipped low enough to be scandalous but not obvious. My dark hair fell in waves down my back and my brown eyes looked sharper. The clock read seven fifty-five, five minutes before he wanted me downstairs.I took a breath, my hands shaking. After what happened last night with the gifts and the messages, tonight felt like something was changing, like crossing a line I could not come back from.I made my way down the grand staircase slowly, each step felt deliberate. My heart was beating so hard I thought everyone would hear it.Theo stood at the bottom of the stairs, his back was to me at first. He wore a tailored charcoal suit, his sleek dark hair was pulled back and his green eyes fixed on something in the distance.Then he turned and saw me as his entire body wen

Mirabelle's POVThe office door was closed. I could see the light spilling from underneath, thin and bright. Theo had been in there since dawn.I had spent the last three hours building up courage.My hand raised to knock but lowered, but I took a deep breath and finally, I knocked."Enter," his deep voice came from inside and I pushed the door open.Theo sat behind his desk. Papers were scattered across it, his laptop was open, his green eyes were dark, focused on something I could not see. His sleek hair was pulled back with his tie loose. Even at mornings he wore suits. "Theo," I said, my voice came out smaller than I intended.He finished typing something on his laptop, then closed it with deliberate slowness and only then did his gaze move to me."You should be resting," he said."I need to ask you something," I said as his jaw clenched. Whatever he had been working on, he did not want to be interrupted."Can I call my mother?" The words tumbled out quickly. "Please. I need to k

Mirabelle's POVI needed to get away from him, not because I was afraid, but I couldn't look at Theo right now without remembering his hands on me, his voice saying don't run and the way I'd wanted to stay exactly where I was.So I ran to the one place he never seemed to go. “The library.”I found it on the second floor, past the hallway he usually avoided. The room was massive; floor to ceiling shelves, a fireplace with flames dancing inside.Two leather chairs positioned near the windows. Thousands of books, Some looked ancient and others were new.I picked one at random and it was Pride and Prejudice. I curled up in one of the chairs and opened the book.I'd made it through three chapters when I felt that shift in the air that meant Theo was in the room.He stood in the doorway, his green eyes were fixed on me Just... watching. His sleek black hair was loose around his shoulders and he wore a white shirt, sleeves rolled up. "What are you reading?" His voice was cold. “Pride and