Mila: The Godfather (Unholy Trinity Book 7)

MILA

“I know you feel the same.” — R

“How about this one?” I turn away from the fantasy selection to find Riagan standing with a smirk on his face while holding up a book with a half-naked blue alien on it with tentacles for feet.

Uh-oh.

He found the spicy section.

My cheeks reddened when I noticed a small crowd of women not far from us, giggling while ogling the giant tattooed man in the tiny bookstore. From the moment we entered the tiny, cozy bookstore, all eyes were on us, well, him. Not only because Riagan is as big as the bookshelves but also because he looks just like every model on most romance book covers on display here.

Earlier, when Bain notified me that Riagan had a surprise for me, I did not expect he would bring me to this sweet and warm bookstore.

I was genuinely surprised and incredibly excited, not only because this place feels like home to me already but because I’d never been inside a bookstore before. Most of my books are downloaded through my reading device, and some I order online and have shipped to me.

I’ve never stepped inside a bookstore and browsed for hours like most people do.

“For the third time, Riagan.” I take a deep breath, trying to hold the smile that wants to break free and, holding the five books I chose closer to my chest. “I’m not into alien romance,” I emphasize.

No, there’s nothing wrong with those types of romance. I tried reading one once, but I couldn’t get into it. I pride myself in being a logical person, and the thought of a blue creature-man with tentacles for feet that comes to earth to steal his heroine was too outrageous, but hey, I thought that falling for a mafioso was not something that happened in real life, and yet here we are.

“The lady at the front desk said that paranormal—especially alien romance, is really in right now.” Then, he starts reading out loud. “Rogue Barbarians by Mary Pines. The king of planet Rogue arrives at earth looking for a human bride to procreate with.” He purses his lips adorably while holding the book my way. “The ugly fucker abducts the human and shows her a good time out of space. Kinky.” Riagan wiggles his brows, making me laugh at how absurd this conversation might seem to outsiders.

“You’re crazy.” I smile with my entire face while holding tightly onto the books I chose.

His blue eyes fall on mine. Soft and gentle. Penetrating my soul. “Crazy for you.”

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

My chest feels tight, and it’s difficult to find my next breath when he says things and looks at me like that.

He makes a thousand butterflies take my stomach hostage.

It’s fascinating just as much as it is frightening at times.

Because I lose my train of thought and my ability to form a simple sentence, and it’s frustrating. I wish I could tell him a thousand things, but I’m too afraid. Even though he’s never been cruel to me, sometimes I wonder if I say something that he doesn’t like, he will lash out at me like others have in the past.

I don’t want to embarrass him. Nor do I ever want to offend him, so I constantly rethink my words in my head before I let the words slip out my mouth.

Instead of saying what I really want to do, I choose the safe route. The polite route. “Thank you for this day and for my books.” I blurt out, holding onto my new books tighter while trying to hide just how much he affects me.

Tell him how you feel… the little voice inside of me whispers.

But when I look around the bookstore and notice we’re not alone, and some women are standing way too close to us, I chicken out.

“Are you happy, Mila?” Riagan’s soft-spoken words steal my attention away from the nosy women, and I look up at him.

God, will I ever stop being blindsided by his beauty? I know men aren’t typically described as beautiful, more like handsome and sensual, but Riagan is all the above to me. I think I’ll never get tired of admiring him.

Thinking about his question, I look away from him and around the store.

My heart buzzes with happiness, yes.

Taking in the tiny bookstore, I realize that this is not a place where you just go in to pick up one book. It is a place where I want to stay for hours. The walls are not white, so that’s nice. They’re covered by soothing colors that are relaxing. There are nice carpets and comfortable fluffy chairs.

And even though I don’t enjoy the taste of coffee, the smell of it brewing is great. I even enjoy the noise. It’s delightful. Classical music plays in the background, giving customers a pleasant experience while browsing for their next read. It’s not overbearing, of course.

Even the small amount of dust I noticed on the display tables as soon as I entered the store is not entirely unwelcome, and that’s coming from someone who can’t stand the sight of it.

That’s how happy I feel today.

How happy I feel every day that I’m with him.

That I’m with… my husband.

Realizing that I spaced out, I smile sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I’m very happy.”

His smile is tender as he leans forward, taking a curl and twirling in his index finger. “Good, baby. Now pick out some more to take home.”

More books?

My eyes widen before I tell him. “Oh, these are more than enough.”

There’s a gazillion books waiting to be read at home already. I can’t take more.

“Nah, not nearly enough.” He lets go of my curls, takes the books from me, and strides over to the front desk of the bookstore where the owner, her name is Hailey, is ringing in a customer’s order. I stand back and watch him lean over the counter and whisper something to the owner, and her eyes grow big then fall on me.

Feeling on the spot, I avert my eyes and focus on the tattoos on the back of Riagan’s head.

Ten minutes later, Hailey and two other girls approach us with five bags, filled with books. Riagan takes four of the bags and the last one is given to me by the bookstore owner. “You’re one lucky girl,” she says kindly.

Thanking her, I take the bag and ask her. “May I ask what he asked for?”

I look over her shoulder to find Riagan not far from us standing in the fantasy romance selection. “He asked us to get him every romance book that’s popular right now and some of our own personal favorites. I hope you enjoy them, honey.” My eyes leave Riagan and fall on Hailey as she adds. “He is indeed crazy for you.” She winks before leaving my side and going back to her spot behind the counter.

Holding my brand-new books as if they are my babies, I look at him. I look at my husband as he walks to my side. “What’s wrong?” he grunts. I watch as his eyes turn darker with worry.

He thinks Hailey said something to hurt my feelings by my quick change in mood.

That’s something that I shouldn’t enjoy so much, but I do.

His willingness to cause hurt to anyone he thinks poses a threat to me.

Before he goes off and does something crazy like threaten the nice older woman, I speak.

“Nothing. It’s just that…” I adjust my hat, one that he gave me, and stare at him looking so scary and at the same time so handsome in that rugged way, while inside a bookstore holding four pink bags filled with books and thinking to myself that the lady was right. I am lucky. So lucky to have crossed paths with someone as extraordinary as him. Because that’s the truth, isn’t it? My life was ordinary until him. “This is the best day ever,” I exclaim excitedly, and my heart warms at his attempt to bond with me over something I love. I need to remind myself to find something he enjoys so we can do it together.

He comes closer, leaving little to no room between us, and kisses the top of my head.

I love how he lingers there for a long moment. It makes the organ in my chest skip many beats.

He then steps back and smiles one of those smiles that makes time stand still before he says. “It’s not over yet.” He grabs my hand for everyone there to see as he guides me out of the store. I wonder how something as trivial as holding hands can feel so monumental. In this instant, it feels as if I’m not only his but we’re each others, and he has no trouble showing it to the world. “We have one more stop.”

This is not happening.

Not in a public space.

I should’ve known Riagan is not a man who gets embarrassed by anything, especially dirty books. “Oh, no!” I cry out, laughing as I did. God could the man make me smile. “You can’t read that in here!”

We’re at a Japanese restaurant.

After we left the bookstore, he took me thrift shopping, which I didn’t realize could be so much fun. I found a lot of vintage items and even some crystals to add to my collection. I even got some for my sisters to give to them once I see them again.

It warms my heart that Riagan finds small ways to connect with me and that he remembers my love for old and used things. It’s clear that he put a lot of thought into this date night. From the bookstore to the thrift store to now.

He brought me to a Japanese restaurant called Hana Sushi Bar, where the atmosphere feels calm and relaxing.

It has comfortable tatami mats and soft lighting.

The concept of the restaurant could be categorized as minimalist, which provides an intimate experience.

“Why not?” he asked seriously. “This shit looks interesting. I’ve been thinking of expanding my knowledge on the woman’s mind.” He leans back in the booth opposite me. When the waiter came to take our order Riagan asked for whiskey and I asked for a fruity drink with no alcohol.

Now we’re sitting, waiting for our food to arrive.

At times, I’m a creature of habit. I’ve noticed my husband has no routine. He is the type of man that goes with the flow and where the current takes him.

So tonight, I have decided to act a little bit more like him and get out of my comfort zone.

I ordered Onigiri— commonly known in Western culture as rice balls, instead of my usual California rolls. I asked for the teriyaki chicken filling, not sure about the taste of seasoned seaweed.

While Riagan ordered Tonkatsu, which is pork cutlets served drizzled in fruit-and-vegetable-based tonkatsu sauce with shredded cabbage and other crisp salad greens on the side.

Noticing I zoned out, while Riagan was speaking, I focus on him while he holds one of the books he got for me, knowing some people in here might be offended by the salacious image the author chose for the cover because he chose the most naughty-looking one. The front image is of a half-naked man wearing black frame glasses while a young girl in a revealing schoolgirl outfit is holding onto his pants as if she’s begging him for something.

You can imagine what.

Looking behind me, I notice a family with two small children looking at us as if we’ve offended them. Giving them my back, I turn to Riagan. “You’re crazy!” I hiss, but there is still a smile on my face. “That- that’s.” I pause, then continue. “People will think you’re reading porn.”

He turns the book over in his hand, then hefts it once. “You’re admitting you read porn.” he says, raising his eyebrows at me with mirth filling his eyes. Sᴇaʀ*ᴄh the FindNøvᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I had to pause at that one.

Heat creeps up my spine. “Ah…” I avert my eyes, staring at the romantic comedy section of the bookstore. “Spicy romance, yes. But that one you’re holding, it’s just weird.” I laugh when he wiggles his eyebrows. “Why did you buy it?”

“The premise was very…” he pauses, taking a sip of his drink. “Captivating.”

Captivating?

Reaching forward, I snatch the book from his hand. Turning it over, I quietly read the synopsis.

“The Bloodsucker’s Baby.” I look up at him. “A story about a thousand-year-old vampire and his mortal baby’s mother is captivating?” I ask, stifling a laugh. I hand him back the book.

He smiles and is about to say something when his eyes flicker to something over my shoulder, and I see his eyes narrow.

What?” I ask, looking behind me. I move so fast that I bump my tight against the table, causing his drink to spill.

“Sorry,” I quickly spring into action and pat the table with a napkin.

He glances at me, takes the napkin from me, and then winks.

“What did you see?” I ask as I once again look behind me.

Thought I saw someone staring at you. But when I glanced to get a better look, they were gone.” He shrugs, still looking alert. “You were laughing. They were probably caught in the beauty of your smile.” He takes a sip of his drink while leaning back on the booth.

I look down at my drink, playing with the straw while trying hard not to blush but failing.

This man and his compliments. I’m sure could make a grumpy man blush.

It’s come to a point where I can feel the compliments in my soul.

“That’s sweet,” I whisper. “But I think that you’re blind or something. My smile is nothing special. It’s like everyone else’s.” It is.

I’ve seen myself smile. It’s nothing special. It’s just a smile but then I think of how his smiles light up a room and give me butterflies.

Is it the same for him?

“Butterfly, don’t hide your eyes from me.” Riagan reaches forward, grabs my chin, and lifts my face to see me better. “It’s special alright. Your smile always has the power to stop me in my tracks, and your laugh?” He shakes his head with a soft look on his face. “That fucking laugh of yours, I feel down to my bones. It’s my favorite sound, sweetheart, so yeah it’s fucking special.”

The things he says, the way he says them, and the way he looks at me make me feel like I matter.

“But you’re you… you like me, so you have to feel that way.” I scrunch up my nose. “But I’m sure that normal people don’t feel that way. When I was little, my father got mad when I laughed.”

His eyes turn dark, and there’s a grim line on his face. “Fuck them and fuck your bitch of a father.” He rasps while I notice him holding onto his drink so hard that I believe he will break it any minute now. “You should see yourself the way I do. The way every man in my clan does,” he points out. “It’s not just your pretty smile and sweet laugh. It’s every fucking thing. You have all that golden curly hair and that ass. All those fucking curves that drive me insane with the need to trace every dip and turn of your body.” I can’t seem to look away from him as he leans closer, as if he’s whispering a secret. Maybe he is. Maybe he is finally telling me the things he thinks I’m too innocent and afraid to hear. “You’re beautiful, and fuck me, you’re a dream. Every single part of you makes me feel like an addict craving his next fix, from your sweet heart to those plump pink lips.” He gestures with his finger to my mouth. My breath hitches when I feel his touch on my lips, and I feel a burning sensation between my legs. A sensation I only fear when I’m this close to him.

Arousal.

I know that much.

I become aroused when he touches me.

Hell, even when he looks at me the way he is now, I feel my skin become hot and tingly.

His eyes heat more, and he taps my nose before saying, “Don’t do that shit with me, yeah? Don’t talk about yourself as if you’re anything less than perfect. I won’t have it.” His eyes trained on me, the blue seeming a little more intense than they were before.

“You make me feel that way.” I nervously tap the table three times, in sync with the beat of my heart. It’s not going fast but it’s not slow, either. It’s strong and steady. “Feel perfect, I mean.” I wait for him to say something, but when he doesn’t and just stares at me, I blabber away. “I’ve never been the ideal daughter, let alone the perfect girl. I made my leave with being plain and ordinary Mila, but then you showed up and made me believe I am more than just my disability or my quirks. That I’m more than just Kadra and Arianna’s weakness. I’m not my father’s greatest failure.” I keep my eyes locked in his for a long moment, proud that every day I’m able to meet his stare for far longer than the times before. His eyes tonight seem bluer than when the lights hit them, and I realize that his shade of blue is my favorite one.

Riagan’s sky blue is now my favorite color.

The color that makes my heart sing.

“You, Mila Areya Parisi, are not their weakness and their failures.” My heart slows when he leans closer, so close that I can feel his hot breath on my face. “But you’re certainly my biggest blessing. The one I never saw coming, but I’m sure-as-fuck beyond grateful.”

Thud.

Thud.

My chest feels like it’s about to explode right here and now because of his declaration. Never did I dare dream this would be my life, and never did I think a man like him could be in the cards for me. Yet, here he is. Stealing the breath out of my lungs and making my heart a slave for him.

Reading someone’s expression has always been a bit of a challenge for me, but not totally impossible. It takes me longer than most people but eventually, I get there. Right now, when he’s not speaking, I try to read his expression, not wanting to misinterpret anything, but then I notice the look on his face, so intense, fearful, and so much like the one he had back at the beach when I exposed myself to him.

Need.

That’s it.

But it’s confusing since he looks like he wants me, but he doesn’t push for anything more than a kiss. Does he want me? I believe he does, but why would he hold himself back?

When I think he is going to kiss me, our moment is interrupted by our waiter, who arrives at our table with our food.

The need to taste his lips once again takes a back seat when my stomach grumbles the second my plate is placed in front of me. The delicious smell is enticing.

Riagan’s plate looks delicious too.

Before she leaves, the waitress places a bowl of fortune cookies in front of us.

“Is this a first for you, butterfly?” He asks.

“I’ve researched most of the world’s cuisine, but I haven’t tried them all. I’m a person that yes, has limitations of what they can eat, but somehow, I’m also a foodie. I’m excited to try this. I’ve never had this plate before, not even the lucky cookies.” I beam at the plate between us.

“Take one then.” He picks up the bowl and urges me to grab a cookie.

I do.

“We will need to break it to see the surprise inside,” I say as a matter of fact.

“Yeah, baby.”

Raising my gaze, I find him staring at me, and find myself wishing I had my pairing equipment here so I could capture him this way forever.

So happy.

Riagan smiles, then breaks his cookie, and so do I.

There’s a tiny piece of paper inside.

The love of your life is right before your eyes.

Holding the paper up, I look at him and share a secret smile.

Divine timing.

Luck.

Whichever is it.

I wasn’t a big believer in them. I thought that we all make our own luck in life, but perhaps sometimes there’s a little help from the universe.

Because here he is, and now I’m the lucky one because I have him.

As a friend and as an ally, but most importantly, as my person.

My favorite person.

I didn’t see him coming.

He is and will always be my favorite surprise.

“Are you happy, Riagan?” I ask while discreetly tucking the little paper from the fortune cookie inside the pocket of my dress.

“Never been happier, butterfly.”  He kisses me this time.

Softly.

Gentle.

Ground shaking.

And just like that, I come to terms with a new reality.

The reality is that I’m deeply and madly in love with my husband. I knew that what I felt for him was something more. More than gratitude.

More than friendship.

I honestly believed it was a mixture of gratitude and obsession, but no. It’s so much more.

It’s love.

The kind that you feel down to your bones. The one that’s in your blood.