The Mafia Bride (Katrina and Silas)

Katrina's POV

The next morning, I woke up with a start. I wasn't certain when had fallen asleep, or even how I got to my bed

Because my mind had replayed Ethan's grin and the threat he'd hade over and over.

I still couldn't believe that the person I had freaked out for killing carelessly was still very much alive and was threatening us.

How do I get over that?

I rubbed my arms, feeling a chill even though the room wasn't cold. Silas's warning was something else I couldn't forget/ Stay alive. I'll handle it.

It didn't comfort me. Not in the slightest. He was a Completely different person when facing his work.

I wasn't naïve enough to think I'd be safe just because Silas said so. He was a man, there's only so much he could do.

Ethan was alive, and he hated me enough to come back. Having your ex stab you at your wedding wasn't exactly a happy

memory

That thought alone kept my heart racing. And knowing who he was, he was coming for revenge.

After dressing, I tried to distract myself by pacing the room. I told myself not to overthink, but it was impossible. Every -ereak in the house, every faint noise outside my door made me jump. What If Ethan would come for me and Silas wouldn't be able to save me?

My thoughts were moving at a fast pace and nothing I did was enough to calm me down.

And that was when I saw it.

A single rose lying on the table by the window. My blood froze as I stared at it, my knees going weak. That hadn't been there

table. last night. And there was no way Silas had kept a rose on myAll content © N/.ôvel/Dr/ama.Org.

My heart raced as I thought of the possibilities of it getting there. There wasn't much and I wasn't going to let myself think of the worse.

Slowly, I walked toward it, my hands trembling. The petals were bright red, fresh, but the stem was dark and thorny. I reached for it and noticed a small note tucked underneath. Katrina.

That was all it said. Just my name. But the handwriting-it was his. Ethan's. I would recognize that anywhere within a thousand writings.

I stumbled back, my chest tightening. My breath came in short gasps, and panic clawed at my throat. How had it gotten here?

I hadn't felt this much fear in a long time and right now I was frozen.

My first thought was to run to Silas. He'd know what to do, right? But then I remembered the way he'd brushed me off last night. He didn't want me involved.

My door creaked slowly and I blanched. There was someone in the room with me.

I tried to move my fingers, but my whole body was stilled in shock. I couldn't do anything.

Come on Katrina, do something. Movell I urged myself, but I sti couldn't.

Ethan had come for me and I was too scared to do anything.

After a few moments of silence, I finally forced myself to turn around, my heart racing in my chest.

My door was opened slightly but there was no one in sight. I was scared for nothing.

I placed my palm against my chest, feeling my heart beat at a million miles per hour. It was just morning and I felt a heart attack coming soon.

Reaching for the inhaler by my bedside, I pressed it against my ps, taking greedy breaths.

1 needed to talk to Silas.

lips,

I rushed out of my room, my bare feet slapped against the cold oor, I hadn't bothered to put on slippers and I didn't care about that.

My heart pounded as I made my way down the long hallway to Silas's study. It seemed to take forever but finally, I got there.

The door was slightly ajar, and I could hear voices inside.

"I'm telling you, he's closer than we thought," Silas's voice was low, the kind of tone he used when he was barely holding it together

Who was he talking to? Phillip?

I peeped in but that was definitely not Phillip in there with him.

"I already have men watching the estate," the other person replied. It sounded like Darius, one of Silas's right-hand men. "If he gets too close, we'll handle it."

I hesitated at the door, unsure if I should interrupt. My fingers brushed the edge of the note in my hand, and I forced myself to take a deep breath. Silas needed to know about this.

My fingers trembled as I wrapped them around the knob and I could barely steady them.

Finally, I pushed the door open.

Both men turned to look at me. Silas's eyes narrowed immediately, his jaw tightening like he was already annoyed.

"Katrina," he said, his tone clipped. "This isn't the time-"

He looked like he was ready to dismiss me already.

"It's Ethan," I blurted out, holding up the note. "He was in my room."

Silas's expression darkened. He strode over to me, snatching the note from my hand without hesitation. His eyes scanned the single word, his body going rigid.

One word that meant a lot.

"How do you know it was him?" Darius asked, stepping closer.

"I just-I know," I stammered, my voice shaking. "It's his handwriting. And there was a rose. He left it on my table."

He always gave me singly roses while we were dating. This has to be him.

Silas crumpled the note in his fist, his breathing heavy. "Darius, double the guards. I want every corner of this house

08:26 Thu, Dec 5 GO.

covered. No one gets inor out without my approval."

Darius nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with Silas. His back was turned to me, his shoulders tense, "How did he get into my room?" I asked, my voice barely above whisper. "I thought this place was supposed to be safe." I mean, I felt that way even when the incident with Chris had happened.

Silas turned to face me, his eyes burning with an intensity that made me step back.

"Safe doesn't exist when someone like Ethan is involved," he said coldly. "He's sending a message, trying to scare you. it's working."

And

Well duh. I was asleep when someone walked into my room and dropped a rose on the table. Who else knew what else he would have done?

But I didn't say that tho.

Instead I squared my shoulders, raising my eyes to meet his.

"I'm not scared," I lied, lifting my chin. Though it was an obvious li. Silas' eyes darted to my trembling hand and back to my face.

He stepped closer, towering over me. "Don't lie to me, Katrina. I can see it all over your face."

My throat tightened, but I refused to back down. "What are you going to do about it? You said you'd handle it, but he's already inside the house!"

Silas's eyes softened for a fraction of a second, but it was gone just as quickly. "I'll deal with it. You stay out of it," Silas finished, his tone sharp. He moved past me, his hand brushing my arm as he grabbed the door.

But how? How was I supposed to stay out of it when he was targeting me?

"I can't just stay out of it," I shot back, spinning to face him. "This is my life, too. Ethan isn't just your enemy-he's mine. He wants me dead, Silas. You can't expect me to sit here and pretend everything's fine." Because it was damn obvious things weren't fone.

His hand paused on the doorknob, and for a moment, I thought he might actually listen to me. But when he turned around, his expression was cold.

"Do you trust me, Katrina?" he asked, his voice quiet.

I opened my mouth to reply, then hesitated. Did I trust him? Silas had saved me before, but he'd also put me in danger countless times.

If he had asked that question when he was behind me im his bedroom then the answer would have been obvious. But right

now?

I couldn't tell.

Still, deep down, I knew he was the only one who could stop Ethan.

"I... I don't know," I admitted, looking away.

His jaw tightened, but he didn't press me further. Instead, he leaned down, his face so close to mine that I could feel his breath on my skin.

"Then let me make one thing clear," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "If you get in my way, you'll only make thi

08:26

Thu, Dec 5

worse. Stay in your room, lock the door, and don't let anyone in Do you understand?"

I swallowed hard, nodding reluctantly.

"Good." He straightened and opened the door, leaving without another word.

As soon as he was gone, I sank into the nearest chair, my hands trembling. How could he expect me to stay calm when Ethan was inside the house?

I couldn't just sit back and wait

life in his hands completely.

for something to happen. Silas might think he could handle it, but I wasn't about to put my

If Ethan wanted me, then I'd make sure I was ready for him.

That night, I stayed awake, listening for any sound out of place. My room felt smaller, making me feel suffocated. And every

shadow seemed to move in my eyes or

I paced back and forth, my heart pounding in my chest.

What was I doing up until this time? Was I actually expecting Ethan to show up?

Then, just as I was starting to think maybe I was overreacting, I heard it-a faint rustling sound outside my window.

I froze, my blood running cold. He was here.

Slowly, I crept toward the window, my bare feet silent against the floor. I pulled the curtain aside just enough to peek out.

There was nothing there.

But as I turned away, I noticed something on the glass-a single red rose petal, pressed against the window.

I stumbled back, my hand flying to my mouth to stifle a scream. My chest heaved as I stared at the petal, the weight of Ethan's message sinking in.

He was already closer than I thought.