Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 189

Aria – First Person POV

The sea was the first thing I noticed.

It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t crashing or wild. It was calm and blue and stretched out so far it felt like we were at the edge of the world. The boat slowed as we pulled up to the dock, the engine humming low. I stood near the railing, my fingers curled tightly around the metal, the wind tugging at my hair as I stared at the island in front of us.

It was beautiful.

Not the kind of beauty that screamed for attention. Not glossy or perfect like something from a magazine. It felt natural. Real. Like a secret kept hidden for years. Tall green trees covered most of the land. I could see a white stone path weaving up to a villa that peeked out just beyond the trees. Palm trees swayed gently, and the dock looked untouched, like barely anyone had stepped on it.

Matteo stood behind me with one hand resting on my lower back. He wasn’t saying much, but I felt the way his fingers moved softly. Like he was reminding me he was here. That they all were.

Dante and Enzo were already off the boat, talking to the guards who had arrived ahead of us. Everything was moving smoothly. Quiet orders. Bags being lifted. Boxes stacked. Everyone had a job and they were doing it without noise or fuss. It was like a quiet machine, every piece working in sync. Even here, on a private island in the middle of nowhere, they were still in control.

Valentina stepped off the boat too, helping Chiara with her things. The two of them didn’t say much to each other, but I caught the way their hands brushed when they passed each other. The way Valentina looked at Chiara when she thought no one else was watching. Soft and warm and full of something that felt private. Something I understood now.

When it was my turn to step off the boat, Matteo reached out his hand for mine. I took it, feeling the solid weight of his palm as I climbed down slowly. The dock felt warm under my feet from the sun. The air smelled like salt and fresh wood. It was quiet except for the sound of the waves lapping gently against the edge of the dock.

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