Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles novel Chapter 223

Chapter 223

POV: Aria

When I woke, the world felt softer than it had in weeks.

The light coming through my curtains was pale and warm, the kind that makes the air look golden. I could hear low voices outside my door, muffled enough that I couldn’t tell the words but familiar enough that I knew it was them. The triplets.

There was a knock. A light one. Then Enzo stepped inside with that careful way he always had now, as if the floor between us might shatter if he walked too hard. Dante followed, carrying a folded towel over his arm. Matteo leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed, eyes flicking over me like he was counting every inch to make sure I was all in one piece.

“We’re giving you a bath,” Dante said. His voice was calm, almost matter–of–fact, but his mouth curved in the smallest smile.

“A bath?” I asked, sitting up slowly.

“Not just any bath,” Matteo said. “A luxury spa experience. Courtesy of your three favorite men.”

I laughed, even though my voice came out a little scratchy. “You mean the only three men I know who would make that sound threatening.”

He smirked, but his eyes softened.

They helped me up carefully, Dante’s hand steady under my elbow, Enzo’s arm bracing my back. The bathroom was already warm, steam curling from the tub. The scent of lavender oil floated in the air, calming and heavy. Dante tested the water temperature, his fingers dipping in and swirling once. Enzo knelt to set the soap and shampoo nearby, everything laid out like they’d thought about this longer than they’d admit.

Matteo handed me a towel. “In case you try to escape halfway through.”

I rolled my eyes, but he didn’t look away from me.

They were gentle. Always gentle. Dante washed my hair first, his fingers working slowly through the strands, making sure not to tug. Enzo poured water to rinse it, his palm cupping the back of my head. Matteo sat beside the tub, quiet, watching me with an expression I couldn’t quite name — somewhere between relief and something heavier.

When they were done, they helped me out, wrapping me in the warm towel. Matteo made a sarcastic

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Chapter 223

comment about “high maintenance women,” but it was the kind that made my chest warm because it meant he was teasing again.

They dressed me in soft clothes -loose shorts, a thin shirt and led me to the kitchen.

–

The table was already set. Pancakes stacked high, fresh fruit in a glass bowl, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee steaming in mugs. Chiara was there, her hair loose over her shoulders. She still looked tired, but her smile when she saw me was real.

We sat together. Dante poured me coffee without asking. Enzo passed me the pancakes. Matteo piled eggs on his own plate and acted like he hadn’t just taken twice as much as anyone else.

It was almost normal.

Dante teased Matteo about the time he’d burned pancakes so badly the smoke alarm had gone off. Matteo said Dante had once baked cookies with salt instead of sugar. Enzo smirked, leaning back with his coffee like he was watching a show.

I laughed. Really laughed. The sound felt strange at first, like it had been locked away somewhere. But it came easier as the minutes passed.

Chiara ate quietly at first. Then, out of nowhere, she started talking.

“You know,” she said, looking at her coffee, “before Valentina, there was someone else.”

The table went still. She had never spoken about this before.

“He was… different. Nothing to do with this life. We were together for almost three years. I thought…” She stopped, swallowing hard. “It doesn’t matter. He’s gone.”

Her voice cracked on the last word. I reached across the table and took her hand. She didn’t look at me, but her fingers curled around mine.

“I lost him in an accident,” she whispered. “It was fast. One second he was there, the next…” She closed her eyes. “I never told anyone because I didn’t want to share him with the world. He was mine. Just mine.”

No one spoke. Dante’s eyes were on her, soft but unreadable. Matteo looked down at his plate. Enzo reached over and set his hand over hers too, quiet but steady.

When she opened her eyes again, she smiled faintly at me. “Valentina helped me learn to breathe again. And now…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “Now everything feels heavy again.”

“We’ll carry it with you,” I said. “All of it.”

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t let go of my hand either.

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Chapter 223

We spent the rest of the day in the living room. The triplets dragged blankets and pillows until the couch looked like a nest. Dante put on an old movie. Matteo complained but ended up quoting half the lines. Enzo sat beside me, leaning in every so often to comment quietly about the characters. Matteo ended up sitting on the floor in front of me, leaning back against my legs, and without thinking, I started running my fingers through his hair. He didn’t move away.

Chiara leaned into Dante’s side and drifted in and out of sleep. He covered her with a blanket each time without saying anything.

We watched movies until the light outside dimmed. Then we moved to the balcony for fresh air. Matteo leaned on the railing and said maybe the chaos outside could stay on pause for one more night. Enzo brought tea for everyone. Dante slipped an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head.

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