Page 110 of Unravel Me

"So many secrets between us, Mauro," I say quietly, unsure whether he can hear me over the music. "I hope they'll all come to light soon. And I hope everything will be okay…. after."

Mauro nods, lifts his hand to his chest, touches his heart with a gentle gesture, then points at me. I'm not entirely sure what he's trying to say, but I think I understand.

He hopes for the same thing. But from the gloom in his eyes, I can tell that none of this is going to be simple.

CHAPTER 23: MAURO

Present day

Living under the same roof as Jared without telling him the truth is an enormous challenge for me, but both Renato and Silvio believe we should get to know each other first before he learns who I really am.

We debated whether Jared would feel deceived or betrayed, yet they both insisted it would be healthier if he and I built some kind of relationship in the ordinary world first, simply as two normal people. Bringing magic into it from the very beginning isn't a good idea because, as important as it is, it can't be the foundation of our everyday life.

Then… there's the truth about my past.

And that's the part I'm struggling with the most, to the point of fear.

Perhaps that's why I'm subconsciously putting it off, pushing it away, prolonging these innocent moments when everything is simple and sweet, when we flirt and brush against one another like two teenagers just getting to know each other.

Sadly, I have a feeling that once it all comes crashing down on him, it will break us. Jared will be forced to accept that I spent years inside the mafia, that I'm the brother of the man who raped him and threatened his life for so many years. He’ll have to also accept that my own uncle, Vincenzo, founded the Ring, and that all those people in it are close associates of the mafia, many of them firmly in its pocket. And beyond that, will he understand that my own involvement ultimately played a part in Mark's conviction?

There are still so many unknowns, so many things that could go wrong. It weighs so heavily on my conscience that I wake up every day hating myself for my cowardice, for still not confessing the truth to him, while at the same time prolonging it as much as I can, reveling in the pleasure of being close to him.

All of these sweet moments we share are so elusive, so fleeting. Fragile.

Rocco remains a very real threat, and I shouldn't stay here in Renato's house for too long or draw unnecessary attention to myself.

I should go back to my little cabin in the woods, but I simply can't.

Jared is finally here. It's unbelievable. He came here on his own. I didn't have to reach for him, he reached for me instead.

I dreamed about this for so many years, and it materialized, as if my prayers were answered.

Yeah, someone sent him here, telling him this was where he'd find his True Mate. And he gave it a shot, no matter how unbelievably strange it sounded; the enigmatic place in the middle of the forest.

My sweet, bold Jared took the chance. My perfect mate, determined to find me no matter what, only to stumble upon this incredibly confusing situation in the forest…

I simply couldn't stop myself when I saw him walking toward my little cabin. I should have left him alone, stayed hidden from him, but I couldn't resist. And then came his… heat call.

Nothing could stop me.

Those days in the cabin were like a perfect dream come true… but they had to end. Then I watched him on the security cameras as he made his way through the forest, swaying with exhaustion yet somehow forcing himself to keep going.

It was almost uncanny. The route to where his car was parked was actually very straightforward, but he completely veered off it and headed toward Renato's estate, where I was, as if our Bond were leading him there by an invisible thread.

That journey he took to find me… it felt inevitable. Destined.

Then came the moment he stood in the doorway, his impossibly beautiful face looking as though it had been crafted from every perfect face in the world. The sweetest lips, enormous pale green eyes, unbelievably long lashes, and shimmering light blond hair flowing like spun flax.

Jared is utter perfection.

His beauty almost hurts. His flawless appearance freezes every thought inside me with pure admiration.

For six years I've lived believing he was my True Mate, and the day he entered the forest, the day I revealed my second form to him, I finally received absolute confirmation.

Now I feel something I haven't felt in years. Happiness.

Deep, unwavering elation because everything has finally fallen into place. Our paths have finally crossed, and now so much depends on me guiding our fate in a way that brings Jared peace of mind… the safety he deserves more than anyone.