Bound To My Mafia Stepuncles
Chapter 197
Aria
I could barely move.
I was lying flat on the training mat, staring up at the ceiling like it had done something personal to me. Every single part of my body hurt. My legs were trembling, my arms felt like they were made of noodles, and my back was screaming. My shirt was stuck to my skin with sweat, and my leggings were clinging like I had jumped into a pool. My sports bra was digging into my ribs, and my bun was falling apart from all the tumbling.
Chiara was standing over me in a black tank top and tight workout shorts, completely calm, sipping from a bottle of water like she hadn’t just tried to murder me in the name of fitness. Her skin was barely even shiny. She looked fresh. Meanwhile, I was melting into the floor,
“You alive down there?” she asked, grinning.
“No,” I muttered. “I’m actually dead. This is my ghost talking.”
She snorted and bent down next to me, stretching her legs out like this was a casual yoga session and not combat training. “I thought you said you had good balance.”
“I lied.”
“You’ve been on the ground more than you’ve been on your feet.”
I flipped her off without lifting my arm. That would’ve taken energy I no longer had.
She tossed a towel at my face, and I left it there, covering my eyes. “You know what’s funny?” I mumbled. “When you said we were going to train, I thought we’d do cute things like punching pillows and slow kicks in the air like in movies. Not get tossed like laundry and choked out.”
Chiara laughed again. “You need to learn how to move. How to react. You’ve got heart, but your footwork sucks.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly.
“Anytime.”
We eventually stood up. Well, I struggled to stand and she casually bounced to her feet like she was made of springs. My muscles screamed as we moved to the side of the room for a few stretches and core stuff. She made me do sit–ups and planks while counting out loud. I was shaking by the time we got halfway. She started poking my stomach mid–plank, and I collapsed on the mat with a loud groan.
“You’re evil,” I whispered into the floor.
“I know,” she said proudly.
By the time she called it done, I wasn’t even sure I had bones anymore. I dragged myself up, wiping my forehead with the towel she gave me earlier.
“Hot tub,” Chiara said, already heading toward the door. “Now.”
I didn’t argue.
We walked slowly back to the side of the house that overlooked the ocean. The hot tub sat on a deck built into the slope behind the villa. The view was ridiculous. Blue water stretched out forever, waves glittering under the afternoon sun. There were towels waiting for us and a tray with cold water and fruit.
I peeled off my sticky clothes and slipped into a navy–blue swimsuit I had left nearby earlier. Chiara changed into a red two–piece that made her look like a model. I didn’t even care anymore. I just needed to sit.
The moment I stepped into the hot tub, I moaned out loud. The heat hit my sore legs and lower back and it was like heaven opened up. I sank until only my shoulders were above water, my head leaning against the side.
“I’m never leaving this spot,” I said.
Chapter 197
Chiara slid in beside me with a satisfied sigh. “Told you. Worth the pain.”
We stayed quiet for a while. The only sounds were the bubbling of the water and the wind moving through the trees nearby. It felt unrest.
After a minute, 1 let out a breath and said, “This still feels so… weird.”
Chiara turned her head toward me. “What does?”
“All of it,” I said. “The house. The guards. The training. The guys. Just… everything. A few months ago I was eating cheap noodles and owned a vet. Now I’m here getting beat up in paradise and trying to understand mafia politics.”
She laughed softly. “Yeah. I get that.”
“It’s not bad,” I added quickly. “It’s just… a lot. I keep waiting to wake up.”
“You’re not dreaming,” Chiara said. “This is real. It’s messy and dangerous and sometimes it’s hard to keep up, but it’s real.”
I looked at her. “You ever feel scared?”
She hesitated, then nodded. “I did. Still do sometimes. But I also feel strong.
Like I matter here. And so do you.”
That made something warm push through my chest. I gave her a tired smile. “Thanks.”
She shrugged. “Don’t get mushy on me.”
We both laughed and went quiet again. I watched the sky for a little while, then closed my eyes. My body was still sore, but it was starting to relax.
Chiara handed me a glass of cold water while I let my head fall back against the edge of the tub and stared at the sky like it was going to give me answers. The heat of the water was starting to ease the ache in my legs and back but there was still this steady throb in my shoulders and arms that reminded me I had just been manhandled by a girl who smiled while doing it. I took a sip of water and looked over at her. She was leaning back with her eyes closed and a faint smirk on her face like she knew she’d broken me a little today and was proud of it. I reached over and flicked water at her face just to annoy her and she cracked one eye open without even flinching. We didn’t talk for a minute but it wasn’t awkward it was just quiet like our bodies were too tired to keep up with normal conversation. The breeze picked up and moved through the trees nearby and I let myself take it all in the water the sound of waves the slow beat of my heart finally calming down. It was moments like this that made everything feel a little clearer even if I still didn’t understand what the hell was happening around me most of the time.
Then I heard footsteps behind us.
I opened my eyes and turned just as one of the triplets stepped onto the deck. He was already dressed in dark pants and a black T–shirt, sleeves pushed up, showing veins and forearms and danger. His expression was serious. No teasing. No smirk.
“You need to come,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “We have new information.”
Chiara and I looked at each other.
Just like that, the calm was over.
I stood slowly, wrapping a towel around myself.
Whatever came next, I’d be ready.
Or at least I hoped I would.
