When two worlds collide Mafia romance

Chapter 46 - Lena

I kept my head down as I weaved through the crowd, holding my nearly untouched champagne glass like my life depended on it. The music pulsed around me, the air thick with chatter and laughter, but all I could hear were his words, circling endlessly in my mind.

"Do you have any idea what kind of people come to places like this?"

What kind of people? Wealthy, clearly. Powerful, maybe. But the way he'd said it—sharp and clipped, with that edge of warning—it felt like he meant something more.

I didn't want to know.

Some part of me was too afraid to even seek him out with my eyes. I told myself it was better this way. If I couldn't see him, then maybe he'd disappear, and I could focus on surviving the rest of the night without falling apart.

"Not enjoying the evening?"

The voice startled me, smooth and low, carrying a confidence that made me glance up instinctively.

A man stood in front of me, dressed in a tailored navy suit that looked sharp enough to cut. His dark hair was slicked back, his smile practiced and easy.

I blinked, trying to place him, but he didn't look familiar.

"No, it's fine," I said quickly, giving him a polite smile. "Just... a little overwhelming, I guess."

"Well, that's a shame," he said, tilting his head slightly. "A beautiful woman like you shouldn't feel out of place in a room like this."

I shifted uncomfortably, gripping the stem of my glass. "I'm just here with a friend."

"Lucky friend," he said, his smile widening. "Let me guess—you're not one of these charity types, are you? You seem too genuine for that crowd."

I frowned, unsure if that was meant as a compliment or an insult. "I don't know about that," I said carefully. "But I'm definitely not used to... all this."

"Then let me make it easier for you," he said smoothly, stepping closer. "I'm Salazar."

The name meant nothing to me, but the way he said it—like it should—made my stomach twist slightly.

"Lena," I said, reluctantly shaking his outstretched hand.

"Lena," he repeated, as if trying it out. "It suits you."

His eyes lingered on me. I wasn't sure if I should be flattered or uncomfortable.

We talked—or rather, he talked. I answered his questions politely, my mind still preoccupied with Nikolai. Salazar's words washed over me, charming but hollow, and I nodded along, trying not to seem rude.

It wasn't until he stepped closer, his hand brushing my arm, that I realised he was flirting.

"I don't think—" I started, but he cut me off with a soft laugh.

"You don't think what?" he asked, his voice low and smooth. "That I'd notice you in a room like this? Believe me, Lena, it's hard not to."

The compliment was too direct, too practiced, and it made my skin crawl. I took a small step back, forcing a smile. "I'm just here for the event," I said lightly, hoping to brush him off.

"That doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself," he said, his eyes gleaming with something I didn't like.

"I'm not interested," I said, more firmly this time, shifting away.

His smile faltered for the briefest moment before returning, sharper than before. "You don't have to be so quick to say no," he said. "I'm just trying to be friendly."

"She said she's not interested."

The voice came from behind me, low and dangerous, and every hair on my body stood on end.

I turned, my breath catching as Nikolai stepped into view.

His presence was like a storm rolling in—calm on the surface, but with an undercurrent of power that made the air feel heavier. His eyes were fixed on Salazar, cold and unyielding, and the tension between them was palpable.

Salazar straightened slightly, his easy charm slipping. "Nikolai," he said smoothly, though there was a flicker of something uneasy in his expression.

"This is a private conversation," Salazar added, his voice steady but lacking the confidence he'd shown moments earlier.

"Not anymore," Nikolai said flatly.

Salazar's jaw tightened, and it seemed like he might push back. But then he gave a quiet laugh, stepping back with his hands raised in mock surrender.

"No need to make a scene," he said, his smile returning, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I didn't realize she was... spoken for."

Nikolai didn't respond, his gaze still locked on Salazar like a predator watching its prey.

With a faint shrug, Salazar turned back to me, his smile softening. "Apologies, Lena. I didn't mean to overstep."

I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak.

The moment Salazar walked away, the air seemed to thicken between me and Nikolai.

"You didn't need to step in," I said quietly, still holding my champagne glass like a shield.

He turned his attention to me, his expression as unreadable as ever. "You have no idea what you're doing," he said sharply.

I bristled, frowning. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He didn't answer, his eyes flicking briefly in the direction Salazar had gone.

"Who is he?" I asked, following his gaze.

Nikolai's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until a voice crackled through the speakers, announcing the end of the evening. "Thank you for attending tonight's event. We look forward to seeing you all at tomorrow's auction."

I set my almost full glass down on the nearest table, suddenly desperate to leave.

"I need to find my friend," I said quickly, turning back to Nikolai. "Goodnight."

Without waiting for a response, I hurried toward Veronica, the weight of his gaze burning into my back the entire way.

We stepped out into the cool night air, but I couldn't shake the tension coiling in my chest.

What the hell just happened?