Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167: "Do You Even Know What ’Dating’ Is?"

The drive from the Marchetti compound back to the Sartori estate was anything but comfortable.

Caio sat beside Aren in the back of the car, their fingers intertwined loosely over his lap.

Neither of them spoke much.

Their gazes remained fixed somewhere beyond the windows, following the golden streetlights and glamorous avenues of Borgata as they slipped past in a steady blur.

From the outside, the silence between them might have seemed peaceful.

Aren knew better.

She could feel the weight lingering in the air between them, invisible but unmistakable.

A faint crease had remained between Caio’s brows ever since she had asked to stay behind and wait for Jordan to wake after surgery.

He hadn’t said anything about it. He hadn’t reprimanded her or even raised his voice, but somehow, that only made his silence feel heavier.

Several times, her gaze drifted toward him.

Several times, she hesitated before looking away again.

’Did I do something wrong? Did I make him angry?’

’Did I make him wait for me for too long? Is he tired because of me?’

Yet his fingers were still woven tightly with hers, his thumb occasionally brushing against the back of her hand.

That small gesture reassured her more than words probably could have.

’Maybe he’s not angry.’

’He’s probably just exhausted after everything that happened today.’

With that thought, Aren tucked the rest of her questions away for later.

Once they returned home, she would find a way to help him relax. Perhaps that would be enough to ease whatever heaviness had settled over him.

The car finally came to a stop, and the silence remained between them until they reached the corridor leading to their suites.

Only then did Caio turn toward her and give a small nod in the direction of his room.

"Wanna rest tonight in my suite or yours?"

Aren brightened almost immediately, as though she had been waiting for him to ask that question all evening.

Her decision came easily.

Whenever Caio stayed in her suite, he often had to walk back to his own room to retrieve something he’d forgotten — a pajama shirt, toiletries, or whatever else he needed.

After the exhausting day they’d just endured, the last thing she wanted was to make him keep moving between their rooms.

"Let’s rest in your suite tonight." She clasped her free hand over the one holding hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You go inside first. I’ll get my pajamas and come over."

He gave a small nod.

"Mmm. Grab whatever you need and come."

His voice dipped slightly as he added,

"I’ll get the bathtub ready."

─ •✧• ─ ✿ ─ •✧• ─

By the time Aren entered the bathroom, the room was already thick with warm steam.

The bathtub was filled halfway to the rim, and Caio was already sitting inside it.

He had leaned back against the tub, both arms resting comfortably along its edges, his expression considerably more relaxed than it had been during the drive.

One hand lifted, beckoning her closer.

"You need help with your clothes?"

The suggestion immediately sent a warm flush creeping over Aren’s cheeks.

"Ah... no."

She shook her head quickly.

"I can... remove them myself."

Her shoulders drew inward as her embarrassment intensified.

"Just... look the other way. Don’t look this way."

Caio let out a quiet chuckle. She was acting as though he hadn’t helped her out of her clothes only a few hours earlier.

"Then hurry up and come in," he said teasingly. "Before I get out and remove them myself."

He made absolutely no effort to turn away, of course.

Instead, the faintest smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he leaned back farther, looking entirely too comfortable with the prospect of watching her undress.

Aren could only sigh beneath his amused gaze.

’How is he so comfortable being naked in front of me?’

’At least he’s acting normal again.’

Shyly, she turned her back to him and began removing her clothes piece by piece.

Every movement felt awkward under the awareness of his gaze.

She could almost feel his eyes following her as each garment slipped away, making her skin grow warmer with every passing second.

Once she was naked, she carefully folded the remains of her clothes and placed them neatly to one side before approaching the bathtub.

Her knees had barely touched the rim when Caio reached out, caught her wrist, and gave it a gentle tug.

A moment later, she was in the tub with him.

Warm water rose to just beneath her breasts — not hot enough to sting her skin, but warm enough to soothe the fatigue that had had settled into every muscle of her body.

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