She Belongs to the Mafia King (Normani Parker) novel Chapter 22

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

Mani's Pov.

"Praise the heavens, you decided to leave your room." Zoey mused when I took a seat at the counter, and I playfully glared at her while pouting my lips.

"You act like I don't leave my room."

She snorts, shaking her head. "You can't possibly count spending hours in the library as a breath of fresh air." She says, "I know you love reading and all, but don't you get bored?"

"I don't.  My aim is to read as many books as I can in the library. Besides, it's my source of entertainment when you aren't there to keep me company.

"I understand, but still." She sighs, placing a hand on the left side of her waist. "What book do you plan to read now?"

I smiled.  "I actually saw one, Fifty Shades of Grey, and I'm intrigued to see what it's about."

Her brows creased and her lips parted a bit. "Are you certain about that?"

"What?" I asked, confused.

"I mean, are you sure you want to read that?" She clarifies, eyeing the book in my hand.

"Yeah, why?" I asked, staring at the book before staring back up at her. My frown deepened.

I saw amusement shimmer in her eyes, and she shook her head. "It's nothing," she says with a smile. "It is a really great book; I was just surprised you picked it."

" oh..."

"Don't worry; you are going to love it. There are a lot of thrilling and entertaining chapters. You could surely pick up a thing or two from them". She winks, and I smile, wondering how great the book is.

"I better head back up to my room. I'm eager to read this now." I said, raising the book.

"I'm sure you are." She laughs.  "I will have some refreshments made and brought up to your room."

"Sure, thanks." I walked out of the room and began making my way upstairs when I was interrupted by a deep, raspy, familiar voice.

My eyes shifted to Sin, who walked in with his phone clad to his ear as he spoke in Italian.

I kept an aloof eye on him, like a stalker. I observed the genuineness of the smile spreading across his face. It was strange to see Sin smile and appear so carefree, and I wondered to whom he was speaking that made him this way, and I felt resentful without understanding why.

While I was watching Sin speak in Italian, I wondered if the person on the other end of the line might be a woman.

However, the next thing I saw made my stomach drop. Sin's eyes darted in my direction, catching me staring at him.

There was no disputing that I had been avoiding him during the past couple of days, which is why I was often holed up in my room or the library. I wasn't sure how I felt when I saw him standing there, but I could feel my heart skip a beat as his gaze scorched my skin.

"Hey, Mani... Why are you standing here?" Zoey asks, dragging my attention away from Sin.

"Oh, I'm, I was...," I stuttered out, not knowing what to say.

"I thought you were eager to start reading your new book, but I guess something else caught your attention," she probed.

"Excuse me?"  I stared at Zoey with a baffled expression.

"Sin..."  Zoey nodded her chin towards where Sin stood, who was still on call but his eyes were fixated on our direction, on me: "You have been avoiding him. Seeing him now makes you realize you miss him. Right "

"What.. no..."  I shook my head profusely. "I wasn't avoiding him, and I definitely do not miss him." I lied through my teeth, crossing my fingers behind me.

Zoey chuckled.  "Yeah, sure, I totally believe you," she says sarcastically.

"I wasn't avoiding him, I truly wasn't." I scoff.

"Yeah, you weren't." She cooed like she was talking to a child. I rolled my eyes, turning my attention back to Sin, which I was certain Zoey didn't miss, even if it was for a brief moment.

"I'm sure you are dying to know who is on the other line." Zoey snickered.

"I'm not, and I don't care." I responded, acting nonchalantly.

"Well, you don't have to worry." She says, "From the little I got while coming upstairs, I'm certain it is his mother."

"His mother."

"Yep."  She nods.  "She is the only one he acts warmly toward and who can make him smile that much."