Page 134 of Claimed At First Sight

Before any of us fully register what she’s doing, she slips sideways and disappears down the alley.

“Ari,” I snap.

She either doesn’t hear me or ignores me.

“Oh for the love of—”

I move after her, but Maximo catches my arm before I can follow. The contact stops me cold.

“Wait.”

The single word lands sharp enough that even I freeze. Something in his expression has changed.

Gone is the dry amusement from earlier, along with the calm architectural commentary.

Maximo scans the alley, and for the first time all afternoon I catch a glimpse of the man who rules Chicago. His gaze shifts farther down the lane, toward the street beyond.

Every trace of warmth vanishes from his expression. His attention sharpens, and his posture stills as though the entire world has narrowed to a single point.

Following his line of sight, I spot three men standing near the far end of the block. They’re watching us, and more specifically Ari.

“Who are they?” I ask, unease creeping through me.

Are they the Irish family I’m supposedly promised to?

“Romero men,” Maximo replies.

Even if I didn’t already know that they’re his enemies, his tone gives it away.

And they’re far closer to Ari than we are. Cold floods my stomach.

“Ari!” I shout, panic trying to choke my voice. “Get back here. Now!”

The distance is too great and the city too loud. If she hears me, she doesn’t react.

My eyes find Sienna’s. Judging by the sudden loss of color in her face, she can tell something is wrong too.

Maximo releases my arm, never taking his eyes off the alley.

“Move,” he orders the guards.

Everything happens at once. Two guards reposition themselves around us while another heads toward the alley. Across the street, one of the Romero men lifts a phone to his ear and starts talking.

A chill slips beneath my skin.

“We need to get to Ari,” I hiss, trying to step around him.

“I’ll handle it.” Maximo’s voice remains far too calm.

He steps in front of Sienna and me, shielding us from the street as pedestrians continue flowing around us, completely oblivious to the tension building beneath the surface.

“Sienna stays with Paolo,” he says sharply.

“Mia, you—”

“I’m not staying behind,” I snap, cutting him off.

His gaze lands on mine. I’ve seen Maximo irritated, amused, and even angry before. This is something else.