Dario DeLuca: Savage Bloodline

24. Mia

TWENTY-FOUR

Last night was barely spenton the opposite side of my room where the bed sits. Still dealing with the emotions surrounding everything that’s happened, I wanted to remain within these four walls all night.

Aside from being at the shooting range with Dario yesterday evening, this is all I’ve wanted to do. Sit right here, staring out the window. But seeing that I am a guest, I didn’t want to appear rude, so I joined the family at dinner and tried to remain festive.

But how could I?

Not knowing if my father will recover, and the guilt of not apologizing to him if he doesn’t was too great to bear. Dario must’ve felt my mood since he excused me from the rest of the evening, allowing me to rest in my room.

Today, I’ve decided not to mope around and bring down this momentous occasion. I leave the quiet solitude of my guest quarters and search out Carmela to see if there is anything I can assist with. However, with the house full of people running about, I don’t see much need for me.

I step into the courtyard, my heart thundering against my ribs when I take in the transformed space. The air is heavy with the scent of gardenias and night-blooming jasmine, their fragrance mingling with citrus and spice wafting from the flickering candles.

The sun is setting, draping its golden veil over the elegant floral arrangements and rows of plush white chairs. My gaze travels up the trellis archway draped in vines and ivory blooms. It’s beautiful, but nothing is more breathtaking than the bride-to-be.

Carmela is a vision in a shimmering champagne slip dress with a matching robe that caresses every lush curve. Her raven tresses cascade in glossy waves, pinned back to showcase her face’s exquisite bone structure. Smokey eye makeup accentuates the molten gold flecks embedded in her hair accessories, and her lips are painted a deep wine shade. She exudes effortless sensuality.

Carmela spots me by the gift table and offers me a kind wave. I reciprocate the gesture, and a smile is returned. Carmela glides towards me, her presence a stark contrast to the soft chaos of the vendors setting up the reception area, the string quartet getting into place and warming up that surrounds us.

“There you are, Mia,” Carmela greets me with a thick Italian accent. “I was beginning to worry when my butler said you weren’t in your room.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I just wanted to see if I could be of any assistance. From the looks of it, you have covered all the details. The setting is beautiful, Carmela. And you look breathtaking.”

A brilliant smile blossoms across her features as she loops her arm through mine, practically vibrating with excitement.

”Thank you. I tell you, this day could not come soon enough. I feel as though I”ve been waiting an eternity.” She chuckles.

Laughter spills from my lips at her infectious giddiness.

”Come, let”s find a moment of peace. I wish to hear your thoughts on a few things.”

Nodding, I allow her to lead me away from the swirling sea of last-minute changes and final touches. We weave through the courtyard, the gentle trickle of water from the stone fountain providing a soothing backdrop.

At last, we arrive in a secluded alcove, sheltered by trailing vines and bathed in the warm glow of flickering lanterns. This estate is larger than I thought. Plush chaise lounges beckon us with their crimson velvet upholstery. I sink into one with a contented sigh as Carmela settles gracefully beside me.

”This is a much-needed oasis from the whirlwind of activity, I bet.”

”Yes, it is,” she smiles, draping an arm along the back of the lounge. ”I confess. I selfishly wanted to have you to myself for a few moments.”

Her words give me pause, curiosity flickering in my breast. ”Is there something I did wrong?”

Carmela”s expression softens, her full lips pursing as she carefully weighs her words. ”I know my brother”s path is a... complicated one. The life he leads casts a long, dark shadow.”

I inhale a steadying breath.

“I know he can be ruthless, yet I”ve witnessed firsthand how he will move heaven and earth for those he loves,” she continues, conviction ringing in her melodic voice. ”Dario”s ferocious devotion to family is unshakable, his protective instincts visceral. It’s...” She pauses, searching for the right phrase. ”A side of him the world rarely sees beneath that brutal veneer.”

Carmela”s words wash over me in crashing waves, unleashing emotions. Surprise. Intrigue. Skepticism. Perhaps there’s more to the man I”ve dismissed as a soulless monster. I continue to listen intently.

“My brother has had many women, but I’ve never heard him speak of one nearly as much as he does with you. The way he goes on and on about how you irritate him and drive him to the point of delicious anger lets me know you affect him, and he doesn’t like it. And that’s a good thing.”

My mind is a whirlwind, struggling to reconcile the dissonance between Dario”s ruthless reputation and the tender vulnerability his sister describes. How can such jarring opposites coexist within one man? The contrast seems conflicting, an enigma that arouses my curiosity rather than providing any clarity.

”I…” I stutter, grasping for the proper response amidst the turbulence of my thoughts. ”I must confess, I”ve witnessed nothing to suggest such a… calm demeanor.”

Her full lips curve into a rueful smile. ”He”s very good at deceiving others,” you see. He keeps everyone at a distance while protecting things he considers too valuable to expose. And you, mia dolce ragazza are his most prized jewel.” My sweet girl.

I lean closer, my interest piqued. ”Sounds like you’ve seen sides of him that he keeps hidden.”

Her nod is gentle and encouraging. ”Oh, many times. Like when our cousin was in the hospital—Dario stayed by his side every night, unseen to most, but I noticed. He read to him, can you imagine? Our fierce Dario, reading fairy tales in a dim hospital room.”

I laugh softly. The image of Dario, so stark and powerful, holding a children”s book is a heartwarming contrast. ”I can’t actually. That’s… endearing.”

“Oh, yes. Underneath all that bravado, there’s a heart that cares deeply. He masks it well.”

The conversation shifts as she leans back and surveys the preparations around us. ”You see, Mia, people like Dario, like members of la mia famiglia—they fight harder than most to protect what’s theirs, and sometimes that means… Well, I’m sure you know. It’s just their way of loving, you know?”

Her words sink in, swirling around my previously rigid perceptions.

”I”m beginning to see that,” I admit as I think about how he protected me during the shooting.

His hard body pressed against mine as if it were a shield, and how demanding he was that his men get my parents to the hospital. His confession to me when we arrived about the loss of his father revealed a vulnerable side of him I had not yet seen. “He did tell me how long it’s been since he’s been home.”

Carmela”s eyes take on a faraway look as she recalls the memory. ”And when our father passed…Dario was only nineteen, tasked with becoming the patriarch of our family overnight. He sacrificed his youth and dreams to ensure our survival. Never has he wavered in his dedication to our welfare and security.”

Her delicate fingers find mine, giving a gentle squeeze. ”Those of us blessed enough to be in his innermost circle know the man hidden beneath that cold, ruthless mask he shows the world. And an unwavering loyalty to those he loves.”

I swallow hard against the lump constricting my throat, her words lingering like the echoes of possibility.

Before I can respond, Carmela rises with effortless grace, patting away the emotions threatening to ruin her applied makeup. ”Enough reflections for now, Bella. I have a wedding to dress for, and you should, too.”

I stand to meet her. She pulls me into a hug, her lips brushing across my cheek. ”I have the utmost faith you”ll uncover the true depths of my brother”s heart in time.”

She glides away with innate poise, speaking to each person as she passes and giving orders like a DeLuca—without the gruff voice, of course.

I return to my guest room to prepare for Carmela”s impending nuptials. The evening holds so much joy and is far from anything resembling danger. I sit before the lit vanity to apply my makeup. My soft brush is dusted with golden highlighter for my cheekbones to catch the light with every delicate stroke.

My foundation matches my complexion perfectly for a flawless base. I line my eyes with a fine stroke of dark eyeliner and brush my eyelids with a shimmering taupe eyeshadow that makes my eyes pop. I finish the look with a few coats of volumizing mascara, dramatically curling my lashes. Making sure my face card will not be denied, I outline my lips with a nude liner, carefully defining the full, beautiful shape, filling them in with a matte rose lipstick, and finishing my look with a gentle dust of translucent powder over my face to set it all.

Satisfied with my work, I remove my dust robe and move over to the closet where my dress for the evening hangs. Tracing the intricate design of the black dress from its lace bodice to the high slit at the thigh, I imagine that as much detail will be put into our wedding.

Or does he have it all planned?

A knock at the door interrupts my thoughts.

“Yes,” I call back to the person on the other side.

Dario opens the door, his shirt half-buttoned. The ink adorning his chest peeks around the plackets, still waiting to be buttoned. His hair is freshly trimmed. His signature scent awakens my senses, and my body responds in a most delicious way.

“I want to make sure you are still coming down, but I see you’re getting dressed. Rafael will escort you, and I’ll see you there.” He closes the door behind him, not giving me a moment to reply.

“Hmph, some sensitive side.” I slide into my dress, allowing the coolness of the fabric to caress my body, taming my heated thoughts of Dario.

Unable to stop thinking about Dario, I fidget with my attire for the wedding, my fingers trembling faintly while cinching the elaborate gown. Accentuating the waist is a sleek satin band, giving way to a sumptuous, smooth skirt that skims over my hips and cascades down to the floor with a satin bow at the waist. Adding a pair of black lace stilettos and a squirt of perfume, I open the door to find Rafael dressed in all black with a gold tie and handkerchief in the pocket.

“Mia, you look squisito.” Exquisite.

He uses his hand to give the sign for the chef”s kiss.

“Thank you, Rafael. You clean up nicely, too.”

“Shall we?” He takes my arm and loops it through his, and we join the ceremony in the courtyard.

Gazes and whispersfall upon us as we enter the prepared area among the seated guests. I expected to sit near the back, am surprised when Rafael escorts me up to the front on the bridal side next to Mama DeLuca.

Then Rafael joins the other groomsmen, who are taken their positions by Angelo. The sun lowers just below the horizon, casting a soft glow of its radiant shine over the scenery, and the string quartet begins to play the bridal march to herald Carmela”s entrance.

We stand as she takes her last walk as Carmela DeLuca. Even though resplendent in her bridal regalia, I can’t help but be drawn to the towering, broad-shouldered figure at her side. Dario.

Even from this distance, his commanding presence is magnetic, demanding every ounce of my focus. His sharply tailored tuxedo highlights his strong, confident movements. His handsome face is usually expressionless, but I see a brief softening in his dark eyes when he looks at his sister. His lips slightly curve in a smile, showing pride and warmth beneath his calm exterior.

In that moment, I see a clearer picture of the complex man who will soon be my husband. He balances an intimidating presence with moments of vulnerability, which I find unexpectedly compelling.

My heart beats faster as he approaches, every part of me focused on his commanding presence.

He seems to notice my gaze and briefly looks my way. Our eyes meet intensely, like two forces colliding.

Then, just as abruptly as it occurred, the connection severs. He continues his walk toward the altar without a shred of acknowledgment or faltering in his wake.

Yet, I”m deeply shaken, realizing that something significant has changed in this brief moment. The defenses I had built against this man and our situation have broken down, leaving me vulnerable to whatever comes next after our encounter.

As Dario takes his place beside the officiant, the image of quiet strength and menace he projects is at jarring odds with the tender smile playing across Carmela”s lips as she gazes at her brother. In her adoring eyes, I see the deep loyalty and love that connect these two, the only forces strong enough to ground a man of his intense nature.

“Who gives this woman away?” The officiant asks.

Mrs. DeLuca joins Dario at his side. “We do,” they announce together. She kisses her baby girl on her cheek and Dario does the same before escorting his mother to her seat and taking his place beside his sister as her best man.

It”s a startling revelation that has me questioning the hasty judgments woven from tattered rumors and speculation. It’s a sharp reminder that I know little of the man to whom I”ve unwittingly bound my fate.

The vows between Carmela and her beloved Angelo fade into a ceremonial murmur as my focus remains tethered to Dario. Even amidst the majesty of the proceedings, an electric current thrums through the atmosphere—charged by his imposing presence, his every subtle gesture an unspoken assertion of unbending control.

The lace of my gown brushes against my skin as I take a shaky breath, trying to stay calm while a mix of excitement and nerves spreads through me. In this tense moment, I realize I”ve crossed a point of no return, and there’s no going back, even if I wanted to.

The silence shatters as the revelry resumes, Carmela’s radiant laughter mingling with the swell of music, and they are announced as husband and wife. The guests cheer on the happy couple with bubbles floating in exchange for the traditional rice-throwing.

Dario exits, escorting his mother to the reception area on the other side of the yard, as does the rest of the bridal party. Rafael escorts me, and I take my seat near the host table.

The evening arrives, and the reception begins under the stars with the usual festivities, but I find myself instinctively looking for the person who has captured my attention so deeply. The words fascination or obsession don”t fully describe the strong pull I feel inside.

“Mia,” Carmela says as she walks my way.

I stand to greet her, and she hugs me, giving me a peck on each cheek.

“It was a beautiful ceremony, Carmela. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, love. I can’t wait until you and my brother wed. Mama is looking forward to the journey to the States.”

“Oh. Really? Well, we haven’t even started preparing yet. It’s all so fresh, still.”

“Cara mia.” My darling. She places a soft hand on mine. “I know how it came to be, but it is up to you to make it what it will be. Trust me, you are the breath of fresh air my brother needs.”

She leaves, joins her husband for candid photos, and mingles with the other guests.

I sit and sip from the glass of champagne offered by the server, who is circulating with drinks. Usually, I’m the one mingling and checking in on others, but it is refreshing to be one of the guests for a change.

My sight falls on Dario, who is talking with a few people I can only assume are friends of his or his family. I want to look away, but I can’t. I’m trapped. The sense of delicious danger permeating the air is palpable, electrifying with its sinister promise.

And I find myself unable to resist being pulled into Dario DeLuca”s world—a place where he sets the rules with his strong will, and I am likely to let go of my former self completely.