6. Mia #4
Pushing Dario from my mind as best I can, I walk out and eat breakfast with my brother before he takes us over to Dominic and Nat’s.
There’s no way to get away from the Alessi family when my older sister is married to one of them, but I take comfort in the fact that Dario will most likely not be here today.
We’re all meeting here to visit with Max and Talia and to see Luka and Lara’s daughter again.
I haven’t seen Mira since the hospital visit, and it’s been months since I’ve seen Max.
He works for the Medvedev Bratva for half the year so Talia can spend time with her family, and then they spend the rest of the year here.
It’s been a compromise for everyone, but so far it’s all been working out, and the way I see it is there’s a spot that needs filling with Max gone for six months at a time, and I’m just the person to fill it.
At some point I’m going to get my dad and uncles together and convince them of this.
Everyone is already here when Sasha pulls his bike up to the front, and I’m relieved to not see any sign of Dario’s Ducati or Porsche.
Lucia opens the door before we can even knock, pulling us both in for a quick hug before waving us in to join the others.
Nat’s house always smells amazing. Lucia has been teaching her how to cook some authentic Italian dishes, and I swear every time I walk through their front door my stomach starts growling.
Today is no exception, and when Lucia hears it, she smiles and says, “Go fix a big plate, Mia. You’re too thin. You need to eat more.”
She’s been telling me this for years, and I always take whatever she wants to feed me with a grateful smile, because the woman is an amazing cook.
We walk into the crowded kitchen, and as soon as my dad sees me, he yells loud enough for everyone to hear, “What the hell happened to your face, Mia? Who hurt you?”
“I’m fine, Dad,” I say, while Sasha gives a soft laugh that only I can hear and then walks off to get some food, leaving me the center of attention and hating every second of it.
“I messed up during my last training session. It was my fault.” I force the words out, knowing Dario would have a field day at hearing me say it.
I can easily picture the way the corner of his mouth would be fighting a smug grin, and I’m insanely grateful that he’s not here to witness it.
Just as I think the words, it’s as if I’ve conjured him into existence because my dad looks past me and says, “Why the hell did you hit my daughter?”
Dario’s deep voice, laced with the world’s sexiest Italian accent, says, “I didn’t hit your daughter, Lev. ”
I resist the strong urge to turn around and instead force myself to say, “I told you it was my fault, Dad. I lost focus.” I chance a look when I feel Dario’s presence right behind me, meeting his dark eyes when I say, “It won’t happen again.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up just enough for me to see before he walks over to his brother and I get sidetracked when Talia pulls me in for a big hug.
She’s very affectionate and finds it hard to believe that not everyone is the same way.
She’s so sweet, though, that it’s impossible to be irritated by it.
“Wow,” I tell her when she finally steps back and lets me go. “Your baby is growing fast.”
She grins and rests her hands on her pregnant belly. “She is, yeah.”
Max walks up and wraps his arms around his pregnant wife from behind, smiling down at her when she looks up at him. Everyone in my family is ridiculously in love, and as happy as I am for them, I also can’t say I fully understand the need to cuddle so much.
“Hey, Max. How’s Oregon?” I ask, bending down to pet Wallace when he comes running over. Their border collie is as friendly as Chort is grumpy, and looking into his intelligent mismatched eyes I can’t help but smile at how cute he is.
“It’s beautiful,” Max says. “When are you coming for a visit?”
“I’m going to try and go with Niki the next time he flies out,” I tell them. “Maybe I can convince Sasha to come, too.”
“That’d be great,” Max says. “We can take you out on the boat, and Talia’s cousins can teach you to surf.”
I grin at the idea of a new challenge. “Perfect,” I tell them and then say, “Tell Bran I’m still practicing ASL every day.”
“I will,” Talia promises. “He was really impressed the last time Niki and Damien came for a visit. They’ve already learned so much.”
“Yeah, I’m not that good,” I warn her, “but I’m slowly getting there.”
When Isabella runs over to give me a hug, I bend down and let her climb on my back.
She laughs while I tell Max and Talia that I’ll see them in a bit and then I give my niece a piggyback ride over to the food.
My stomach growls at the sight of all the Italian food spread out before me, and I’m just about to set Isabella down so I can make a plate when I hear her squeal, “Uncle Dario!”
He speaks to her in Italian, and when she reaches out for him, he picks her up, freeing my arms so I can grab a plate.
While he talks to her, I load up my plate with as much food as it can hold and then park my ass on one of the stools at the counter.
Niki and Damien are already sitting there, and I quickly join in their conversation, ignoring the pair of dark eyes that I know are watching me.