14. Mia #2
When my brother steps in wearing a suit, this one all black like Dario’s, my mouth drops open at the sight of him.
I’ve seen Sasha in suits before, but something about this is different.
Maybe it’s because we’re in Italy, maybe it’s because Sandro is obviously the one in charge of dressing him and has paired it with a gorgeous pair of leather shoes and an expensive-looking watch, whatever it is, Sasha is looking sharp tonight.
“Damn, brother,” I say, doing exactly what Dario had just done and snapping a photo. “Nat deserves to see this.”
When I see she’d sent me a text, I hurry up and read it and then look over at Dario. “Seriously? You already sent her the photo of me?”
Dario grins. “Of course I did. What’d she say?”
I try to ignore him, but when he sees me blush, he cups my face and says, “Tell me, little viper.”
“She said I look beautiful,” I say.
When I don’t elaborate, he raises a brow. “And?”
I sigh at his stubbornness but it only makes him smile. “She said I look good wearing your ring. Happy now?”
He grins. “Immensely, and she’s right. You do look amazing with my diamond on your finger.”
I let out a noncommittal grunt that makes him laugh.
Sasha pulls at the collar of his shirt and when that’s not enough, he unbuttons the top button. “You’ve seen me in a suit before,” he reminds me .
“Not like this,” I say. “All the ladies are going to be curious about you tonight.”
“I’m here to do a job, not fuck around with horny women,” he says.
Sandro laughs. “Can’t you do both?”
“He’s right,” Dario says. “All eyes are going to be on Mia tonight, and we need to make sure Leonardo takes the bait.”
“How do we get him to do that exactly?” I ask.
Dario looks down at me. His fingers run along my spine again, whisper soft and erotic as hell. “He just needs to see how crazy we are about each other. He’ll want to take you from me as soon as he sees it’ll hurt me, amore mio .”
Sandro looks at my brother. “Are you going to be the one to tell your dad about this? I’d say my brother should, but I think Lev will shoot him before he can explain.”
“I’m telling him myself,” Dario says. “As soon as we return to America.”
“You sure that’s the best idea?” Sandro asks.
“He’s going to have to get used to it. I’m not giving Mia up,” he says.
“I do have a say in it,” I tell the three alpha men surrounding me.
Sandro grins. “So you’re admitting you have feelings for my brother now? Damn, that really was one hell of a night.” He looks at his brother. “How many did you get through?”
“What?” I ask before Dario can say anything that’s going to get his very firm ass into trouble.
“I’m going downstairs,” Sasha says. “I don’t want to know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“Get your ass moving,” Dario tells his brother. “We need to go.” Before he leads me out of the room, he says, “And none of your goddamn business.”
It might sound like a warning if he wasn’t smiling so big when he said it. Sandro laughs and smacks his brother’s back in a way to go kind of way.
I really miss my knives.
Salvatore and Maria are waiting for us downstairs.
I try not to look nervous when she runs her eyes over me.
I didn’t do anything special with my hair, just left it down, and even though Dario had spent a small fortune on makeup, what I’d applied is pretty basic at best. The dress and heels are killer, though, and I’m pretty sure they’re what earn me the approving nod I see.
She kisses both my cheeks and his dad does the same before he tells me I look gorgeous.
“Thank you,” I tell him, grateful when Dario slips his hand around mine again. I’m still trying to adjust to not hiding how I feel about him, but there’s no denying his presence is a comfort. I may not be used to expressing my love with words, but I’ve always shown him affection in my own way.
There’s a line of vehicles waiting for us when we step out front.
Dario ignores the dark SUVs as he leads me to his black Ferrari Roma.
He opens the door for me and keeps my hand in his as he helps me in, but before the door can shut, Sasha walks over and grabs it, holding it open so he can talk to me.
Speaking in Russian, he says, “We’ll be right behind you, and then once we get there, I’ll make sure I can see you at all times.”
“Okay,” I tell him, while Dario walks around to get in the driver’s side.
Sasha’s light blue eyes study mine. “You sure you’re okay, little witch?”
“I'm sure.”
He waits a few more seconds, refusing to be rushed.
He doesn’t read signals like most people do.
He misses a lot of things that are obvious to others, but he also picks up things that no one else catches.
Whatever he sees on my face must convince him I’m telling the truth, because after a few more seconds, he nods and then shuts the door.
“Everything okay?” Dario asks, starting the car and filling the space with the sleek purr of the engine.
“Yeah, he’s just checking in with me.”
“He’s a good big brother,” Dario says while putting the car in gear and following the SUV in front of us.
“The best,” I agree, because he is. If I had told him that I wasn’t okay, he would’ve immediately gotten me the hell out of here without a second thought, no matter the consequences, no matter what it involved.
Other people might not see him like I do, but I know I hit the jackpot getting Sasha as my older brother.
Dario’s hand reaches out to squeeze my thigh, and my hand quickly falls to rest on his.
My wedding ring is still a weight I’m not used to, and I’m getting tired of constantly snagging the huge diamond on things, but I no longer hate what it represents.
Everyone who sees it will know that my heart belongs to Dario.
It doesn’t mean that he owns me. It just means I’m choosing to be with him, that I trust him and love him.
It doesn’t matter that we aren’t married.
We’re together, and it’s a commitment that I don’t take lightly.
“So who exactly is throwing this party?” I ask. “We should’ve been discussing all this last night instead of working our way through a box of condoms.”
“I couldn’t disagree with you more, streghetta mia . Everything is covered for tonight, and you not knowing a few details beforehand doesn’t matter. I don’t regret a second of last night.”
“Me neither,” I admit. I look out at the sea, watching the waves as we turn another corner and the scenery changes to an olive grove.
“The party’s being held at a diplomat’s villa.
His name is Claudio Bellantoni. He’s a pompous little fucker who likes to get his hands dirty every now and then so he can pretend he’s dangerous.
We tolerate him, because he has connections that he’s willing to use when the authorities start getting a little too curious.
One day his usefulness will wear off, though, and I’m guessing he’ll be the only one who’s surprised when the time comes to take him out. ”
“Who is his wife? Will she be taken out too?” I can’t help but ask. My family has always been adamantly against killing family members. They’re way too devoted and protective of their own families to ever think about targeting innocent wives and kids.
“He’s not married. I’m not sure who will be hosting the party with him tonight. Whatever women he currently has on the payroll is my guess. ”
“How fun,” I mutter.
“I’ve heard he pays a small fortune to the women who frequent his villa.”
“Who else will be there?” I ask.
“The heads of the other three families. Leonardo Fontana, you already know about, but Giuseppe Santoro, and Carlo Esposito will also be there. Don Santoro is the closest thing to an ally we have. He’s a good man.”
He then spends the next several minutes telling me about their families while I stare at the setting sun, all the names going in one ear and out the other.
“I’m never going to remember all that,” I tell him when he’s finally done.
He laughs and squeezes my thigh. “You don’t have to. That’s why you have me.”
“Wow, you make me espressos and you remember important details. I should’ve gotten myself a man a long time ago,” I tease.
“Don’t forget I also love to make you come.”
“That’s the most important one,” I say, making him laugh.
The laughter dies when he runs his thumb along my thigh while he says, “I’m glad you didn’t get yourself a man a long time ago.”
Bringing my hand to his face, he kisses the back of it while keeping a close eye on the twisting road ahead of us.
Unable to resist, I run my fingers along his cheek.
The dark stubble is rough against my skin, and he looks so devastatingly handsome that I have to remind myself that this is real and he’s finally mine.
“ Ti amo, Mia,” he whispers against my skin.
“ Ti amo , Dario . ”
He gives me a big smile when I say the words in Italian.
“I had no idea you were such a big softie,” I tell him. “You were such a hard-ass when you were training me, but really you’re just a big softie who likes to cuddle and whisper romantic things in my ear.”
The bite to my wrist is fast and hard.
“Fuck!” I yelp, but when I try to tug my hand free, he tightens his grip, holding me in place while he drags his tongue along my stinging skin.
“Careful, piccolina. It sounds like I might need to remind you just how dangerous I can be.”
“You’re not dangerous to me,” I say.
He kisses my wrist again. “I wonder if you’ll still think that when I’m fucking your ass.”
I laugh and shake my head. “That’s never going to happen.”
Letting my hand go, he gives me a very confident grin and says, “We’ll see. And, amore mio , I’m only soft with you.”
“So you weren’t a big cuddler before you got me in bed?” I ask while trying and failing to hide the big smile on my face.
“God, no,” he says with a laugh. “I didn’t do any of this before you.” He gives my thigh another squeeze. “Please remember that.”