16. Mia #5
I run a hand through my hair and give an embarrassed laugh before I do a little improvising on our planned story.
“My phone was dead, so I left it charging.” I glance down at my feet before I add, “Please don’t tell him, but I kind of snuck out.
He had to go and do something, and I was so bored at that giant house with just his parents, so I hopped on this bad boy and made my escape.
” I give another laugh. “It didn’t work out like I’d planned. ”
Moving my hand, I stand back up and give what I hope is a believable worried look. “He’s going to be so mad at me.”
Leonardo studies me a second before asking, “His men let you leave alone?”
“No,” I say with an easy smile. I can feel him getting suspicious, so I add, “My brother was with me, but once we were off the property, he went into town so he could meet some girl he met the other night.”
I look back at the sea and take in the beautiful sight. It’s not hard to act like the starstruck tourist when I say, “I wanted to drive along the coast. My brother and I are supposed to meet in an hour. Dario worries too much about my safety.”
Giving a soft laugh while mentally apologizing to the man I love, I add, “I mean, it’s not like he’s the don, right? Who’s going to come after me?”
Leonardo gives me a genuine smile at hearing me insult my husband and then nods towards my broken down Vespa. “I can’t leave you stranded on the side of the road. Why don’t I give you a ride into town so you can meet up with your brother?”
“Do you mind? I don’t want to inconvenience you or anything.”
He smiles even bigger and motions for me to get in. “It’s no trouble at all, Mia. I’m happy to help.”
My skin crawls at the idea of being in such a confined space with him, but I play the I’m just a silly girl routine and give him a big, grateful smile before walking around and getting in.
Even after the door shuts and I hear the lock click into place, I’m not worried about my safety.
I’m armed, and I know how to keep myself safe.
I’m also wearing at least two trackers that I know about.
It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Dario added a few more I’m not aware of.
My unease isn’t based on fear; it’s based on the perv next to me.
I remember how he’d looked at me. The only thing he sees when his eyes run over me is a way to hurt Dario.
I’m something to be used to make himself feel better, and I really hate men like that.
We start driving, and I’m all set to keep playing pretend, but now that Leonardo has me stuck in his car and thinks me defenseless, the bastard can’t help but start bragging.
“I really can’t believe my luck, Mia,” he says, looking over at me with a sick grin on his smug face. “I thought I’d have to find a way to break into that compound of his and steal you.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, because he might be blowing his cover, but I’m not about to blow mine. He still thinks I’m clueless and weak, and it needs to stay that way for as long as possible.
“It means you shouldn’t have come here.” He reaches over and rests his hand on my leg. I stare at it, and the disgust on my face isn’t an act. “It means,” he continues, “that he shouldn’t have brought such a stupid, naive wife into this life.”
I scoot closer to the door. “Can you let me out? I’ll just walk back and pretend like I never saw you. I don’t understand what’s going on, but I swear I won’t say a word.”
He laughs and squeezes my thigh harder, fingers digging in with a strength that guarantees I’ll have bruises. God, that’s going to infuriate Dario when he sees them.
“We’re way past that, sweetheart. I’d say I’m sorry you got messed up in all this, but I’m not.
I’ve been trying to find a way to ruin Dario for years.
” He pauses to give another laugh. “I never once thought the opportunity would be so goddamn fuckable, though. Tell me, sweetheart, is anything else pierced besides your tits?”
“Get away from me,” I tell him, but when I try to squirm away, he just tightens his grip, making it clear he doesn’t plan on letting me go anytime soon.
“I could lie and say you might enjoy this, but you won’t.”
“I never once thought I would, you sick bastard.” I yell the words, but I can tell it still hasn’t occurred to him that I might be a threat. His views on women will be his downfall, and I’d be lying if I said that didn’t warm my little heart .
“So you do have some fire.” He glances over and eyes me like he can’t wait to force himself onto me.
“I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.
I knew you would, though. Sweet girls don’t willingly have needles shoved through their nipples, Mia.
You’re fucked up, sweetheart, and everyone knows it after the scene you two made at the party. ”
“Fuck you,” I tell him, and it seems to thrill him to no end to get a glimpse of the pale flame he thinks I have inside of me. He has no idea there’s a burning inferno in here and he’s about to get burnt. “You’re nothing compared to Dario, and he’s going to kill you for daring to touch me.”
Leonardo’s eyes snap to mine, and I recognize the look. It’s the same one he gave at Claudio’s when Dario humiliated him.
“You’re pathetic,” I tell him. “Just a jealous little bitch of a man who’s been holding a grudge against my husband since you were kids.
Why? Because he got more pussy than you?
Because he was stronger? Smarter? Better at every single thing?
” I give a harsh laugh, ignoring the way his fingers are like a vise on my thigh. “Fucking pathetic.”
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he growls, taking the next curve way too fast as his temper gets the best of him. “If your husband is so fucking smart, then why did he just walk his ass into a trap?”
My whole body goes still at his words. “What are you talking about?”
“I’ve been planning on taking Dario out for a long time.
You were an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, but I have other things already in motion.
The goal was to destroy the Alessi empire and then take his life, but now when he dies, it’ll be after I tell him I fucked and killed his woman.
” He gives a harsh laugh, grinning in satisfaction like the deed is already done.
“It’ll be like killing him twice.” He gives me a quick look before putting his focus back on the road.
“So thank you, Mia. Your death is going to hurt far worse than any knife or gun ever could.”
“What other plans?” I ask, knowing I can’t kill him until he tells me .
“Aren’t you a curious little thing?” he teases, and I use all my willpower to not stab him right here and now.
“You’re going to kill me anyway. What does it matter?”
“True enough.” He takes another turn, and I don’t know if I should be relieved no one’s coming after us or worried.
It’s possible Sandro is keeping Dario in check and waiting to see what Leonardo will do before they intervene, but it’s also possible something has happened to prevent him from getting to me.
“I’ve infiltrated his family,” Leonardo says, sounding way too pleased with himself. “He’ll never expect an attack from one of his own men.”
“Who is it?” I whisper the words as dread fills my stomach.
“Uberto,” he says, but the name means nothing to me. I didn’t meet his men, that’s not how things are done here, and it would’ve been suspicious if Dario had walked me around and made introductions.
Wives aren’t a part of the family business, so I don’t need to hide my ignorance when I say, “I don’t know who that is.”
Leonardo shrugs. “Maybe you’ll meet him before I kill you.”
“You’re such an arrogant dickhole. You’re never going to get away with this because Dario is a thousand times smarter than you. You’re just a jealous asshole who will never get over the fact that his dick is bigger than yours.”
My words have the effect I’d been hoping for.
Rage takes over as he slams on the brakes.
Taking his hand off my thigh, he raises it to backhand me.
I let him, ignoring the pain and the blood that starts running from my nose as I grab the switchblade that’s hooked to my bra and pull it out.
He’s not expecting me to fight back, and he’s sure as hell not expecting me to be armed.
When he hears the knife open, I have just enough time to see his eyes widen in shock before I’m slamming the blade in his neck and pushing him off me.
The blade is pulled from his skin, and as soon as it slips free, blood spurts out, coating me and the interior of his car before he clamps a hand to his neck in a desperate attempt to save himself.
I know he’s fucked, so I grab the handle, ignoring his moans of pain and shock as I scramble out, nearly tripping and falling on my ass.
I barely register the sound of the Ducati racing towards me. As soon as it stops, Sasha jumps off, rushing to my side.
“Are you okay?” His words are clipped, and I hear the worry in them as he checks me for injuries. Cupping my face, he looks at my bleeding nose, and I see the dark look in his eyes start to take over.
“I’m fine,” I quickly say, because we do not have time for torture. “We need to find Dario. Someone’s going to turn on him.” I grab Sasha’s hand and try to pull him towards the bike. “He won’t be expecting it. We have to go!”
He hands me the helmet and peels my fingers from the grip I have on his shirt. “Get on the bike, Mia. I’ll be right there.”
Arguing will just waste time, so I jam the helmet on my head and run to the bike as Sasha opens the car door. I hear Leonardo groan in pain, but it’s cut short by the knife my brother runs across his throat.
His voice is calm when he says, “That’s for putting your fucking hands on my sister.”