18. Mia #3
My dad groans while my mom pulls Dario in for a hug. Her heart is as big as Nat’s, so I’m not at all surprised by her reaction. My dad watches, but doesn’t say anything. When Dario walks out, she goes to follow, but my dad grabs onto her waist and pulls her down into his lap.
“I didn’t mean without you, malinkaya .”
She smiles at him and kisses his cheek. “I didn’t know. You were putting out some serious fuck-off vibes.”
His face softens when he looks at her. “Never to you, baby. I was just pissed at the Italian bastard who’s stolen our youngest away from us.” He looks over at me. “And put her in danger.”
“This was my fault, Dad. The plan was working, and everything would’ve been fine, but Leonardo told me he’d gotten to one of the Alessi men and that he was going to kill Dario. I couldn’t just stand back and let it happen.”
He looks at the giant rock on my hand. “You’re not going to be able to throw a good punch with that thing. You’re going to end up with a broken finger. What was he thinking buying you that? Are you sure you want to marry a man who’s that dense?”
I smile and hold up my hand, wiggling my fingers. “Don’t worry. I already gave him the lecture. This was just for show. He’s going to buy me something I can actually wear when we get married.”
“Jesus, I can’t believe this is happening.” He looks at my mom. “Two daughters, both married to Alessi men who could be their fathers.” He’s only half-joking when he asks, “What did I do wrong?”
My mom smiles and kisses him. “You’re the best dad on the planet. Maybe this is a compliment.”
“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say before this conversation can turn really awkward. When I try to sit up, I wince at the pain and my mom jumps up to help.
“I can’t believe you were stabbed,” she says. “Are you really okay? The nurse said the surgery went well and that you’d be fine, but, god, you must be in so much pain.”
She sits on the edge of the bed, keeping my hand in hers as her eyes get all misty again. I look between her and my dad, knowing I have to tell them everything and dreading it all the same.
“What is it?” my mom asks, knowing that something is off and that I’m hiding something.
Before I tell them, I meet my dad’s eyes. “It was my choice to jump in front of that knife. I knew I was going to get stabbed, and I did it anyway, and I wouldn’t change it. Even if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change anything. Okay?”
He leans forward and rests his hand on my arm. “Okay, little witch. I believe you.”
I let out a shaky breath and then I tell them about the damage, about what was taken from me and from them.
They will never have grandkids from Dario and me, and even though my mom tries hard to not break down, she still cries so hard her whole body shakes.
My dad wraps an arm around her, holding her as they grieve the loss of the future they’d always envisioned.
He squeezes my hand, and when he kisses my mom’s head and looks down at me, there are tears in his eyes.
He roughly wipes his face and takes a breath.
“Okay,” he says, and I hear the resolve behind that one word. “You’re alive, and that’s what’s most important. If you ever decide you want kids, then you and Dario can adopt. This isn’t the end of the world, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I say, squeezing his hand back while my mom wipes away her own tears to give me a shaky smile.
“You’re safe. That’s all we care about, honey,” my mom says.
“Dario already knows and so does Sasha. I hate to ask, but would you mind telling the others? I don’t want to say it over and over again.”
“Of course,” my mom says while my dad nods in agreement.
“Do you mind if I talk to Dad for a minute,” I ask my mom. When I add, “It’s Bratva business,” my dad’s eyes widen and my mom gives me a wobbly smile.
“I knew the second you were born that you were going to be special, Mia. When you got older and your personality really started to show, I knew I was right.” She hugs me and kisses my cheek.
“I love you so much, and I’m so glad you’re safe.
I’m not thrilled about your constant need to put yourself in danger, but I’m not going to try and stop you. I love you too much to do that to you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I say, squeezing her back. “I love you, too.”
“I’ll be right outside.” She stops to give my dad a kiss before leaving us alone.
“Bratva business?” he asks once the door is shut.
“I’ve killed two men, Dad, and aside from some unforeseen blips, I successfully completed my first undercover operation.”
“How do you feel about that?” he asks, studying me with the eyes that are identical to my brother’s. “It’s not easy to kill, little witch.”
“No, it’s not,” I agree, “and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to.
” I don’t tell him about Sasha’s lesson at the warehouse.
I know my brother was trying to help, but I’m not so sure our dad would appreciate it.
“When it came down to it, I did it because I knew it was him or me. I didn’t enjoy it like Sasha seems to, but I’ve proven I’m capable of it, Dad, that I can do it when it matters.
It’s all about keeping our family safe, and you know I’d do anything for our family, just like you would. ”
He sighs and wraps his hands around mine. “I still remember exactly how it felt to hold you when you were little. Your hands were so tiny, everything about you was so small, but you were so goddamn fearless.” He smiles at the memory. “You were supposed to grow out of this, little witch.”
“So I’ve been told,” I say, making him smile. Before he can say anything else, I add, “Sasha’s already welcomed me in.”
“Of course he has. I swear you two should’ve been twins.”
“I’m glad we aren’t. I’m not so sure another baby would’ve survived in the womb with Sasha.”
My dad grins. “You’re not allowed to hurt family,” he says, reciting the rules.
I grin back. “He hadn’t been taught that yet.”
“True enough.” He squeezes my hand and lets out a heavy breath. “I’ll talk to your uncles,” he says, making me grin.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re not doing shit until you’re fully healed,” he warns. He waves a hand at the door. “And Dario isn’t going to like this at all, so prepare yourself for that. Are you sure you want to marry him, little witch?”
“I’m sure. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how I felt about him. I had convinced myself it would go away. Plus, I knew you would hate it.”
“Looks like you’re not so different from your big sister after all,” he says, making me give a weak laugh, already feeling in need of another nap.
“He has his heart set on being your favorite son-in-law,” I say.
My dad laughs. “That’ll be the fucking day. At least I got to shoot Dominic before he married your sister.”
“Be nice,” I tell him. “For me.”
“You know I would do anything for you, and I am being nice.” He gives me the dad look. “I think I’m being incredibly nice right now, little witch. ”
“You are,” I say, patting his hand. “Best dad ever.”
He laughs. “You always were a smartass.”
“I’m being serious,” I tell him. “You are. You and Mom are the best parents.”
“You’re definitely right about your mom.
That woman is amazing and hands down the best thing to ever happen to me.
Everyone says you’re just like me, but I see a lot of her in you.
You have her strength, and you love like she does—fiercely loyal with zero hesitation.
Dario’s a lucky man, and he better not ever forget it.
If he does,” my dad says, giving me a wink, “then I get to kill him.”
I squeeze his hand in a shake. “Deal.”
“That makes me feel a little better,” he admits. He keeps holding my hand, and after a few seconds, he says, “If you ever want to talk about anything, you know your mom and I are here for you, right? Anytime. No matter what. You’re not alone, little witch.”
“I know, Dad.” I lift my arms, and he quickly leans in to give me a hug. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, honey.”
He holds me for a while, and I know there will never be a time in my life when I’ll feel like I’m too old for this. When he sits back, he keeps my hand in his, and then he tells me to rest and that he and my mom are staying in Italy for as long as my recovery takes.
Suddenly too tired to even keep my eyes open, I lay my head back, and the next thing I know I’m waking up in the dim hospital room, disoriented and sore.
“It’s okay, Mia.”
Maria’s voice is the last thing I’m expecting, and when I turn my head to see Dario’s mom sitting in the chair by my bed, all I can do is rub the sleep from my eyes and give her an awkward smile.
She hands me a fresh glass of water and then motions to the nearby tray that’s now piled high with containers of food.
“I cook when I’m worried,” she explains. Her back is ramrod straight like usual, but she’s fidgeting with the strap of her purse, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d swear this formidable woman was nervous .
“Thanks for bringing it by,” I tell her. “I bet even in Italy the hospital food is bad.”
My small joke earns me a half-smile. “Are you hungry now?”
She seems so eager to help, so I nod my head and watch her jump up, desperate to do something.
Maria is not the kind of woman who likes to sit still.
She likes to keep busy, and after she’s handed me one of the dishes and a fork, she starts tidying up my room.
I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but there are several vases of flowers situated around the room, some of them look like they came directly from Maria’s garden.
“The flowers are beautiful,” I tell her, “and the food is amazing. Thank you for bringing it.”
She smiles and brings one of the smaller vases over so it can sit on the tray next to me, close enough for me to smell the sweet fragrance.
“I wanted to thank you,” she says when she sits back down again.
“You saved my son’s life. When he first brought you here, I wasn’t as nice as I should have been.
” Her brown eyes meet mine, and I see a glimpse of mischief in them when she admits, “I knew he’d fall for you, and I thought you were too young and too American.
” She’s quiet for a second before she says, “I was wrong about you, and I’m sorry. ”
“It’s okay, Mrs. Alessi,” I start to say, and she shakes her head at me, cutting me off with a “Call me Maria.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Maria, and you don’t have to apologize.
I knew what you were thinking, and I don’t blame you.
You were just worried about your son and wanting what you thought was best for him, but I want you to know that I do love him, and I want to marry him.
” I take in another breath before saying, “I know you want grandkids. I know how important it is to you and Salvatore.”
I’m surprised when she quickly shakes her head and reaches out to pat my thigh.
“Dario wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you, Mia.
You may be young, but you’re old enough to understand what loyalty means to us.
It is everything, and you’ve more than earned your place in this family.
We would be honored to have you as a daughter-in-law. ”
I’m so stunned by what she’s said that it takes me a second to collect myself.
I’m touched, but I’m also feeling more like myself so I don’t burst into tears like I would’ve done had she approached me right out of surgery.
If anyone gets my lack of an emotional outburst, it’s her, because the awkward pat she’s giving my thigh makes it clear it’s the equivalent of a bear hug for this woman.
She’s loving in her own, subdued way, and I can appreciate that.
Salvatore walks in before I can say anything and gives me a boisterous but gentle hug. He’s the exact opposite of his wife in so many ways, but they make it work. He cups my cheeks with his stiff fingers and kisses my forehead.
“So tiny but so fearless,” he says with a smile. “Dario’s chosen well.” Giving me a wink, he adds, “I know you won’t let him get away with shit. That’s good for him. It’s what he needs.”
“I won’t,” I say, returning his smile.
They visit with me for a few more minutes until Dario opens the door and walks in.
He’s paler than usual, and his movements are slower, but when his eyes meet mine, he smiles, revealing those tiny lines that I love so much.
He closes the distance, and I swear something is off.
His body is stiff, so unlike his usual graceful movements, and his jaw is set in a hard line.
“What’s wrong?” I ask when he leans down to kiss me.
“Nothing’s wrong, amore mio .”
He kisses me and then nods to his dad and smiles at his mom. She says something to him in Italian that makes him laugh, and then both his parents are giving me a hug goodbye before leaving us alone.
As soon as they’ve shut the door, I look at Dario. “What the hell are you hiding from me?”