Page 66 of Dario DeLuca

The alleyway reeksof stale piss and rotten garbage, but I don't give a fuck. My hands clench into fists around the fabric of Mia’s shirt, the need to keep her close consuming me. After last night, it’s like something shifted for us. I’ve had her body numerous times, but last night was different. Last night, the ball was in her court, and she took the winning shot.

I’d staked my claim on her long ago, but I can’t help but feel that was her way of doing the same. It was her way of letting me know that despite everything we’ve been through in the short time we’ve known each other, she wants this. Despite the lifestyle and the murder, she’s choosing me, whether she knows it or not.

“You should stay here. When I’m done at the warehouse, we can go to the hospital together,” I insist.

“I’ll be fine. Renzo will get me there in one piece, and I’ll call you as soon as we arrive. Besides, you have the campaign to worry about and need to take care of the damage from the fire. You can’t be everywhere at once.”

She’s right, but it’s about more than just wanting to protect her. We’ve only been back from Italy for a few hours, and Mia is dying to visit her father. I can’t say I blame her, especially sincewe never gave her an option. After the shooting, the only thing on any of our minds was getting her as far away from it all as possible. And unfortunately, that meant not getting to see her father.

And since I need to meet with my men so we can finally put this fucked up puzzle together, I’ve tasked Renzo with escorting Mia. Aside from Rafael, if there was ever another person I could trust with something as precious as her, it’s him. I know that he’ll die before he lets anyone hurt her, but I must make sure he knows there’s no other option.

With one hand on her hip, I point to Renzo with the other. “If anything happens to her, I’ll break every bone in your fucking body.”

Mia cups my chin, forcing me to look at her. “You trust him, right? He wouldn't work for you if you didn't."

I stare into her eyes, pulling her flush against me, and nod.

Rubbing my shoulder, she says, “Then I'm safe."

Without words, I reach behind my back for my Glock and quickly check the clip, then palm the back of her hand before putting the butt of the gun in hers. “Take it."

She flinches, brow furrowing as she stares at the gun and then up at me. "Dario, I?—"

"You remember how to use it?" I growl out.

She gives a tiny nod, chewing that full bottom lip. Fuck, I want to bite down on it myself.

Instead, I grunt, "Keep it close and shoot first."

Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t argue. Mia nods again. Smart girl, she knows not to mouth off right now, though I won’t lie and say that I don’t miss her fieriness. She still hasn’t returned to normal, but today, the light in her eyes seems a little bit brighter.

I lean in, one hand fisted in her hair to yank her head back. I crush my mouth against hers in a brutal, possessive kissthat tastes like fear and desperation. She whimpers into it, and I deepen the kiss, remapping every soft inch of her with my tongue.

When I finally release her, she's panting, cheeks flushed. "Why do you look like you’re afraid?"

Blinking hard, I push aside the red haze of fury and terror at the thought of losing her. "I am." The admission leaves an acrid taste in my mouth.

I don’t feel fear, never have. Only the weak and the dead know that paralytic emotion. But from the moment I decided she would be my wife, things changed inside me. I cared where I normally wouldn’t and felt pain when I was usually the one inflicting it. She came into my life, fighting me at every turn, showing me she’s someone to fight for. She’s mine and doesn’t even know the type of control she has here.

I may be calling the shots, but she’s somehow become my enforcer.

“Of what?” she asks, breaking my train of thought.

“That I’m going to have to burn this whole fucking city to the ground if something happens to you.”

Her eyes widen, but she doesn't look away. Mia holds my stare, and I guide her into the back seat of the bulletproof SUV. She keeps her eyes locked on me as I gently push her legs into place and let the door slam shut.

She rolls the window down.

"Stay close to Renzo. He knows the second something looks off, he's to haul ass back here with you."

She manages another shaky nod, bottom lip trembling like she's fighting back tears. "Please don't do anything stupid."

My jaw clenches hard enough to creak. What she's asking isn’t possible. "I don't make promises I can't keep, Bella."

With that, Renzo rolls up her window, securing her behind the one-inch thick reinforced glass. Only then do I breathe asthey peel out of the alley, tires slinging puddles of grime in their wake. Using an app on my phone, I punch in a code to the discreet underground garage I had built when I purchased the building. The brick-covered door releases from its track, moving in slightly before sliding open.

As I step inside, my phone rings and I answer it immediately. "Yeah,” I say while approaching the wall that houses an array of guns.

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