Page 113 of Born into Mayhem
“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 thedadlook. “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 collectmyself. 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.
