Page 97 of Born into Mayhem
“It’s not, but I’m not all that surprised that it does,piccola vipera.”
I’m not about to deep dive into the psychology of that or what it says about me, so I rest my head on his shoulder as he carries me inside. The staff that we pass do an excellent job of pretending they don’t realize I’m topless, and when we get back to our room, he carries me straight into the bathroom for a hot shower and to clean my arm so it doesn’t get infected from the swim.
It isn’t until the next day at lunch that everything changes. We’re at the table with everyone else when a man walks in and quickly offers what I’m assuming is an apology in Italian. Dario squeezes my thigh before getting up and walking out the door with him. He’s only gone for a few minutes, but when he comes back, he says something to his dad and brother in Italian. I see his mom’s body grow even more rigid than usual before she shoots me a quick look. The woman is a pro at giving a poker face, so I have no clue what’s been said, but it’s painfully obvious that something has happened.
“I think the fun’s about to begin,” Sasha says in Russian. “You ready, little sis?”
My eyes dart to Dario’s. “What happened?”
Unlike the excited look in Sasha’s eyes, Dario looks more resigned than anything when he says, “He’s going to make a move soon. We haveour men scouting the area, and several Fontana men have been spotted.” His dark eyes meet mine, and I can see what it’s costing him when he says, “He’s coming for you,streghetta mia, and I have to step aside and let him.”
Ignoring everyone else, I stand and make my way over to him. As soon as I’m close enough, he cups my face, and I grip his wrist, leaning into his touch.
“It’s only for a little bit,” I remind him. “And you’ll be watching me the whole time.”
I can tell my words do nothing to comfort him, but he still nods and leans down to place a kiss on my forehead.
“We need to act soon, Dario,” Sandro reminds him.
Dario grits his teeth, but instead of answering his brother, his eyes stay locked on mine. After what feels like an eternity, he says, “I guess it’s time I gave you your wedding present.”
I raise a brow but don’t say anything as he grabs my hand and leads me down the hall, to the far end of the house that I haven’t explored yet. Opening a door, we step into a sprawling four-car garage. I see his Ferrari parked next to Sandro’s Porsche. There’s also a Lamborghini and a motorcycle that I’m immediately antsy to try, and when he pulls me that way, my heart gives an excited jump, but it’s not the beautiful Ducati he brings me to—it’s the pink Vespa that I hadn’t even noticed was parked off to the side.
I point to the Ducati. “That’s what you got me, right?”
He snorts out a laugh. “Amore mio, your feet wouldn’t even be able to touch the ground on that thing.” He pats the seat of the pink Vespa. “This is more your size, and it’s exactly what Leonardo will be expecting my beautiful little wife to be driving.” He grabs the matching pink helmet. “I got my wife a present, you were so excited and you begged me to let you take it for a drive, I said yes because you have me completely whipped, and then you went and got your cute little ass lost. It won’t take long for him to grab you. This is the exact opening he’s been waiting for.”
I look at the Vespa while he says, “We spread the word that we’reflying back to America tomorrow. Leonardo won’t miss this chance. He knows it’s the only one he’s going to get.”
I’m about to tell him that it’ll be okay, but he grabs my hand and leads me back into the house. “Come on, we need to hurry, and I’m not letting you leave without your knives.”
We pass Sandro on the way upstairs. He’s on his phone, doing that Italian speed-talking thing, and when we get close to our room, I see my brother going into his, knowing he’s doing the same thing I’m about to do.
Dario strides across our room, grabbing the knives I’d left out on the top of the dresser. I hurry and roll up my jeans so I can put on an ankle sheath. When it’s attached, he hands me one of the smaller knives that I can tuck up against my inner ankle. With my jeans pulled down, it’s impossible to see, and when I stand back up, he silently hands me a small switchblade. He watches as I lift my shirt and clip it to the center of my bra so it lies vertically against my chest. Before I can put my shirt back down, he stops me and grazes his fingers along my skin.
He looks like he wants to tell me so many things, but instead he pulls his hand back and gives me my forearm sheath.
“If he pats me down, I’m fucked,” I tell him.
“It won’t matter because I’ll be right behind you.”
He helps me attach my last knife, the one he gave me for my birthday, and when I look up at him, I say, “This really is the best present anyone’s ever given me.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up in the tiniest of smiles. “I know what my girl likes.”
He pulls me against him in a tight hug, cupping the back of my head as I press the side of my face against his chest.
“If you ever doubt how much I love you, remember this moment,amore mio, because this is breaking my goddamn heart, but I’m letting you do it anyway.”
“I know, and I love you so much for it,” I tell him, hugging him even tighter. I breathe in his scent and listen to the steady beat of his heart until we know we’ve waited as long as we can.
Tipping my head back, I meet his dark eyes. “I’ll be safe. I promise.”
He nods and runs his eyes over my face like he’s memorizing every single detail, and then he brings his mouth to mine, kissing me like he’s afraid it’ll be the last time. My heart breaks at the sadness in it, at the way he groans as if he’s in pain, even as he kisses me with a tenderness that makes my chest ache.
“I love you, Dario,” I tell him when our lips part.
“Ti amo,Mia,” he whispers back. “Keep yourself safe, little viper, no matter what it takes.”
