Page 89 of Mafia Don's Twisted Proposal
That’s Santi’s voice. I open my eyes to find both of my brothers in front of me, having just emerged from between the buildings I was dragged through.
Neither of them have pulled their weapons yet, but they look just as deadly and untouchable as Lorenzo. Gael goes toward Lorenzo. Santi crouches in front of me, his face unreadable.
“Are you hurt?” he asks.
I shake my head, feeling fragile in a way that I hate. I want to be strong, tough enough to handle this world because I know that I want to be with Lorenzo.
The relief I felt the moment I saw him solidified the decision I’d been dancing around.
I want to be with him. I feel safe at his side, in his arms, and I know that if he feels even a fraction of the love and affection that I do, we can make this marriage work. No matter how fucked up our beginning was.
But if I fall apart every time danger crops up, how can I be at his side?
With that thought in mind, I reach out for Santi, silently asking him to help me up. He takes my hands and pulls until I’m on my feet again.
I force my spine straight and let out a long exhale. I feel like I’m pushing all the fear from my body with that breath, just letting it all go.
Lorenzo is suddenly in front of me, and I note that he’s pulled off his suit jacket. Based on the flecks of blood on his shirt and neck, I’m guessing it was covered and he removed it for my sake.
But I’m not going to freak out. I’m going to be strong, damn it.
I’m going to show Lorenzo that I’m so much more than the daughter of a powerful man. I’m meant to be his mafia wife.
“Are you okay?” he asks, cupping my face with his big hands. “I’m sorry it took me a moment to get to you. I was trying to keep out of your line of sight, to give you space, but that meant I was too far away to stop that son of a bitch from taking you.”
There’s remorse in his eyes, but it’s unnecessary.
“You saved me,” I say. “Again.”
Placing a hand on his chest over his heart, I look up into his eyes.
“And I’m done with space. To hell with keeping your distance. I want you with me.”
He kisses me, and I can feel all the affection and happiness and longing he has poured into it. He takes charge, claiming me with the rough contact of our lips and the clashing of our tongues.
God, I missed this.
“Alright, you two.” Gael’s voice cuts through the haze. “That’s enough of that. I don’t need to see my baby sister being mauled by a man covered in blood.”
Lorenzo pulls away, but his eyes promise that we’ll pick this up later.
“What did you find?” he asks Gael.
“Got his wallet and phone. Messages show that he texted someone when he saw us at the market, sharing a plan to kidnap Mia for ransom.”
“Do you know him?” Lorenzo asks.
“No, but the tattoo on his wrist tells me he’s one of the Demonios. It’s a local gang that we’ve had to deal with a few times. They think they’re tough shit, and we’ve put them in their place when needed.”
“But now they’ve crossed a line,” Santi adds. There’s a cold calmness about him that belies the anger I know he feels. “A direct attack on one of our own means their end.”
Those ominous words settle over us, and I feel an unexpected rush of gratitude for my family. They already care about me so much that they’re going after the gang behind my attempted kidnapping.
Lorenzo saved me, and my family is prepared to avenge me.
I have a feeling I’ll never experience that sense of not belonging again.
“I’ve got a few men coming to clean up this mess,” Gael says. “I’ll wait here for them. Santi, you get the girls back to the compound.”
