Page 107 of Born into Mayhem

It feels like a lifetime before I feel her fingers twitch in mine.

“Mia?” I ask, lifting from the chair so I can lean in and kiss her face. “Come back to me,amore,” I whisper against her skin. “I don’t do so great without you, little viper. Please, come back to me.”

She moans and whispers my name, but even though it’s barely more than a breath of a sound, it’s still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

“I’m here,amore. I’m right here,” I tell her, kissing her cheek and hugging her as tightly as I dare. I cup the back of her head and rest my forehead against hers. “Do not ever scare me like that again,piccola vipera.”

“Did he hurt you?” she whispers, blinking her eyes open, trying to make sense of what’s going on.

“No, baby, I’m fine,” I tell her.

She lets out a sigh of relief, but then a new fear hits her when she whispers, “Sasha?”

“I’m right here,” he quickly tells her, squeezing her other hand and smiling down at her when I pull my head back so she can see him. “You did good, little witch. Damn good.”

Mia gives a long blink, still groggy and fighting to stay conscious. “He stabbed me,” she groans, and then adds, “Bastard.”

“You killed him for it,” Sasha tells her. He reaches up and squeezes her shoulder, waiting for her to meet his eyes before he says, “I told you that you’d be able to kill when it mattered, little witch.”

She gives him a small smile, and then turns her eyes to mine. “You really didn’t get hurt?”

“No, I didn’t because some tiny, fearless woman jumped in front of me and saved my life.” I run my finger along her jaw, hating how pale she still is. “We’re going to be having a conversation about that when you’re feeling better,” I warn her.

“Something to look forward to,” she whispers.

I can’t help but grin at her tone and say, “There’s my little viper.”

“I’m going to find Sandro and tell him you’re okay,” Sasha says, and I know he’s leaving to give us privacy. “Mom and dad will be here in a few hours.” He leans down and kisses her forehead. He tells her something in Russian that makes her smile and squeeze his hand before he walks out, leaving us alone.

I look at Mia, running my eyes over the woman who owns every single part of me. I have no idea how her dad is going to take the news of us, but I do know he’s going to have to kill me to get me to leave Mia alone.

As long as I’m breathing, she’s mine.

Chapter 18

Mia

My eyelids feel impossibly heavy as I struggle to stay awake. Every part of my body aches, and the pain in my stomach is so intense it makes it hard to breathe, but Dario’s alive, looking down at me like the adorable romantic he is.

“I can’t believe I never noticed what a hopeless romantic you are,” I whisper and then reach for my throat. “Jesus, can I get some water? Why does my throat hurt so bad?”

“Shit, I’m sorry,” he mutters, quickly getting up to pour me a glass of water.

When the straw hits my lips, I close my eyes, savoring the cool, refreshing taste of it. I drink until the glass is empty, and when I hear Dario give a soft laugh and say, “Well, that was quick,” I peel my eyes open to look at him.

“What are you talking about?”

“You still have a catheter in.” He gestures to where a pee bag is evidently hanging and grins. “That has to be a good sign, right?”

“Gross,” I say, too exhausted and in too much pain to care that my urine is on full display.

He leans down and brushes my hair back, his touch so tender it makes my chest ache.

“Nothing is gross between us,amore mio.” He kisses me softly and lets out a shaky breath. “You scared the hell out of me, little viper. I thought I’d lost you.” It takes him several seconds before he can speak and when he does, he says, “I can’t live without you,amore.”

I reach up and run my fingers through his hair. The drugs still have a strong hold on me, and my movements are clumsy and slow, but being able to touch him, to feel him beneath my fingers is worth the extra effort.

“I was so scared I wouldn’t get there in time,” I whisper. “Leonardo told me he’d gotten to one of your men, that he’d set a trap for you. I was so scared.”