Page 112 of Born into Mayhem

“Jesus, I can’t believe this is happening.” He looks at my mom. “Two daughters, both married to Alessi men who could be their fathers.” He’s only half-joking when he asks, “What did I do wrong?”

My mom smiles and kisses him. “You’re the best dad on the planet. Maybe this is a compliment.”

“I’m gonna stop you right there,” I say before this conversation can turn really awkward. When I try to sit up, I wince at the pain and my mom jumps up to help.

“I can’t believe you were stabbed,” she says. “Are you really okay? The nurse said the surgery went well and that you’d be fine, but, god, you must be in so much pain.”

She sits on the edge of the bed, keeping my hand in hers as her eyes get all misty again. I look between her and my dad, knowing I have to tell them everything and dreading it all the same.

“What is it?” my mom asks, knowing that something is off and that I’m hiding something.

Before I tell them, I meet my dad’s eyes. “It was my choice to jump in front of that knife. I knew I was going to get stabbed, and I did it anyway, and I wouldn’t change it. Even if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change anything. Okay?”

He leans forward and rests his hand on my arm. “Okay, little witch. I believe you.”

I let out a shaky breath and then I tell them about the damage, about what was taken from me and from them. They will never have grandkids from Dario and me, and even though my mom tries hard to not break down, she still cries so hard her whole body shakes. My dad wraps an arm around her, holding her as they grieve the loss of the future they’d always envisioned. He squeezes my hand, and when hekisses my mom’s head and looks down at me, there are tears in his eyes. He roughly wipes his face and takes a breath.

“Okay,” he says, and I hear the resolve behind that one word. “You’re alive, and that’s what’s most important. If you ever decide you want kids, then you and Dario can adopt. This isn’t the end of the world, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say, squeezing his hand back while my mom wipes away her own tears to give me a shaky smile.

“You’re safe. That’s all we care about, honey,” my mom says.

“Dario already knows and so does Sasha. I hate to ask, but would you mind telling the others? I don’t want to say it over and over again.”

“Of course,” my mom says while my dad nods in agreement.

“Do you mind if I talk to Dad for a minute,” I ask my mom. When I add, “It’s Bratva business,” my dad’s eyes widen and my mom gives me a wobbly smile.

“I knew the second you were born that you were going to be special, Mia. When you got older and your personality really started to show, I knew I was right.” She hugs me and kisses my cheek. “I love you so much, and I’m so glad you’re safe. I’m not thrilled about your constant need to put yourself in danger, but I’m not going to try and stop you. I love you too much to do that to you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say, squeezing her back. “I love you, too.”

“I’ll be right outside.” She stops to give my dad a kiss before leaving us alone.

“Bratva business?” he asks once the door is shut.

“I’ve killed two men, Dad, and aside from some unforeseen blips, I successfully completed my first undercover operation.”

“How do you feel about that?” he asks, studying me with the eyes that are identical to my brother’s. “It’s not easy to kill, little witch.”

“No, it’s not,” I agree, “and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to.” I don’t tell him about Sasha’s lesson at the warehouse. I know my brother was trying to help, but I’m not so sure our dad would appreciate it. “When it came down to it, I did it because I knew it was him or me. I didn’t enjoy it like Sasha seems to, but I’ve proven I’m capable of it,Dad, that I can do it when it matters. It’s all about keeping our family safe, and you know I’d do anything for our family, just like you would.”

He sighs and wraps his hands around mine. “I still remember exactly how it felt to hold you when you were little. Your hands were so tiny, everything about you was so small, but you were so goddamn fearless.” He smiles at the memory. “You were supposed to grow out of this, little witch.”

“So I’ve been told,” I say, making him smile. Before he can say anything else, I add, “Sasha’s already welcomed me in.”

“Of course he has. I swear you two should’ve been twins.”

“I’m glad we aren’t. I’m not so sure another baby would’ve survived in the womb with Sasha.”

My dad grins. “You’re not allowed to hurt family,” he says, reciting the rules.

I grin back. “He hadn’t been taught that yet.”

“True enough.” He squeezes my hand and lets out a heavy breath. “I’ll talk to your uncles,” he says, making me grin.

“Thanks, Dad.”