Page 32 of Born into Mayhem

DARIO:

The inner thigh, maybe the underside of your breast, or maybe I’ll just bite one of your perky little ass cheeks. You’ve given me a lot to think about.

I refuse to let those words or the visual that springs to mind sidetrack me.

ME:

You’re not biting me.

DARIO:

I believe I already did.

ME:

You’re infuriating.

DARIO:

And you’re delicious. I can still taste you on my tongue, streghetta mia.

ME:

I’m about to spend the day with my family, and I’m going to have to lie and tell them I accidentally got hurt during training.

DARIO:

But we both know it’s because I bit you when you wouldn’t submit to me. Every time you see that mark in the mirror, every time you run your tongue over it, I want you to remember how good it had felt to have me dominate you, little viper.

ME:

You’re infuriating and delusional.

I type the message knowing it’s bullshit, and his quick response makes it clear he knows it too.

DARIO:

Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart. Are you wet for me right now?

I don’t answer, and a minute later I get another text.

DARIO:

That’s what I thought. Your sweet pussy tells me the truth, streghetta mia, even when you don’t want to.

Pushing Dario from my mind as best I can, I walk out and eat breakfast with my brother before he takes us over to Dominic and Nat’s. There’s no way to get away from the Alessi family when my older sister is married to one of them, but I take comfort in the fact that Dario will most likely not be here today. We’re all meeting here to visit with Max and Talia and to see Luka and Lara’s daughter again. Ihaven’t seen Mira since the hospital visit, and it’s been months since I’ve seen Max. He works for the Medvedev Bratva for half the year so Talia can spend time with her family, and then they spend the rest of the year here. It’s been a compromise for everyone, but so far it’s all been working out, and the way I see it is there’s a spot that needs filling with Max gone for six months at a time, and I’m just the person to fill it.

At some point I’m going to get my dad and uncles together and convince them of this.

Everyone is already here when Sasha pulls his bike up to the front, and I’m relieved to not see any sign of Dario’s Ducati or Porsche. Lucia opens the door before we can even knock, pulling us both in for a quick hug before waving us in to join the others. Nat’s house always smells amazing. Lucia has been teaching her how to cook some authentic Italian dishes, and I swear every time I walk through their front door my stomach starts growling.

Today is no exception, and when Lucia hears it, she smiles and says, “Go fix a big plate, Mia. You’re too thin. You need to eat more.”

She’s been telling me this for years, and I always take whatever she wants to feed me with a grateful smile, because the woman is an amazing cook. We walk into the crowded kitchen, and as soon as my dad sees me, he yells loud enough for everyone to hear, “What the hell happened to your face, Mia? Who hurt you?”

“I’m fine, Dad,” I say, while Sasha gives a soft laugh that only I can hear and then walks off to get some food, leaving me the center of attention and hating every second of it. “I messed up during my last training session. It was my fault.” I force the words out, knowing Dario would have a field day at hearing me say it. I can easily picture the way the corner of his mouth would be fighting a smug grin, and I’m insanely grateful that he’s not here to witness it.

Just as I think the words, it’s as if I’ve conjured him into existence because my dad looks past me and says, “Why the hell did you hit my daughter?”