Page 9 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince

DARIO

W hen I hear my mother’s scream, I rush up the ridge, taking long strides until I’ve reached the top. My mother is sitting on the ground, her hand to her chest. At first, I think she’s having a heart attack, but then I notice Siena not far away.

Siena is on the ground too, lying on her back, breathing raggedly. Seeing that my father is tending to my mother, I rush to Siena and kneel at her side.

“Siena? What happened? Are you okay?”

“I’m—winded,” she pants. “But—fine.”

“What happened?”

“The rocks gave way,” my father says in a low growl. “I didn’t react quickly enough. Marcela was going to fall, but Siena acted fast. She saved her son. She saved your mother’s life.”

I gently take Siena by the shoulders. “I’m going to sit you up, okay? See if it will help with your breathing. I’m going to do it slowly because you may be injured.”

She nods. “O… kay.”

Softly, I guide her to a sitting position, and then slowly rub her back in circles. She slowly begins to breathe steadily.

“I think I’m okay,” she says slowly.

“Nothing feels broken?”

“There’s not much pain. Just a little.”

“Or you’re just stronger than most.”

“Siena, sweet girl, you saved my life,” my mother says, rushing over, her hands clasped to her chest.

“I don’t understand. I scouted this spot yesterday. The rocks weren’t loose. I wouldn’t have brought you up here if I thought there was even a slight chance something like this could happen.”

“This isn’t your fault,” I tell her sternly. “The location was fine for the other two photo shoots. You couldn’t have known this was going to happen.”

“He’s right, Siena,” my mother says. “You’re my savior. Siena the Savior. That’s your new name.”

“We should head back,” my father mutters. “Son, will you help Siena?”

“I’m fine.” Siena stands, wincing.

“Don’t be so proud,” I tell her, offering my arm. It’s the same thing I told her when she refused a hand to get back into the rowboat. She appears to have difficulty accepting help.

She squeezes my arm, then leans heavily against me. “I think it’s shock more than anything.”

“That’s understandable. But whatever happened, it would’ve been much, much worse if you weren’t there. My mother’s right; you’re a savior.”

“I’m just glad she’s okay.”

“She is. Because of you.”

We reach the bottom of the ridge a minute after my parents, since Siena is walking slowly. Evidently, my mother has already told everyone about what happened. The group is already making its way back through the palm trees toward the beach as they discuss what happened.

Eddy has lingered behind as if waiting for us, but it’s not to make sure we are okay. He marches up to us, glaring at Siena. “What the hell happened?”

“Whoa, Eddy. Back off.”

He ignores me, pointing a finger at Siena. “I want answers. Now. How did Marcela almost fall? Weren’t you paying attention? I know you’re a rookie, but?—”

“Back off or I’ll break your fucking jaw,” I snarl.

Eddy takes a step back, looking at me like he’s ready for a fight. I know I should calm down, but there’s this fire in me sometimes. It comes with the mafia life, with the things I have to do. Violence. Howling at the moon like a goddamn wolf.

“Get ahold of yourself, nephew.”

He’s right. I know he is. Siena’s watching me, I can feel it. I can’t let her see the darkness inside, or let her know who I really am.

“Siena has been through a lot today, Eddy. She doesn’t need you making it worse. If she wasn’t there, who knows what would’ve happened to Mother and Father? You should be thanking her.”

“Dario, it’s fine,” Siena says.

It’s not, but I can hear the nervousness in her voice.

I stare at Eddy, waiting for him to back down…

Or not. For a while now, I’ve suspected him of regretting his decision to back away from the consigliere spot. Sometimes, I wonder if the only reason he didn’t want to be second-in-command is because he preferred the idea of being Don.

Of replacing my father.

He storms off.

Siena looks up at me, concern in her honey eyes. “That was intense.”

“I didn’t like the way he was speaking to you.”

“I can’t afford to fall out with my client’s brother, Dario,” she says. “You should’ve let me handle it.”

“Regular customer-service stuff wouldn’t work on Uncle Eddy. He needed a firm hand, and that’s what I gave him.”

“Now, he’s going to have it out for me.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

She pushes away from me, her touch burning into my side. “I don’t need you to protect me.”

“If that’s the story you want to go with, fair enough, but I’m not going to just stand here while he insults you.”

“You can play the knight in shining armor all you want. It doesn’t mean I’m going to throw myself at you.”

Something feral awakens in me, and I grip her waist, pulling her close and looking into her eyes. She gasps and gazes up at me. “And you can pretend you’re indifferent all you want, but that doesn’t mean I can look past it all.”

“Let me go,” she whispers.

“Say that like you mean it.”

“Dario!”

Reluctantly, I release my hold. She straightens her top.

“Maybe my reasons for helping you aren’t completely selfish.”

“You’re a jaw-breaking Good Samaritan, are you?”

“That was a little extreme, I’ll admit that, but my heart was in the right place.”

“I’ll humor you. If you’re not just trying to get in my pants, why on earth would you want to help me, huh?”

“You present a tough front to the world with your sassy eye rolls and your take-no-shit attitude, but I think, inside, you’re more nervous and vulnerable than you’d ever admit… to anyone.”

She flinches, then hardens her expression. “Maybe you’re not as good at reading people as you think.”

“It’s in the way you fidget, moving like you’re going to bite your fingernails, then lowering your hand like you’re pissed at yourself for even thinking about it.

It’s the way you laugh, like it’s a shock to you, like you’re not used to laughing–almost like you feel bad about it. It’s the guilt in your smiles, Siena.”

Her stern expression turns crestfallen. For a moment, I almost think she’s going to cry. Her eyes glimmer with unshed tears.

“We should get back,” she murmurs.

“I’m not wrong, though, am I?”

She doesn’t answer, instead walking ahead. I hurry after her and offer her my arm.

“I’m okay now,” she says.

“What have I told you about being proud?”

She leans against me. “You’re persistent, aren’t you?”

“Only with things that matter.”

We walk through the palms together. Emerging onto the beach, I see that my mother and father are waiting for us. The rest of the party has dispersed. My mother’s face lights up when she sees Siena leaning on me.

“How are you feeling?” she asks.

“Great,” Siena says, standing up straighter and letting me go.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m ready to go–ready to work.”

“That’s not what I meant, sweet girl,” my mother says. “I wanted to ask, will you join us for lunch? It will be a small affair.”

“You don’t have to,” I say, reading the indecision on Siena’s face.

“Of course she doesn’t have to,” my father says. “She knows she doesn’t have to. We’re not going to force her. But we want to say thank you for what you did, Siena. If you weren’t there…” He wraps an arm around my mother. “I can’t bear to think about it.”

Siena smiles shakily. “Sure, that sounds nice. I’ll get showered and changed and then meet you…”

“In our suite,” my mother says.

“Okay, see you there.”

“Do you want some help to get back to your room?” I ask.

“I’m not an invalid,” she says testily, walking away.

My father chuckles. “She’s got some spunk, that girl.”

“I think she’s great,” my mother murmurs dreamily.

So do I.