Page 56 of Doll's Eye

“Massimo,” I mock him.

He sighs heavily through the phone. “I know you can handle her, but I’m beginning to think she’s more than just audacious these days. I’ve ignored the problem for too long.”

“She’s just a little girl inside a woman’s body who never got the attention she craved. I almost feel bad for her,” I mutter.

“Don’t feel sorry for the overprivileged rich girl,” he muses, making me smile.

I chuckle. “You’re right about that. So, you have daddy issues. Boohoo.”

“Well, now you’re just being mean.” His voice dips down low. “That’s still my sister you’re talking about. You might have to pay for that last comment.”

“I look forward to it.” I grin.

“Little psycho,” he mutters. “You coming home soon?”

“I am. Leaving in probably ten minutes or so.”

“Might as well head right upstairs when you do.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I love you. Be safe.”

“Always. I love you too.”

I hang up the phone smiling from ear to ear like a dumbass. “Alright, Mamma.” I pack up my stuff and lean down to kiss her cheeks. “I love you, and I can’t wait till you come back to us. We need you. Now, more than ever.”

Chapter twenty-nine

Massimo

“How is she?” Santino asks from beside me as we sip on our dark liquor.

“Still trying to be strong.”

“Sheisstrong.”

“You know what I mean,” I grumble. “She doesn’t even want to postpone the wedding and spends her time either finalizing it or here tendering to your mother.”

“Fia’s concerned.”

“Aren’t we all?” I watch Alessia talk with her sister and Fia. All of us still dressed from the funeral at the Bonetti estate. Alessia still hasn’t had any breakdown. If she has, it’s been in private, and she hid it well, but I’m reasonably sure she hasn’t, and she’s still painfully holding it together. “I think she’ll be okay though. It’s been less than a month since it happened. There’s still plenty of time for her to concede to her grief.”

I feel his eyes on me as I keep mine on my woman. “So, you love her,” he states flatly.

“I do.” I sip my drink.

“And you’re going to marry her.”

“I am.” I turn my head towards him. “I hope you don’t expect me to ask any of you for your permission. I already got it from your father.”

“You know damn well Alessia will do whatever the fuck she damn well pleases. Permission or no permission. Blessing or no blessing.”

“One of the many things I love about her.”

He snorts. “I suppose you’re one of the rare few capable of handling her.”

I turn my attention back to her. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”