Page 24 of Broken Princess

“Benny’s,” I say with a smirk, and he chuckles too.

“He’s going to give you hell for that.”

“It’ll be worth it. I like it when he’s feisty.”

“I’d say too much information, but the walls aren’t that thick here or at home. I already know exactly what you guys like.”

I saunter up to him, taking advantage of the two inches I have on him, looking down and teasing, “Oh, you do, do you? You may think you understand our dynamic, but you most definitely do not. Maybe we’ll show you sometime.” For a moment, I think my words are enough to embarrass him until he straightens up, and it’s like his presence has grown. He steps into my space and slowly walks me back to the wall. Interesting. I let him simply to see how this plays out.

“Ah, Nico. I understand your dynamic perfectly well. Sometimes I think we’re alike in so many ways, but so different in others. I’m glad you found your perfect bratty little switch.” He backs off and thoughtfully adds with a wink, “Maybe one day I’ll find mine.” He turns, heads to the couch and flops down.

Well fuck me, our mild-mannered super geek is a closet Dom.

There’s a rustling of sheets followed by, “When you two are quite done having a mother’s meeting about your kinks, any chance of a coffee?” Aurora asks, her words laced with sleepiness as she stretches and rubs her eyes.

Sinclair nods. “I’m amazed he didn’t bring the coffee machine down here as well.”

“Was going to, but I got distracted by her excellent taste in films,” I say as Sin glances at the screen, and I can tell he’s confused. “Please tell me you know what this is?”

Sinclair shrugs and before I can launch into a lecture of epic proportions, Aurora chimes in. “Sin, I judge you. You’ve forever damaged my opinion of you, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at you the same again. For shame, Sinclair,” Aurora says, her tone thick with sarcasm.

“She’s not wrong, old man.”

“Fuck you both. I came down to ask you if you guys wanted anything from the shop.”

Both Aurora and I say in unison, “Cornetto.” We lock eyes and then burst into fits of hysterical laughter. He’s a heathen if he doesn’t get the reference, they’re called The Cornetto Trilogy for a reason.

“What are you on about? What’s so funny? Stop laughing at me. Gah, I’m surrounded by children!” With that, he storms out the door and we hear his boots stomping up the stairs.

“Should we explain it to him?” she giggles.

“Nah, fuck him. He’ll get over it.” I smirk and wrestle my laughter under control. “Are we carrying on?”

“Yeah, but coffee first.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

AURORA

My head is a chaotic and confusing place to be right now. It feels like it’s engulfed by a fog. One that is suppressing my ability to feel anything. As ever, my handy defence mechanism has hidden the bulk of Max’s abuse from my consciousness, but the fog is stopping me from feeling anything else. I lost my dad, yet I feel absolutely nothing right now. That’s not right. That’s not how a daughter should feel.

But I know the minute it hits me; it will annihilate me. I’m definitely not ready for that level of emotional damage right now. I can barely handle the physical pain as it is. The aching in my ribs ebbs and flows. Sometimes it’s overwhelming and the painkillers barely touch the sides of it. I’ve got to admit, the laughing didn’t help. Fuck, that hurt.

Nico brought the coffee machine down with him this time so he may be my new favourite nurse. Nurse Nico. I keep stealing glances at him while I’m drawn in and out of the film.

Of all of Zo’s team, he’s the biggest mystery to me. I’ve known the members of this crew most of my life and before I got married, it was only Zo, Sin, and Nico. They were an elite team, but they weren’t close. Yes, Zo and Sin were like brothers—they came through the ranks together—but Nico, he was younger and not tight with them. I want to know what’s happened between then and now that has turned that trio of teammates into a family of four.

I’ve been absent for four years, trapped in a prison of my own making. I wonder what else I missed?

It’s like I don’t know them anymore. We weren’t close friends before, but we’ve run in the same circles our entire lives. Even did a few jobs together before I got married. I guess I know Enzo best, but mostly through his older brother. Gianni was on my sister’s protection detail for years. He was like family. He was devastated by my sister’s death.

What I remember most is how loyal they were. Bianchi through and through, and my father recognised and rewarded their dedication to him. I also know back then he protected them from many attempts by the capos to relegate them to less high-profile work. Made Men are all about tradition and hierarchy. For them, having a well-positioned team of unclaimed mafia bastards—men who remind them of the indiscretions they’d rather keep hidden—is unnerving. It upsets the delicate balance.

Personally, I never understood why skilled men are overlooked because of the origin of their birth. Why should children be punished for the sins of their fathers? It’s idiotic. Don’t get me started on how the family treats women. Chauvinist pricks.

“What has you so distracted? You have one of the best action sequences playing out and you’re not even looking at the screen,” Nico pipes up.

“I was thinking about how much has changed in the last four years.”

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