Page 22 of The Mafia's Seamstress

DON’T UNDERESTIMATE A WOMAN WITH A PRETTY SMILE

Ifell asleep again and woke up to darkness. The only light was coming from the crack of my bedroom door. I could faintly hear Luca in the kitchen. I stood up and switched out of my clothes. I tugged on an old shirt and leggings.

Staring at the bed I made a mental note I would have to wash the sheets before bed. With the pain of my migraine subsiding my head now felt numb and drowsy.

Stepping into my living room I was surprised to see Dante, in my kitchen. Cooking. He turned around, surprised.

"Should you be up?" he asked quietly.

"Probably not but the pain is gone. I just feel drowsy," I said, my eyes still squinting at the light. He sighed in relief and went back to the pot on the stove. "Where's Luca?" I asked, making my way towards the kitchen.

"He called and told me what happened. I don't know much about migraines. Broken bones and bullets yes. Migraines? Nothing. But my Nona's chicken soup always makes everyone feel better." He kept his voice soft and low. I tried not to focus on the words broken, bones, or bullets. I felt taken aback though.

"That's really sweet of you," I said hesitating. He moved away from the pot to place a kiss on the side of my head.

"It's my fault for giving you a time crunch. And with everything that has been happening, all the stress." He sighed in disappointment. "Go sit on the couch and I'll bring you food and water,” he said quietly.

“I mean I think I’ve been handling everything pretty well,” I murmured. He cupped my cheek and I leaned into his comfort. I placed a hand on his chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. His eyes crinkled on the sides.

Through the fog clouding my brain I could see the softness of Dante for what it was. Authentic, raw and real. My rattled against my chest as a feeling long forgotten began slowly spreading. Dante pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

“Head to the couch and let me take care of you,” he whispered. I sighed, sagging into his body.

“I’ll listen to you this one time,” I replied, my head buried in his chest. I didn’t want to argue. Maybe I was too tired to but a part of me enjoyed this. I spent so long taking care of myself and others I didn’t know what this felt like. As much as I intrigued Dante, his gentle side intrigued me.

Dante brought over a bowl and settled next to me on the couch. The bowl was warm in my hands. The smell was enchanting. I took a bite and moaned. Dante sighed. The soup tasted amazing and it was exactly what I needed.

After a few more bites I looked at him. "I have a serious question," I said, narrowing my eyes. Dante crossed his arms as he leaned against the couch cushion. He nodded for me to speak. "If I give you a family recipe can you give me this recipe?" I asked. He choked on a laugh, shaking his head.

"You don't have to give me something in return. I'll give it to you freely," he said. My eyebrows furrowed.

"You're not the type of person to just hand things out," I said.

"What can I say? You casted a spell on me," he said. I snorted.

“How?” I asked. A part of me was fishing for compliments and I didn’t care. I wanted to know how I, a simple seamstress, grabbed the attention of a man of his nature. He raised an eyebrow.

“Are you doubtful of your charm? I didn’t think of you as someone who needed their ego stroked,” he said. I blushed in embarrassment.

“I’m confident in who I am and what I’m capable of,” I said, staring into the bowl.

“But?”

“I’m not used to this,” I said, pointing between us. “Ignoring the part that you’re in the mafia—this isn’t something I do,” I confessed. Dante shifted on the couch and tapped my cheek. I met his steady gaze.

“You are beautiful. Fierce, loyal and brave. It’s not hard to fall for you when you make it easy,” he said. I sucked in a breath, staring wide eyed. I had never had someone say such words in a sweet way filled with conviction. A tiny part of me hated that his words touched me so much, that I craved them. I took a spoonful of the soup eyeing him carefully.

"Would you give me anything freely?" I said, going back to the original conversation. His eyes flickered between me and the TV. He scratched the scruff on his cheek before answering.

"I like this side of you," he said.

"What side?" I asked curiously. Dante leaned over and his fingers swept a piece of my hair back behind my ear.

"The side that thinks she can take control," he said. Defiance sluggishly swept through me. The drowsiness was still coursing through me. I set the soup on the table.

This wasn't how I wanted to play our game. Yes I liked control. It wasn't something I had often. Dante knew I had it which is why he kept giving in. Therefore I needed to figure out all of this mafia shit soon.

"Do I need to remind you of how I put you in your place?" I said. He leaned closely and despite my brain running at 5mph my body responded immediately.

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