Page 10 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

“Better than dead,” I can’t stop smiling, it’s weird, “engaged. And getting married in about five hours, so wake the fuck up and get over here. I need help.”

“I need more than a lame ass joke to get me out of this cozy bed. Are you high? Drunk? Did you get hit on the head?” She sounds genuinely worried now.

“Lucia, get over here and I will explain everything.” I say, “do not tell anyone, for now, this is a secret.”

“If I get there and you are about to kiss-the-bride with a blow-up doll, I am having you committed into a psych ward. Do you hear me? Ugh. Fine, I’m coming. Dad isn’t home, and mom drank her body weight in chocolate tequila last night. She’ll be comatose until at least three.”

Thank God for small mercies.

“Wear something pretty, please.” I add, she sounds like hell, she’ll look like hell. “There will be pictures taken.”

“You are so fucking lucky I love you.” I can hear her groaning, “Thirty minutes. And for the record, you will owe me huge.” Oh, I have no doubt I will pay dearly for this favor. I pour a second coffee and wait for Lucia to arrive.

“Nevio,” her voice could wake the dead. I rush to intervene before she yells again.

My finger to my lips I shush her, “what the fucking fuck is going on?” she whisper yells at me. “Where is dad? Did he sleep here?”

I shake my head and usher her into the kitchen to explain what is going on.

Lucia might be a brat, but she is a smart brat — nothing gets by her unnoticed. As I tell her the story of last night, her frown lines get deeper. “Dalila Vece is in your bed, and you are going to marry her at noon?” When she says it slowly like that, it does sound rather insane.

“Yes, and yes.” She nods, then shakes her head. “Oh God, Lucia, please just get me a white dress that will fit her, some flowers and two rings. That is your assignment. That and shut your trap and do not tell anyone.”

“Those are very conspicuous purchases. I won’t actually need to say anything, and people will be talking.” She points out.

“Send someone then.” I sigh. She is going to waste time. “I need to get a suit and make sure of a few details.” Like calling my father, who is probably in the city apartment with his whore.

“You’re not joking, are you?” She asks again to make sure, and to answer her, all the proof she needs - Dalila walks in with bedroom hair and tired eyes. “Oh, ok. You are serious. Fuck.”

My sister’s jaw drops, then she snaps back to reality and greets Dalila.

“Hi,” Dalila says shyly, walking towards the smell of coffee, and towards me. “You told your sister?” She asks me softly.

“You’re going to marry Nevio?” Lucio asks her, “today? Because he won you in a poker game?” I think my sister is trying to check if I have kidnapped her or not.

“I did not kidnap her, force her, or in any other way harm her. Her brother arranged this. We don’t know why but it is obviously serious so we will do as we are told, Lucia. Like go get a dress and flowers!” She rolls her eyes and Dalila laughs. Her smile is gorgeous. Even like this, in all of her not-so-morning-glory, she’s stunning, and I can’t take my eyes off her.

My sister taps away on her phone, leaning against the counter, occasionally looking over at me and Dalila as if she might be hallucinating and just wants to double check.

“I have nothing to change into.” Dalila whispers, turning her back to my sister, her cheeks flushed with a pink blush.

“I’m sure I have something.” The thought of her in my clothes has me growing hard against my pants. Fuck. Not now.

Flashbacks of last night have me heating up, and I’d rather not have those thoughts in front of my baby sister. I take her back to my bedroom and lay a white shirt on the bed for her.

“That should be good until Lucia gets a dress.” Her blushed cheeks get redder and she nods. If I don’t leave her to shower, I’ll ruin my wedding night on my wedding morning. I back out of the room and go make sure my sister has understood the assignment.

“A messenger will be around with some dresses for ‘me’ to try on in about an hour, and I arranged for Cousin Leon to bring me some flowers. I lied through my teeth and said they were for a friend, so we get whatever he sends. Anything else?” She quips with a slanted smile. She can’t believe this anymore than I can.

“No, thank you for helping me.” I say as my driver comes in with my tuxedo he’s collected. “I think I can manage the rest.”

“The fact that you think you can manage Dalila Vece tells me you can’t manage shit, but okay? When can I spill the tea?” She folds her arms and glares at me with a wicked grin.

“Later, after it’s done.” I say, “I mean it Lucia, this isn’t some funny joke or latest gossip. Her brother hinted that they’re in trouble. I promised I’d keep her safe and do this.”

My sister looks disappointed, but I know she understands when I say trouble — we do not go looking for it.

“Fine, you guys always have all the fun.” She sighs, “I swear to god, if my other brother doesn’t have a real wedding and make me maid of honor, I’ll be pissed. I’ve been robbed of my of sibling duty.”

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