Page 38 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

“Yeah man, I’m sorry about that too. But really, Nevio. I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. She’s —“ He clears his throat. “Your wife is beautiful.”

“You’re speaking about her as though she isn’t right here in the room with us.”

He nods, looking down at the floor.

“Dalila, I’m sorry.” Damion says. It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him being that polite to a woman. He rarely treats them with respect.

Dalila looks from me to him. I shrug. It’s her choice if she wants to accept his apology or not.

“Ok.” she says, after a while and my brother’s shoulder relaxes a little. Then he lifts his chin, trying to regain some of his dignity. His face is still smeared with blood from the fight.

“I’ll head out. I just came to meet - I came to - I’ll let myself out.”

“Good idea.” I say coolly.

I wait, listening for the sound of the front door closing. Then I let out a heavy breath. My fucking brother is an endless source of stress for me.

“He has always been my father’s favorite.” I mutter, more to myself that to Dalila.

“Why? He’s such an asshole.” She says with full sincerity.

I laugh.

I can’t help it.

It’s so funny because more accurate words have not been spoken more plainly.

“He really is an asshole.” I laugh deeper. Then Dalila is laughing, too.

It feels good to just stand here in the kitchen laughing with someone.

Someone beautiful. Someone with a soft and caring heart. Someone who sees through my obvious flaws, who doesn’t look at me as though I am a monster - someone he seems to see me.

“Thank you.” I say after a pause. Brushing my hand across her cheek to tuck a stray curl of hair behind her ear.

“For what?” She asks as she stares up into my eyes, warming my soul.

“For stopping me. From doing something stupid. He really is an asshole, but I was pretty close to breaking his jaw and that would have caused a lot of issues between my father and me.” I grin.

“He wouldn’t have looked a right idiot with his jaw wired shut. And - even better - he wouldn’t have been able to speak properly for a good long time.” She tries to reason with me playfully.

“So, you’re saying I should have broken his jaw?”

“I’m saying he might have deserved it.” She grins.

“I know he did. Even though he is my brother, and I am almost fully certain he wouldn’t have hurt you, just what he did was enough to deserve a broken jaw. I’m so sorry he touched you like that.”

“I’m ok, Nevio.” She says as she nuzzles her face against my chest, wrapping her arms tighter around my back.

“You’re perfect, Lila.” I whisper, with my lips pressed against the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her hair.

At dinner that night, Dalila sits right next to me. It’s the first time she’s done this. She usually sits in the chair opposite, basically as far away from me as she can.

She reaches out beneath the table and touches my leg, drawing my attention to her even though she already has all of it.

“What’s for dinner?”

“I think you should wait and see — the chef should bring it out any second now.” I grin.

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