Page 56 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

“No.” I whisper. “He - “ but now I can’t finish my sentence. My throat closes over the words I want to say.

Nevio waits, holding me.

“He beat me. He - he hurt me.”

“I know sweet, baby girl. I know. And he paid for that.”

“Is he dead?” I ask with bitter anger. I want him to be dead. I want him to have felt pain and met death in the same way he left me to suffer.

“We left him chained to the basement floor wearing nothing. He froze was dead within thirty-seven minutes. He screamed and begged for mercy, bt he found none.”

Inod, satisfied, feeling like some kind of justice was served.

Nevio leans away from me to look at my face.

“The swelling is going down nicely. Are you hungry? Do you want coffee or hot chocolate? What do you need?”

My stomach flips and growls loudly in response. I laugh. It’s a weird sound after everything I’ve been through, but it brings me comfort to still feel a smile on my face.

“Hot chocolate. And a burger and fries.” I grin. It hurts my lip.

“A burger and fries?” he asks, surprised.

I nod.

With a chuckle, Nevio gestures to the man standing just outside my door.

“Please arrange two burgers and fries and some hot chocolate.” He asks, then turns towards me. “I’m staying right here.” He lifts the covers and kicks his shoes off so that he can crawl into bed with me. I snuggle against his chest, trying not to touch my bruised side.

“What did the doctor say?” I ask, wondering how injured I really am because my body feels like I was dragged behind a truck for ten miles.

“One broken rib, fourteen stitches, and some deep bruising. He says the rib will take the longest to heal, but luckily it’s a hairline fracture. You need to rest for two weeks. You’re allowed to walk around, but mostly sleep - good food and a lot of cuddles.”

“The doctor recommended cuddles?” I giggle.

“No, I might have added that part in myself.” He pulls me closer to his body.

I feel him take a deep breath, his chest rising and falling.

“Lila - I was so scared. When I found out you were taken. I have never been that scared in my life.” He swallows. “I’m so sorry I didn’t find you sooner.”

“I knew you would find me, Nev.” I say calmly, looking up at him and seeing the pain in his eyes. “I never doubted it.”

He smiles, and the warmth of it lights his face.

I close my eyes again.

“Baby girl, your father has been around to see you every day since we found you. Yesterday he came over twice, wanting to see you. I haven’t let him in the house. I wanted you to make that choice. It isn’t mine to make.”

I shake my head. “I don’t want to see him.”

“He was there when we found you. He saw you - I think that only in that moment did he realize—”

“I don’t want to see him.” I repeat angrily.

I feel Nev’s hand brush through my hair. “I understand.” He says. “I won’t allow him into the house.”

The week that followed, I felt more like myself. I walked around the house, slept a lot, ate a lot, rested in Nevio’s arms a lot - and kept saying no every time my father came to the house.

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