Page 57 of Claiming His Mafia Princess

The bruises faded to dark brownish yellow marks and eventually disappeared altogether.

At two weeks, the doctor removed my stitches and told me my rib was healing very well.

My body was getting stronger and healthy again, but my heart was still raging about what my father did.

Late one night, sitting on the sofa in the living room with a thick blanket wrapped around me as I lean against Nevio, I am thinking about my father.

The fire crackles loudly, warding off the heavy snow that is piling up on the ground outside.

“Winter is here.” Nevio says, hugging me against his body. My back is resting on his chest, his arms around my stomach.

“It’s really beautiful.” I reply, but my mind is elsewhere.

“Are you ok, Lila? I can see your skin is beautiful, your stitches are gone, you are moving with almost no pain - but your eyes are still distant.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about my father. I think, now that I have seen with my own eyes what he traded me into, I think I hate him. I don’t want to hate him, though. It hurts me to have hate for my father.”

Nevio is quiet for a while, then he talks gently.

“You don’t hate him. You are angry with him - and you have every right to be. At the moment, it’s how you need to feel - and you should feel. Don’t stop yourself from feeling what you need to feel. When the time is right, those feelings might change. You might soften a little. Don’t feel bad for being angry with him, baby girl.”

Hearing him say that I am allowed to feel the way I feel is like someone lifting a heavy weight off my shoulders. Was beating myself up for hating my father, but he’s right. I can be angry. I have a right to feel this way.

I take a deep breath. How is it he always knows exactly how to soothe my worries and make me feel better?

I turn in his arms so that I am lying with my chin resting on his chest as I look up at him.

“Thank you.” I whisper.

And I mean it with all my heart.

“Thank you for coming to rescue me and thank you for taking care of me afterwards - and thank you - for understanding my heart.”

He cups his hand around my chin and presses his lips against mine.

“I will always be here for you, baby girl. No matter what happens.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

NEVIO

Dalila is fully healed, and that bright, beautiful smile is back on her face.

She is laughing again, and the house feels more and more like a home with her around.

I grin as I think about the surprise I have planned for her. I’m taking her somewhere special tonight. She thinks we are just going out to dinner, but actually, I have something very different planned.

It’s five and I’m nervous as I wait for her downstairs in my crisp black suit.

When I see her at the top of the staircase, my stomach flips with tension. How the fuck does she look even more beautiful every single time I see her? How is this possible?

She stands there, smiling down at me, her lips painted red to match the red dress she has chosen to wear tonight. Her black heals and glitter black clutch complimenting everything perfectly.

She has her hair half pinned up in a sort of messy style that has left curls hanging around her face.

I watch as she walks slowly towards me, taking each step carefully because her eyes keep returning to meet mine.

When she reaches the ground floor, she reaches out and pulls herself against me. “Wow.” She says, as her eyes take me in. “You look so freaking sexy.” She laughs. “We don’t have to go out, you know, we can stay home and - “ She grins mischievously.

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