Page 34 of Little Rabbit

“Damn, you’re doing better than me,” I grin. “I learned just enough Spanish in school to make passable conversation, but that’s about it. I tried to learn Greek in college, but yeah, that was a terrible failure. But I would like to learn Italian. Maybe then I can figure out what Alessio keeps calling me.”

“What does he call you?” she asks curiously.

“Coniglietto,” I manage to get out, mangling it slightly.

Her face softens. “It means little rabbit. Awww, that’s so sweet. Though I don’t think he called you that when you had a knife to his throat.”

I grin. “He did, but I don’t think it was in the sweet way, more like in a I’m going to kill you, little rabbit, kind of vibe. And what does cara mia mean?”

“My dear. Usually it’s in a sweet endearing way to a woman that you’re close to or have an affection for.”

I snort. “I don’t think affection is what Alessio is feeling for me. If anything, it’s frustration and maybe a strong dislike.”

Gia gives me a yeah-right look. “I may not know Alessio super well, but what I do know is that he is very protective of you, and if he didn’t want you around, I don’t think you would be. When he realized I wanted Nico, he backed off right away, and from there he’s only ever been friendly. I hear his brothers talking about some woman that really wanted his attention one time, and he straight up ignored her. So I think that if he really wanted you out of the way, he’d have dropped you off in a room like this one and left you with someone else, his job done. But from the sound of things, that’s not at all what he did.”

“Or he’s trying to make me give in to this contract or whatever it is,” I say with a roll of my eyes.

Gia shakes her head. “No. Marco was the one who promised me to Alessio, and since I married Nico, the contract is null and void. Technically Father or Uncle could promise you to Dante or Rafaele Parisi, but Dante rejected the contract. Rafaele Parisi is the one we need to be careful of, but the only way Alessio would have a contract for you is if my father or uncle offered you up to him or Pietro, or, I guess, in some weird way, if Nico did. But he would never do that,” she rushes to add.

I frown. “So there is no marriage contract?” Gia shakes her head again. “That fucking worm,” I hiss, letting her go and stalking away to pace. “He’s been telling me this entire time the reason he wants me to come here, well mostly, is because he plans on marrying me due to that contract. It’s all a lie?”

“Maybe he really just likes you?” Gia offers with a weak shrug.

“Or he’s on a power trip and trying to trick me into marrying just for shits and giggles. Or, maybe, he never planned on marrying me at all, and he only used that to get me here.” Why does that piss me off so much? Like he’s lied to me over and over.

Gia leans against the wall and regards me curiously. “I can’t say I have any experience with men and what goes on in their heads, but sometimes it’s as simple as they see a woman they want and they do whatever they have to to get her.” She gives me a wry smile. “I mean, at least Alessio talked to you first. Nico just kidnapped me.”

She says it so calmly that it takes me a moment to register what she’s just said. I whip around and stare at her. “Wait, what? He kidnapped you? Why?” And why the hell did she stay? But I keep that thought to myself.

“Because he could. Men in this world, few of them ever date, or try to woo a woman to marry them. They have women that throw themselves at them, or options to marry through mergers and marriage contracts. And sometimes, they see a woman they want and just take her. Nico saw me at the library, and being the nosy guy he is, when he couldn’t find out anything about me, it made him curious and he kidnapped me. Don’t get me wrong, I tried to escape constantly, but eventually I started to see a different side of him. A side that a mafia boss won’t want the outside world to ever see.”

“You mean, he likes to dress up in women’s clothes and put on his own fashion shows?” I joke lightly.

Gia sputters out a laugh. “No, but now I’m going to have to suggest that just to see what he says. What I mean is he’s got a softer side just for me. I don’t think anyone gets to see it outside of me, and honestly, that’s what makes him so special to me. Well, that and the sex is out of this world.”

“Yeah, I could see that. He is hot.” I fan my face, and her grin widens. “So I guess despite the unconventional start, the two of you work. But that doesn’t mean Alessio and I will be the same.”

“Have you talked to him at all about what he wants?”

I give her a droll look. “Kind of hard when I’m trying to run away from him.”

Gia chuckles. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

“Honestly, half the time he talks to me, he’s trying to order me around, so we spend a lot of time fighting and arguing.”

“Yeah, Nico and I did that too. I finally got so mad that I just spit out everything I was thinking and feeling and he started to understand. Not that it changed anything with regards to him constantly wanting to know where I am or chasing me around everywhere. But he takes into account my thoughts and feelings on things more now, instead of acting like any other Don out there that expects you to jump when he tells you.”

“How long have you two been married?”

She purses her lips. “I think close to three weeks now.”

I gape at her. “You’re newlyweds? Wow, really? That’s amazing. So is this some kind of honeymoon or something?”

“I guess you could call it that,” she giggles. She explains how she managed to get here and I can’t help but laugh. “So, yeah, Nico told me that we would stay so that I could relax, but we’re going to have to go back soon. He’s left his head of security in charge since Dante is here with us, but he won’t want to be away from there too long.”

“And you’ll go back with him?”

She nods. “I can’t imagine he’s going to want to leave me here. He’s not all that big on letting me be far away from him. Though I suppose if things get bad in New York with everything going on, he might not have a choice.”

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