Page 5 of Little Rabbit

She doesn’t react to my knowing her best friend’s name, or my nonchalance about the cameras. Instead, she leans against the opposite counter and crosses her arms over her chest, unimpressed. “I still don’t hear you telling me who you are and why you’re following me.”

Her sass has my cock twitching in my pants, and my smile growing. Who knew I would relish such a sassy mouth? Makes me wonder what she would do if I was to force her to her knees and fuck it, but that’s something to wonder about later. Instead I say conversationally, “Consider us concerned citizens.” I don’t know why I’m dragging this out, but damn, it’s fun and I’m enjoying myself far more than I should be.

She blinks at me, then snorts. “Concerned citizens stalk a woman for two days? Try again. Now, I’m only going to ask you one more time. Who are you, and why are you following me? If you’re not going to tell me, then leave.”

“Who do you think we are?” I ask.

She glares at me, clearly frustrated. “I’m not doing the ‘answer questions with a question’ thing,” she snaps. Then she looks at Lazaro. “You. You can tell me if he’s not going to.” Lazaro stands there silently, knowing better than to speak.

“Cara mia, you are so different from your sister, and it’s refreshing,” I remark, unable to help myself. That makes her pause, and she slowly turns back to look at me. I’ll give her props for not losing her cool; not a single muscle moves in her expression. “Your sister is growing into her fire, though. Her husband is seeing to that.”

“Who are you?” she asks again. She doesn’t even comment on the bomb I’ve just dropped.

“My name is Alessio Caruso.” I keep the charming smile on my face, even as I watch her carefully. Our name is well known across Europe, and even in her sheltered life with her adoptive family, I’m sure she’s heard it. The only reaction I get is the slightest widening of her eyes, but otherwise, her expression doesn’t change. “And this is my security, Lazaro,” I add with a nod of my head toward the man.

She waits a moment, and then she gives a soft chuckle, surprising me. That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting, but clearly Sienna Harris is no ordinary woman. Finally, she says, “And what would the son of one of the biggest mafia families in Europe be doing in my home? And, just who do you think my family is? I assume you’re talking about my biological family, not the one who raised me.”

That answers the question of whether she knows she’s adopted. That won’t devastate her at least, though I imagine everything else I’m about to tell her is not going to go over as well. Especially since I can already see her mind working, trying to figure out the connection.

“I’m here to take you to meet your family,” I say simply. No need to waste any more time. “And I don’t think, I know who your family is. Honestly, I think you could have chosen a far better one to be born into, though your sister is the only exception. The rest of your family leave much to be desired.”

“And their names?”

“Your parents’ names are Leonardo and Luisa De Luca. You have five, well four now, brothers, and one younger sister. You also have an uncle, who has three sons of his own, and possibly a couple female cousins, though we’re working on that mystery.”

Her face gives away no recognition of the name. “Where are they?”

“New York City, though they are currently a bit…scattered.”

“How do you know them?”

“Now, that’s where it gets a bit complicated,” I say, pulling out one of the stools she has tucked against the island and taking a seat. We’re going to be here awhile; why not make myself comfortable?

She narrows her eyes and says tightly, “I’m sure you can uncomplicate it, Mr. Caruso.”

“Alessio, cara,” I correct. “I have a feeling we’re going to be friends by the end of this, so you might as well get used to using my first name.” Because she and I will never be just friends. We are going to be so much more, and I want her to get used to my name, because soon enough she’ll be screaming it.

“Mr. Caruso,” she replies tightly. “I’m sure you have all kinds of dark and nefarious things to be doing, so how about you stop trying to toy with me and get on with telling me what I want to know?”

“But where’s the fun in that?” Her eyes narrow on me, and her lips pinch in annoyance. “Fine, fine,” I sigh. “I thought California was all about being laid back and having a good time. Lazaro, we were clearly mistaken.”

Lazaro smirks at me, knowing what I’m doing. “I guess so, Boss.”

I look back at Sienna, who doesn’t look at all amused. “Alright, fine, we’ll get into it, but just be aware, cara, that this is going to be a long story.” She just watches me, saying nothing. “You come from a family that prizes males over females, to the point that your mother, and possibly your aunt, smuggled you and a few other baby girls out of the family when you were born. Or, perhaps, to avoid beatings from their husbands for producing girls in the first place, but at this point, that’s neither here nor there. However, one of the babies, another girl, Giulia, was not so lucky and was kept in the family. Mostly to secure a marriage contract when she was older.”

“My bio family is mafia then, just like you,” she states.

I nod. “Yes, exactly. Though, I must say, they certainly give us a bad reputation with the way they carry on.” I shake my head in disgust, and she just stares at me. “They are based in New York, though from the way things have been going, I doubt they are satisfied with that anymore. Now, the family is divided, and unfortunately they seem to have discovered you, which means you’re now in danger of them finding you and taking you to advance their own goals.”

“You mean they’re going to try and kidnap me then force me to marry someone they choose?” she asks, clearly dubious.

“Exactly. And trust me, the man they would force you to marry would not be the kind of man you’re used to. They’re the kind that don’t see women as having any value. You would be forced to breed an heir and look pretty when on display. Nothing more.” Blunt? Probably, but something tells me she can handle it.

Her eyes narrow even further. “And my so-called sister is married to one of these men?”

“No, actually. She is now married to another Don in New York who takes great issue with your family. Nico Armani.”

“Mhmmm. And how do you fit in, exactly?”

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