Page 21 of Hers to Control

It should appall me. The last thing I should want is someone vulnerable. But it doesn’t. It just makes me want her more.

Maybe it’s because Mia might be vulnerable right now, but she isn’t helpless. Not a victim, but a fighter.

The thought of the Russian thugs lying on the pavement almost gives me a boner, knowing Mia did that. But only almost, because I’m still too fucking close to jumping into my car and chasing them down so I can put bullets in their heads. Maybe cut off their hands, for good measure.

Nobody touches what’s mine.

“A Coke for you, Eric?” Anton asks.

I nod my thanks, and the old butler heads back to the kitchen. Gianna might have been upgraded to Signora Bruno now that she’s the head of the family, but I’m still Eric to him, and that feels good, though I’m not about to tell anyone.

Moments later, the door to the living room swings open, and Gianna steps in, followed by Mikhail.

I scowl at my cousin, but she ignores me, her attention on Mia.

“What the hell happened back there?”

“Two guys got out of a car and came after me. I did my best to avoid them, but they tried to grab me. I took them down, but I got dizzy after, so when Eric showed up, I went with him.”

There is a hint of satisfaction in Mia’s tone, a sign she’s getting her composure back. Unfortunately, I also hear the resignation in her last sentence.

She wanted to get away from me, and she’d failed.

Well, too fucking bad.

For the moment, Gianna seems to share my feelings. “I could have told you from the start that sticking around is the better idea, anyway. In fact, I did, remember?”

That actually makes Mia grin. “Worth a try.”

She says it lightly, but I can see the underlying frustration in her tense body. She stands, as if ready to make another run for it, and she’s clenching the fingers of her right hand around her left arm. I doubt she realizes just how obvious she is.

Gianna tells us to sit and when Mia chooses the single arm-chair, I let myself sink into the two-seater closest to her. It’s the place Uncle Mario often claimed, while Uncle Leonardo used to sit right where Mia is now.

Now they’re both dead, and another threat is hanging over us.

I watch Mikhail, assessing his expression. He’s being tested by his father, and while I’d bet my left nut that he’s obsessed with Gianna and wouldn’t do anything to risk her, I’m not sure his loyalty extends to keeping her best friend safe. To be sure, Gianna would be pissed if someone killed Mia, but I wonder if Mikhail would take a gamble on her reaction to appease his family.

He answers my stare with one of his own.

Gianna huffs. “Boys, stop this shit.”

Mia

“I can’t stay at your place forever.” I address Gianna, ignoring the way Eric and Mikhail are staring each other down.

Mikhail is the one who answers, finally breaking the staring contest. “My family doesn’t have eyes in this villa, but my father isn’t an idiot. He’s going to have his men keep checking this place. So yeah, you can’t stay unless we want this to escalate.”

Next to me, Eric growls at Mikhail’s words, but he doesn’t speak. As much as I want to ignore him, his constant silence is almost more aggravating than if he would just say what he’s thinking.

“It pisses me off.” Gianna hisses, and it’s clear she isn’t this upset merely on my behalf.

“Tell me about it,” I agree, and we exchange a grin. So maybe this isn’t a normal situation, but as fucked up as my life is, at least I’m not completely alone in this. For now, anyway.

Anton comes in with our drinks, bringing glasses for Gianna and Mikhail as well.

“If there’s anything else, just call,” Anton says, before turning to leave the room again.

“She needs to disappear,” Eric announces. I turn to stare at him, my muscles tense. For all I know, he’s about to pull that knife across my throat to be done with this whole mess.

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