Page 33 of Born into Mayhem
Dario’s deep voice, laced with the world’s sexiest Italian accent, says, “I didn’t hit your daughter, Lev.”
I resist the strong urge to turn around and instead force myself to say, “I told you it was my fault, Dad. I lost focus.” I chance a look when I feel Dario’s presence right behind me, meeting his dark eyes when I say, “It won’t happen again.”
The corner of his mouth lifts up just enough for me to see before he walks over to his brother and I get sidetracked when Talia pulls me in for a big hug. She’s very affectionate and finds it hard to believe that not everyone is the same way. She’s so sweet, though, that it’s impossible to be irritated by it.
“Wow,” I tell her when she finally steps back and lets me go. “Your baby is growing fast.”
She grins and rests her hands on her pregnant belly. “She is, yeah.”
Max walks up and wraps his arms around his pregnant wife from behind, smiling down at her when she looks up at him. Everyone in my family is ridiculously in love, and as happy as I am for them, I also can’t say I fully understand the need to cuddle so much.
“Hey, Max. How’s Oregon?” I ask, bending down to pet Wallace when he comes running over. Their border collie is as friendly as Chort is grumpy, and looking into his intelligent mismatched eyes I can’t help but smile at how cute he is.
“It’s beautiful,” Max says. “When are you coming for a visit?”
“I’m going to try and go with Niki the next time he flies out,” I tell them. “Maybe I can convince Sasha to come, too.”
“That’d be great,” Max says. “We can take you out on the boat, and Talia’s cousins can teach you to surf.”
I grin at the idea of a new challenge. “Perfect,” I tell them and then say, “Tell Bran I’m still practicing ASL every day.”
“I will,” Talia promises. “He was really impressed the last time Niki and Damien came for a visit. They’ve already learned so much.”
“Yeah, I’m not that good,” I warn her, “but I’m slowly getting there.”
When Isabella runs over to give me a hug, I bend down and let her climb on my back. She laughs while I tell Max and Talia that I’ll see them in a bit and then I give my niece a piggyback ride over to the food.My stomach growls at the sight of all the Italian food spread out before me, and I’m just about to set Isabella down so I can make a plate when I hear her squeal, “Uncle Dario!”
He speaks to her in Italian, and when she reaches out for him, he picks her up, freeing my arms so I can grab a plate. While he talks to her, I load up my plate with as much food as it can hold and then park my ass on one of the stools at the counter. Niki and Damien are already sitting there, and I quickly join in their conversation, ignoring the pair of dark eyes that I know are watching me.
Chapter 7
Dario
Despite what Mia is probably thinking, I hadn’t planned on coming here today. After she left, Dominic sent me a text, telling me to get my ass over here for a meeting. Seeing Mia again is just a happy coincidence.
Happy for me anyway. She doesn’t look so thrilled.
I fill my plate with Lucia’s cooking and then take a seat next to my brother. He gives me a grin that makes it clear he thinks he already has everything figured out. According to him, I’ll be down on one knee and proposing in no time. I scoff at him and take a bite. Before I’ve even gotten a chance to swallow the pasta, Lev walks over and smacks me on the back, nearly making me choke.
“That’s for hitting my daughter, asshole,” he growls at me.
It’s never easy having two powerful families in close proximity, but we’ve always gotten along pretty good, so I know Lev isn’t really pissed at me. I also know that would immediately change if he knew I’d just had my tongue down his daughter’s throat while she clung to me and begged me to let her come.
“I didn’t hit her,” I say again while Sandro lets out a laugh and kicks my foot under the table like we’re fucking teenagers.
Lev points a finger at me. “Don’t let her get hurt again.”
“He won’t, Dad,” Sasha says, coming to my defense. “Mia can handle herself.”
“Of course she can,” Lev says, and then he grins and adds, “I still remember the time she sliced your arm open.”
They all share a laugh, and when I look over, I see Mia staring at me. She ducks her head as soon as our eyes meet, trying to pretend that she hadn’t just been watching me. When I see her get up and slip out of the room, I wait until the others are preoccupied before setting my fork down and getting up.
“Going somewhere?” Sandro asks, keeping his voice low and speaking in Italian so the Russians around us won’t understand.
“Fuck off, brother,” I tell him, making him laugh.
“I’ll cover for your horny ass.” When I ignore him, he says, “Don’t make too much noise. There’s only so much I can hide.”
