Page 121 of Savage Vow (Mafia Marriages 3)

Aurielo

“Are you ever going to see past the monster that you see lurking inside of me?” I ask. It’s obvious that’s all she sees when she looks at me, that I brutally attacked an unarmed man. Well, he was more than just unarmed. He was bound to the chair, unable to move.

No one said it had to be a fair fight.

We’re the mafia.

Besides, I treated Ivy with the utmost kindness during an interrogation. But Karina doesn’t see it like that.

I’m the savage. And she’s the saint.

Well, let me tell you something, she’s no saint. Trying to steal my son from me, rob me of my family. She’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing—the true monster.

“It’s hard to do that with you locking me inside the house all the time!” Karina shouts.

The walls practically vibrate, and I’m sure Ivy is getting an earful across the hall. The walls aren’t soundproof, unlike the basement. There’s a reason the prison is two floors below where Karina and my son are being kept.

“In case you’ve forgotten, the Bianchi’s are still after you.”

I hate it as much as she does, forcing her to be under lock and key. But Dorian will have her killed the first chance he gets. And since we tortured and killed Matteo, he’ll want revenge.

It’s inevitable.

And I have to protect my Micetta, even if she thinks she doesn’t need protecting. She’s wrong.

She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.

“Cat got your tongue?” I’ve never seen her speechless. Well, I can’t recall it. She always has a comeback, a smart-ass remark to goad me on. She likes to get under my skin and irritate the hell out of me. It’s probably why I’m attracted to her.

It’s always passionate between us, especially when we’re arguing.

“Shut up!”

I laugh under my breath, but she hears me and glances up at me. “Is that all you got?” I give her the chance to counter. To shoot her best shot.

“You showed up at my workplace today and didn’t tell me you were coming!”

Is that bad? I did something nice for the kids on her unit. They have cancer. I thought bringing them a few toys would keep their spirits up and bring a little sunshine into their life.

I’m not great with kids, but I thought I did okay handing them presents. It wasn’t something I could majorly fuck up.

“It was supposed to be a surprise. Besides, I thought you’d be happy I was being selfless,” I say. “I was trying to show you I’m not the monster you think I am. There’s more than one side of me. I’m not just a mafia interrogator.”

She rolls her lips tight, pressing them together.

Speechless again.

Twice in one evening.

Victory tastes sweet.

Karina shuffles her feet and glances down at the floor, dejected. She opens her mouth, and I assume she’s about to apologize, but a soft puff of air slips out instead.

Maybe she’s not good with apologies. It’s not like I ever have to apologize. It would be seen as weak, and I’m not the least bit interested in appearing fragile.

“What you did today at the hospital, for those kids, it was very nice,” Karina whispers. Her toes nudge the floor as she fidgets and glances up at me after she’s done speaking. It’s like she’s waiting for me to give her something back.

“I’m glad you appreciated the gesture, and next time I want to do something, I won’t be quite so secretive.”

---