Page 51 of The Darkest King

One day.

Mobsters might be ruthless killers, but they aren’t trained. They’d be dead before they lifted their weapons.

Mia crosses her arms. “Don’t joke about that.”

I laugh dryly.

“Don’t worry about me, princess. I can take care of myself. Your father doesn’t scare me,” I say firmly. It’s important Mia knows, if I’m to work my way into her life, I am powerful enough to face her family. I want her to feel confident introducing me to them quickly.

This is a turning point for me and the Dark Kings.

“Good, because he wants to meet you?” she says, a blush hitting her cheeks.

What?

I stare at her, taken by surprise.

Jesus.

It’s like life is being handed to me on a silver platter. The Mancini family and the sweetest pussy I’ve ever had. Except I’m not a fucking idiot. There’s something she’s not telling me. I walk around the kitchen island and stop a few feet away from her as she lifts her face.

Mia’s holding her breath, and my heart is thumping away in my chest.

“What have you done?” I growl, crossing my arms.

She mirrors me, but it’s a protective stance, and for a moment, I don’t like the vulnerability I see in her eyes.

Pawn.

“Mia, talk.”

“Before I say any more, I want you to know I didn’t plan this. It just fell out. There is no way I could’ve known I would, you know, end up here last night, and so...I got scared,”

“Of me?” I ask angrily. I do not want her to be afraid of me. That is unacceptable.

“No,” she replies quickly, and I nod.

“Keep going.”

“So, I’ve been living this double life, and my time is up, and then my father says I have to move back home. He’s canceled my lease, and I have to quit my job. Then I overheard my brother saying they’ve lined up Salvo Vitale to be my husband. God, he slurps his food.”

My brain is trying to take in the data, but all I hear are Nathans words:He’s brutal.

Staring at her and imagining that asshole with his hands on her...Well, I don’t like it at all.

She’s worried he slurps his food?Fuck, that’s the least of her fucking worries.

Double fuck.

“And he’s older, you know. Like, fifteen or more years older. I know you’re older. But like, good old.”

My brows lift and then drop in a frown. I may not know Mia well, but I do know when someone won’t stop talking, it’s because there’s something they do not want to say.

Usually, it’s followed by bad news.

What the hell has she done?

“Mia,” I say roughly.

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