Hours later, after we retired to the bedroom and Mia let me actually make love to her a couple of more times, Mia had passed out and I had drifted into the most peaceful sleep I’ve ever had. At least, it had been until my priority phone rang.
I untangled myself from Mia’s body, reached for the nightstand where the phone had been placed before we’d fallen asleep, and answered without looking at the screen. Only one of three people would be calling me on this particular phone. “Rossi.”
“The Diamond tomorrow at four,” Ciro Mancini stated. “Come in through the back entrance.”
“Yes, Sir.”
And then he really woke me the fuck up. “Bring Mia,” he instructed before hanging up.
I sat on the edge of the bed wondering if I was going to have to die for the girl sleeping in my bed. I knew early on that I was going to have to get Michael’s approval to date and marry his sister, but it never occurred to me that The Holy Trinity would have a say in it. I knew Mia was special to Ciro and Luca, but I never imagined they’d involve themselves in Mia’s life to that extent. Having Michael’s blessing should be enough, right?
Unless there was something Michael wasn’t telling me.
There was only one way Ciro could know that my covers been blown or that I’d have the pull to take Mia with me. Michael had to have told him. When I had spoken to him, he hadn’t been too happy with moving things up two years early, but he knew what my end game was. He knew I planned on marrying Mia, and he knew I wouldn’t push until she graduated and got settle into a job. So, why tell Ciro?
I could admit to feeling uneasy about the summons because I knew if they told me I couldn’t have her, I’d have to defy them, and I wasn’t any good to Mia dead. Because that’s what they’d do to me if I dared defy them over this.
The Benetti Royalty didn’t fuck around.
I got back into bed and I big spooned the fuck out of Mia’s little spoon. She sighed and got comfortable, but she remained asleep. Her entire body was engulfed by mine, and I knew there was only one way I’d ever give this up.
They’d have to kill me first.
Chapter 10
Mia~
What in the ever lovin’ fresh hell was this?
Nico and I were standing in the alleyway that connected The Diamond and the back-end parking lot. Ever since Nico told me this morning that Ciro Mancini wanted to see us, I’ve been a nervous wreck. I had even attempted to call my brother to ask him if he knew what was going on, but Nico had forbidden it. He had said-in very clear, precise English-that the commitment I made to him last night meant that I could no longer run to my brother for help. I was now Nico’s responsibility, and he would meet that obligation head-on, like a man. Michael was only an option if Nico was unavailable.
His dictation had shocked me at first, then, as the words sunk in, they had turned me on. Knowing that Nico was willing to meet with The Holy Trinity on my behalf was heady and telling. I let him stamp his claim on me one more time this morning before we showered and got ready for the day. Since we hadn’t woken up until ten, it had been a lazy day for sure, classes forgotten.
And now we were at The Diamond, awaiting our fates.
“Nico, I’m worried,” I said for the hundredth time. “I’ve only seen Ciro Mancini a handful of times in my life, and he only talked to me a couple of times. He always talked with Michael.”
Nico grabbed my hand in his. “Mia-”
“And I’ve only met Luca Benetti once, and that was when he came to check on me and Michael when we moved in with Jeanie,” I continued nervously. “And I’ve never met Phoenix.” My eyes grew wild at that notion. “He’s The Holy Ghost, for Christ’s sake.”
Nico grabbed both of my hands, and yanked me forward, holding our hands prisoner between our bodies. “Mia,” he stressed, drawing my name out like it had more than two syllables, “no matter the reason we’ve been called here today, nothing is going to happen to you. Do you understand me?”
“But-”
“But, nothing,” he interrupted. “I guarantee you that, even if they end up killing me, you’ll return home unscathed.”
The very idea made my entire body shiver. “Kill you?!” I yelped. “Why would they kill you?”
Nico shrugged a shoulder. “Honestly, I don’t know,” he replied. “I was just trying to emphasize that you’re safe no matter what goes on in there.”
“How can you be so cavalier about this?” I asked. “What if they do kill you?”
“Then they kill me,” he stated as if we were discussing the weather.
“How can you be so cavalier about this?” I repeated. I could feel my body reacting to the imagined scenario. “Oh, God,” I moaned. “I think I’m having a heart attack.”
“Mia,” Nico snapped. “You are not having a heart attack. Baby, you just need to calm down.” He let go of my hands and cradled my face with his palms. “Baby, you need to calm down, alright? It’ll be okay. I promise, Mia.” I took a couple of deep breaths and nodded.
I could do this.
Performing a fighter’s warm up, I shook my body out and stretched my neck out, side to side. “I’m ready,” I lied, and Nico just chuckled and shook his head at me.
Hand-in-hand, we walked to the backdoor where a guard was posted. He gave us one quick glance and then opened the door for us. No questions asked told
