Why is this book so long? I thought it would be like 50 chapters. At this rate, we'll be in 70 if we're lucky.

*makes sure no one can see and begins typing* ┌(▀Ĺ̯▀)┐

Quintuple update btw.

51

Dalia's POV

I didn't know what it was about surviving an explosion that gave me an unfathomable thrill. I had seen lots of them, even caused two other explosions in my life but they were all tests at the safe house. The adrenaline I got from surviving the last one put more determination into my veins.

My goals were focused, my mind much clearer like I'd drunk a gallon of the world's strongest energy drink. I was on cloud nine but as the hours went by, my body had begun to drag. I guessed it was temporary because now sat at the dinner table, my head in my hands as I waited for Faye to bring Vittore down to eat.

We'd cooked mushroom risotto, some Italian dish that Faye had just taught me. She said we'd do lasagna next time which I looked forward to. The food looked great, the wonderful aroma and my stomach rumbled with the need to eat. I wondered what was taking Vittore and Faye so long.

I sighed, shifting in my seat but wincing when a muscle in my back pulled. The ache travelled through my body and I bit my lip to hold in a hiss. I did survive the blast but not in one piece. When I'd come back and talked to Vittore, I was still high on adrenaline and the ache was just a dull throb but now that I was relaxed, I wanted to lie down and scream into a pillow.

I was in so much pain but I didn't show Faye because she seemed so happy to see me and got so excited when she talked about cooking that I couldn't turn her down. I was wearing a hoodie because I'd seen my back in the mirror. It was bruised black and purple and honestly looked very ugly. It reminded me of the ones I got back at the safe house except then, I wasn't the only one injured and bruises were normal. It seemed so much more different now.

It wasn't even only my back. It was my sides, my thighs, my calf, all looking like the canvas of an angry painter. It was hard for dark skin like mine to bruise but my body didn't have enough iron, so wasn't be able to get the oxygen that it needed to function and that made my skin more susceptible to bruising.

Oh what it means to be anaemic.

I was still surprised how well my bullet wound had healed over time. It was now a scar but it was another to the hidden collection. I sighed and heard steps behind me and Faye arrived, sitting at the table.

"Vittore will be down in a second," she told me and I nodded. I wanted to talk to him anyway.

It must have been five minutes or so before Vittore descended the stairs, dressed in more comfortable attire than before. His eyes never left mine as he took a seat and Faye held out her hands.

"Hold hands everyone," she said softly, a blinding smile on her face. I joined hands with her and Vittore, my skin heating up and tingling where he touched.

"Well its just something small I like to do. After a huge mission together and everyone is back in one piece, we give thanks ok?" I nodded and Faye shifted in her seat. "Ok lets see... I'm thankful that Dalia came back alive from her mission and is here with us today."

I smiled softly and Faye nudged me to go next. "Uh.. I'm thankful that everything is going well so far."

I had no idea what to say so I'd go with that.

"Good. Vittore?"

Faye and I both turned to her son and he licked his lips, a motion my eyes followed. "I'm thankful for family."

That was simple and surprisingly sweet.

"Okay..." Faye said trailing off like she expected a love confession or something. "Lets eat."

The food was great. We didn't talk much after that but the silence was comforting. I ate slowly, my body hurting with most of my movements but no one seemed to notice. At least I hoped so. Vittore kept glancing at me with a frown.

When we were done, I helped Faye put the dishes in the dishwasher and bid her a goodnight. She placed a kiss on my forehead and patted my cheek before kissing her son's forehead too and patting his head.

"Goodnight," she told the both of us before she left.

"You wanted to talk?" Vittore asked and I nodded. I motioned for him to follow me and went straight to my room.

He sat down on my bed and I pulled out the documents from behind my dresser. I held them in my hand a bit unsure before standing in front of him and handing them over. Vittore glanced up at me, taking the papers in his hand and flipping through them.

"You signed the papers?" he asked and I gulped.

"Yeah. I need to get to that mafia convention or whatever and... the deal was a good one anyway," I mumbled with a shrug.

"Dalia Martinelli," Vittore mused and my body weirdly reacted to the name. I scratched the back of my neck, something I only did when I was nervous. Sensing my actions, I dropped my hands quickly. I waited patiently for Vittore to finis-

"You missed a spot," he said and I moved forward, bending as much as my back could allow to see the paper.

"Bullshit I'd never miss a thing," I mumbled because I'd looked over the contract a few hundred times.

I saw a small box that had no tick yet.

Do you want to provide an heir to the Martinelli familia?

Yes

No

My hand went to the back of my neck again. I remembered looking at that question and skipping it, saying I'd come back to it later. The answer was simple. No I did not but yet, I hesitated.

"All you have to do is answer it and you'll officially be Dona," Vittore said and amused smirk on his face.

"Fine," I huffed, looking around for a pen. I moved back from Vittore and bent to open my lower draw when the Italian snapped.

"What the fuck is that?!"

I turned to a very angry Vittore as he stared at my back. I turned a little to see my hoodie had ridden up a little. I quickly pulled it down, pen in hand.

"Nothing," I said in a calm tone but Vittore wasn't having it.

"Come here," he commanded making me roll my eyes.

"I don't answer to y-"

"I wasn't asking tesoro. Vieni qui o ti costringerò (Come here or I'll make you)."

I knew if he decided to fight me, I wouldn't be able to win in the state I was in so I slowly moved closer but Vittore placed his large hand on my waist and gently pulled me forward until I stood between his legs. His ankles hooked behind my calfs in a way I couldn't move back even if I wanted.

Vittore lifted up my shirt and when he saw the wonderful canvas my body had become, he clenched his jaw and for once, I saw behind the front he put up. He was angry yes but the frown in his brow mirrored concern too.

"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked running a finger over one of the bruises and I shivered, pushing his arm away. It was doing things to me.

"It's fine honestly. It doesn't hurt that much," I said and Vittore poked one of my bruises causing my stomach to clench and for me to withdraw a bit. The cocky Italian glanced at me with a raised brow.

"Ok so yes it stings a little but I'll be fine. It's just one of those boo boos you kiss better I swear," I complained, trying to get out of his leg lock.

"Want to test that theory?" Vittore said in a low voice.

When I glanced back at him, his eyes were hooded and he licked his lips again, a motion that didn't go unnoticed. This time, I froze and let him pull me closer, the lock on his legs disappearing so if I wanted to move away, I could.

Emphasis on 'if I wanted'.

Vittore lifted the edge of my hoodie again and looked up at me once as if telling me to back out. Telling me that if I wanted, I could just push back or step away.

I didn't.

Vittore's hand went around my waist again, his touch gentle as not to disturb my bruises and his face moved closer until his lips met with my skin. I let out a shaky breath and he did it again, setting feather-like kisses all over my bruised skin. My hands found their way into his thick dark locks as his soft kisses turned into sucking and nibbling.

The pain and pleasure of his actions buzzed through my body, my brain fogged over with a lust filled haze. I bent my head back as Vittore kissed further up, getting dangerously closer to my chest. The fact that I had no bra on at the moment completely skipped my mind as I just focused on what he was doing, occasionally tightening my grip on his hair when the pain became too much.

I heaved for breath, my chest moving fast with my motions and shifted, pressing my thighs together. Vittore lifted my hoodie further, almost exposing my chest when a shout rung through the penthouse.

"Vittore!"

The both of us froze, Vittore moving his lips from my skin while anger slowly creeped up in my mind, past the haze of lust that was consuming it. When I glanced down at Vittore, his lips were slightly pink and he licked them yet again. I sighed and turned to the door, murder on my face.

Fucking Alexa.