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I sigh as I melt into the bath until the water is around my neck. The water temperature is perfect—not too warm, not too cold. That was another problem with the shower I had growing up. The water was always cold. And again, whenever I’d ask my father for warmer water, he’d say he needed to think about the water bill and that money didn’t grow on trees. Of course, he lived in an expensive mansion with staff and complained about the water bill. His hypocrisy was astounding, but I had no choice but to put up with it. I couldn’t risk losing the few comforts I had.
He threatened all of my comforts often—from my shower to my own bed. That was his favorite way to torture me. He’d tell me he had no qualms about taking my bed away from me and forcing me to sleep on the ground. I was always too afraid to tempt him and see if he would make do with his threat.
I kept in line. Did what I needed to do to survive.
And now, I’m here, in a luxurious mansion by the beach, married to a man who treats me wonderfully.
I never knew I could be so lucky. I never knew that this kind of happiness could exist for me.
I’m so wrapped up in my bath that I don’t even hear Dario until he says, “Mind if I join you?”
I blink, jumping out of my skin.
Dario chuckles. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to startle you.”
It’s ok,I sign. Even though I feel safe here, I’m still jumpy, like there’s this dark voice at the back of my head reminding me that everything I currently have can be taken away from me. It’s a thought I wish I didn’t have, but it’s there anyway.
I motion for him to join me.
My breathing becomes heavier as Dario takes off his clothes. We’ve been having sex for the past few days now, and I never get tired of seeing his body. I never knew another human could complete me the way Dario does.
He gives me a smug grin once he’s standing naked before me. He knows he looks good, and he knows I know he looks good.
The water sloshes over the side of the tub as he gets in, and I scoot forward so he can get behind me. Once he’s settled, he wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. His strong legs are on either side of me, and it’s a heady feeling being in the arms of a man so strong and masculine as him. I let my head rest back on his chest, content to just stay like this forever.
“What were you thinking about?” he asks, tangling his fingers with mine. His warm breath tickles my cheek.
Nothing,I sign.
“Really? I always see you daydreaming and wonder what’s going on in that mysterious brain of yours.”
I’m not mysterious.
“I beg to differ. I still find myself learning more and more about you. I feel like I’ve barely cracked the surface of who you are.”
I think over his words. There are still things he doesn’t know about me—mainly the way my mother was murdered and the trauma it caused in me. I need to tell him. It’s the one part of me that’s keeping me from being fully committed to this relationship. I’m just worried about what he’ll say. My father tried to blame me for years, saying I was somehow at fault for him killing my mom. I sometimes believed him, even though I knew it wasn’t rational. And despite knowing now that I’m innocent and that my father is the one to blame, I’m still worried Dario will somehow blame me for the truth.
I want to know more about you,I sign, directing his attention away from me.
“Like what?” He squeezes his arms around me. His hands brush the underside of my breasts, making me shift and squeeze my legs together. Even every little touch he gives me makes me feel like I’m on fire.
What were your parents like?
“My parents? God.” He tips his head back, letting out a sigh. “I try not to think too hard about them, honestly.”
Why?
“Because I miss them,” he admits. I motion for him to continue. “Fine. My parents were nice, which is a rare thing to find in the mafia, especially when it comes to fathers. Many of the men I work with come from homes where their fathers beat them and expect them to be as strong as possible. My father expected me to know how to take care of myself, but he also showed me love. He treated my mom with so much care, and their love for each other was evident. Seeing them together, I knew I wanted that someday.”
So that’s why you’re so nice to me.
He kisses my forehead. “Yes. My father showed me what it was like to respect a woman. But I’m also nice to you, Pia, because I like seeing you happy. I don’t have any desire to hurt you. I know my methods for taking you were unconventional, but I always had good intentions for you.”
You could say that again,I sign.I remember the day you took me. It was intense.
“Intense is one word for it. Chaos is another. I didn’t like scaring you, but I knew what I was doing was right. That’s another thing my father instilled in me. A strong sense of confidence.”
And your mother? What did she give you?
