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"Some things happened therefirst-aid kitI asked Emilio for help."
"He didn't want to stand by you," I stated.
Until now, it had not surprised me that he had not been part of the rescue team, but now I wondered what the exact reason had been.
"Emilio did himself no favors with his idea of doing business with the French. As you can see, it entails a slew of problems a mile long and well. We're both stubborn. Sometimes he's just too stuck in his role as boss for me to get along with him anymore."
I just listened to him and didn't take the liberty of saying anything about it. Dario's family ties were none of my business, but it was clear how much his older brother's lack of support bothered him.
"If it hadn't been for Vince, we would never have looked. Emilio didn't think it was necessary and the others go along with whatever he says for now. Until there is a better alternative."
"Then I guess I should still thank Vincenzo."
Dario snorted. "I don't think he cares. He did it for me and family peace, that's all. Emilio just has a massive ego problem right now because he made a mistake and Vince has to handle everything. And that can't escalate, I think Vincenzo realizes that, too."
"So you think it's a better idea to keep me away from the others for now?"
"Yes. Until I don't want to be at his throat anymore because his stubbornness would have cost you your life by a hair."
"You don't have to defend me in that way."
Dario finished his bandage around my ankle with a little bow. "Yes, I do. And I will, even if you don't like it. We've all accepted Flavia, so it's hardly too much to ask that he do me the same favor."
"But Flavia is also his girlfriend," I interjected.
"And you are mine."
I laughed. "We'll talk about that later, mafia prince."
Surely he couldn't just claim ownership and declare that I was his when we had never talked about what this was between us.
We had only known each other for a few weeks. Intense weeks, but that wasn't enough to make us something like a couple, was it?
Dario loved his freedoms, the one-night stands and his job. I, on the other hand, had none of that, but didn't plan to let myself be kept by a man like him.
I looked up into Dario's face, who was glaring at me, telling me what he thought of my answer. Nothing. But that was no tragedy. After all, I would still make my point clear to him as soon as I was back on my feet and no longer felt as if a truck had rolled over me.
That sensation had burned itself into my body and I doubted it would soon disappear again. With rest and relaxation, perhaps, but how was I supposed to find that when I was outside my four walls– but I no longer felt comfortable there either, and certainly not safe, so I couldn't go back there either?
"I won't be able to stay here much longer, by the way. Vince wants to talk about the French and there's one last lead we need to follow up before we have nothing more to fear from that side," Dario informed me with a glance at the clock.
Panic was already rising in me. The apartment was large and despite the alarm system I would not feel safe here if he was not in the immediate vicinity.
"Casimiro will be here again. In addition, two men downstairs in front of the front door. No one will enter the building without my people noticing. Nothing can happen to you here. I can guarantee you that with absolute certainty."
Instinctively, I nodded, even though I wouldn't believe it until all those men were at their posts and the feeling of security settled.
"I can't believe I'm so afraid of being alone all of a sudden," I muttered, shaking my head at myself. This couldn't be happening! How stupid was this? How ridiculous?
"It'll pass, I promise. In a few days you won't even think about it anymore, and in a few weeks everything will be back to normal."
How he could say that with such conviction was a mystery to me. He didn't seem like the person who went through something like that and came out of it with the same reaction I had.
"You're confident."
"Of course. You are with me. There's nothing to worry about."
"So you want to keep doing what you were doing before I moved back into my apartment?"
