Warning: There is a hot scene ahead, not too much, but something *wink*

I did see blood.

When I was done helping the lady, I excused myself to the back to check up on Dario since it had been almost half an hour since he was gone. When I opened the door to the outside alley, I saw Dario cleaning his bloodied hands with a white napkin, looking unbothered. His suit jacket hung on the door's knob, and the man who touched my behind was lying on the floor unconscious.

"Is he dead?" I whispered as I stepped closer to the scene. I saw his chest rise and fall, and I sighed in relief. "Was that really necessary?" I sometimes forget he was a Mafia Don, and violence was a part of his nature.

Dario scoffed and threw the napkin in the dumpster. He kissed my forehead so gently that an outsider would not believe he did that to the man, well... except for the spots of blood on his white shirt. "Yes. He crossed a line."

I sighed, knowing that reasoning with him was futile. "Do you have an extra white shirt, at least? We still have a few customers in the store."

"No, but I could borrow one," he replied, fishing out his phone and dialing a number. "Vieni nel vicolo sul retro," he said in a demanding tone, then turned off the phone. I was looking at him, waiting for an explanation, when suddenly the door burst open. These men were fast.

"Si, Don?" Orlando stood beside the almost-dead man, and his piercing blue eyes darkened, yet he did not question anything. These men's loyalty was scary.

"Are you wearing a shirt under this?" Dario asked as he pointed to Orlando's white dress shirt. His man understood what was needed and took off his shirt without asking. Again, he was too loyal, and I did not know if it was admiring or stupid.

"Should I take care of the body?" Orlando asked, looking at the man in disgust without even knowing what he did. He did not need a reason if his don hated him.

I stood there silently, watching the exchange. "The scumbag is not dead yet. But Orlando, you should know that he inappropriately touched my Bambi. You know what to do."

"Are you going to kill him?" I asked, worried.

Both men looked at me with unreadable expressions. "If his record is clean, no. Only a few more beatings, and then he's free," Dario explained as he fixed his outfit, finally looking presentable.

"And if he's not clean?" I gulped, already aware of the outcome.

Dario grinned. "You know, amore mio... Let's head back inside. Orlando, if you finish early, meet us at our usual restaurant in an hour and a half. We will celebrate the opening there."

"Si, Don."

~~~

"And he killed the man?" Phoebe's wide eyes and loud tone caught the mafia's attention when we sat in the restaurant.

"Who killed who?" Abramo asked her, and I sighed. 

So much for being discreet.

"No one killed anyone. Unfortunately, the son of a bitch was clean. We don't kill innocent people with no criminal records." Dario's statement relaxed me a bit because I did not want a stupid man to die at my expense, even if he was dirty. I only wanted to see Atlas dead.

Orlando chuckled. "But he will be limping for the rest of his life."

"Care to explain what's going on?" Basilio asked with crossed arms, not pleased to be out of the loop. As someone who used to be in charge of the whole mafia, I understood him. I was in charge of a whole company, and I did not like being in the dark about important matters.

"It's nothing really. Let's just order," I replied quickly, wanting some peace and quiet for the night.

"Jolene. What happened?" Basilio repeated in a firmer tone, but I was not intimidated. I just smiled.

"I said it's nothing."

"Dario?" He was too damn presistant.

Dario just grinned and placed his arm behind my chair. "He touched her culo, so we took care of him. End of the story."

It was not the end of the story because all the men pulled out their guns, not caring that other people were in the restaurant, and stood up. "Sit your asses down. Now," I yelled, not wanting a massacre to occur with only one man as the victim. "Don't be irrational, and order your food."

They looked at me with fright since this was the first time I directed my anger at them, and I thought it was a hilarious scene. They were the mafia, not me.

"Yes, Donna."

"Don't call me that!" I sighed as I sat back down and saw Phoebe laughing her heart out.

"Oh, you are the Donna, alright," she remarked, trying to catch her breath. I rolled my eyes, tired of this whole day. I just wanted to eat and then sleep.

"Just shut up. Can we eat now?" I was frustrated but did not fail to catch Dario's smirk.

"You looked so sexy right now. I am hard and horny for you, Bambi," he confessed in my ear, and I felt my face heat up. "Can we have some fun tonight?" he whispered, his lips touching my earlobe.

I hid my crimson face in his neck. He was too blunt, and I did not know if my heart could handle his advances any longer. "If you mess with me, then no," I finally replied with much courage, and I felt his chest vibrate. He was laughing at me.

"I will be the perfect angel." It was hard to believe, so I rolled my eyes. He glanced to his left and grinned. "Phoebe, do you mind staying at Abramo's house tonight?"

She looked at me with a knowing look, and I groaned. "That was the plan."

~~~

"Dario, I n-need to shower first," I said out of breath as he kept bruising my neck with his lips. We had not been home for more than five minutes, and he started attacking my body. It was arousing, but I was in desperate need of a shower. 

He stopped as he seized me with his gaze, contemplating something I might not like. "We can have a relaxing bath together," he suggested, kissing my lips like a hungry lion. I thought about his offer, and I did not mind his plan for the first time since I got here. "You are considering it!" He chuckled in delight.

I slapped his chest. "Shut up!" I bit his earlobe playfully, and without a warning, he threw me over his shoulder. "Dario, let me down," I slapped his back this time, laughing my heart out.

"No can do, Bambi. I will do the work today. You deserve a fine, relaxing break." His suggestion made me blush.

"But nothing too extreme, you know..."

"I know, amore. I will never cross that line until I put a ring on it. A real one," he replied as he put me on his bed. He cupped my cheeks and kissed my nose. "I love you." He whispered it so low that I almost missed it.

I placed my palms on his hands and gazed into his eyes. "Not 'I think' I love you?" I asked. The last time he said it, he was not sure it was love he felt for me, but now...

Is this for real?

"I love you, Jolene," he repeated, more clearly this time, and I felt my eyes tear up, unable to speak. "I never loved anyone besides family, so I was uncertain if my feelings for you were enough since I can be a piece of shit. I am a Mafia Don, for God's sake, I don't know if I deserve you even now, but I am a selfish son of a bitch who cannot imagine a life without you in it. I am greedy for you, your love, your body, your soul, and your mind, and I don't want to do anything to change my greed. I love you, Bambi—ti amo tanto," he confessed, loud and clear, as he knelt before me on the floor and held my hands.

Silence roamed the room after what he said for quite a bit until I sobbed my heart out. "Why are you crying? I hate seeing your tears, Bambi."

"Those are happy tears," I clarified as he wiped my cheeks with his thumbs. "I must be out of my mind because I do love the Italian Mafia Don wholeheartedly." His gaze softened at my words. "It feels surreal saying it aloud, but I love you, Dario Romano. You make me feel loved and protected. I don't think you are selfish or greedy. I think we are a not-so-normal couple who are shamelessly in love with each other."

I held his face and kissed his nose. "Let's have that bath now," I whispered as I hugged him. "But I need help taking off my dress."

He looked at me with a smirk, and I instantly regretted my words. "Your wish is my command, my queen." He bowed and got to work. I heard the clips being opened, and I let him do it. I was not shy anymore around him.

"Do you want me to keep my boxers on?" He asked once I was stripped from my dress and was left in my undergarments, which were lacy black. From the look on his face, he liked what he saw.

I thought about what he asked and cleared my throat. "No..." I said, and his eyes widened. "But we are not doing it."

"Bambi, how many times do I have to tell you... I know. I am waiting for the special night," he replied softly and winked, making my stomach flip. He took off his clothes and kept the boxers on as he led me to his bathtub, filled with warm water and bubbles.

"When did you manage to do that?"

He put his hands on my shoulders, making me look at his handsome face. "I didn't, Enola did. Andrea was crying with his nanny, so Matia and Enola had to leave earlier than anticipated. I saw a golden opportunity and took it." He wrapped me in his huge and warm embrace, and I sighed, contented in his chest. Not a second later, I felt him uncliping my bra, leaving me topless and, dare I say, eager.

"You are stunning, amore. Those perky tits will be the death of me," he groaned as I felt his buddy get excited since I was pressed into his body. I cleared my throat to let him look at my eyes, and he gave me a lazy grin.

"Finish the job, will you?" I demanded as I pointed to my lacy panties that did not leave much to the imagination, and he did not waste a second. His hands moved swiftly and gently.

I was buck naked, and he was still in his boxers. So. I womaned up and slid them off him. My eyes widened at the sight.

He is huge.

"Like what you see?"

I shook my head. "Terrified."

He thought I was joking, but my scared expression said otherwise. "Oh, you are serious. It will be alright, Bambi. Don't think about it now. We will cross that bridge when we get to it."

"You mean when I fall on it," I blurted out without thinking and hid my face with my hands.

Stupid.

"I like the sound of that," he laughed so hard that I almost did not recognize him, so I slapped his head, got into the tub, and faced the window. It was too embarrassing. I take back my words; I was still shy around him. "Now, now, that wasn't very nice, amore." He also got into the tub, making water spill all over the bathroom floor.

"Fatass," I commended, trying to tease him. However, he lifted me as he got seated and made me sit on his lap. His friend said hello to my buttcrack, but I did not dare move.

"Pure muscle, Bambi." His hands rested on my boobs, and I laid my back on his chest, getting more comfortable.

"Your gunshot wound is okay now?" I remarked as I kissed his palms.

"All good. My body got used to these traumas," he tried to joke, but I pinched his thigh. "I am sorry. But anyway, let me massage you," he suggested, and I smiled at the idea.

My idea of a massage was different from his.

Let's just say we both got satisfied by midnight and worn out by three a.m.

If this intensity is without going all the way, what will happen after?

Will there be an after with Dario?

~~~ 

4.11.2023 

I so love them together! Do you?  

I will update chapter 54 in the next hour. Stay tuned!