Drawn To Darkness (Kings Of Mafia)

After Eden falls asleep, I lay her down on the bed and cover her with the blanket.

I quickly go to my office and place my weapons in the cabinet. Grabbing my laptop, I head back to the bedroom so I can watch over Eden while I work.

Careful not to wake her, I get comfortable on my side of the bed and open the device.

I have just as much interest in finding Miguel as Damiano has.

I have a couple of photos of the man, and uploading them all to my facial recognition app, I start the search for him.

Opening another program, I go into the dark web, offering a reward of one million dollars for whoever has information on the whereabouts of Miguel.

Done with that, I enter chat rooms and search for code words that drug dealers like to use. I spend the next couple of hours, sifting through shit, but I don’t find anything we can use to our advantage.

Knowing Damiano will want an update, I dig my cell phone out of my pocket and send him a message.

Busy searching for Miguel. Will update you when I have news.

I set the phone to silent mode before placing it on the bedside table.

Glancing at Eden, I’m struck square in the chest by a wave of relief.

I have her back.

I place the laptop next to my phone, and lying down on my side, I stare at her sleeping face.

Christ, I’m never letting you out of my sight again.

I need to get her a tracker.

And guards.

I want her protected at all times.

Lifting my hand, I gently brush my fingers over her hair.

So this is what it feels like to love a woman with all my heart.

When she’s in danger, there’s only excruciating pain, and when she’s close by and safe, there’s a peaceful calmness.

My eyes drift over her face, touching on the bruises that look much worse today.

She’s been through hell.

I wish I could wipe her memory.

I keep brushing my hand over her head, but then she starts to stir and mumbles, “Stop.”

Pulling my hand away, I expect her to settle down again, but instead, her breathing speeds up, and she grips the pillow beneath her head, her body straining.

“NoNoNoNoNo.” Her voice is tight with panic.

“Tesoro,” I murmur, gently shaking her shoulder so she’ll wake up.

“Stop!”

As the scream tears from her, I sit up in time to catch her when she darts up, her eyes opening wide. Horror bleeds over her face, making her look pale as fuck.

“It’s just a dream,” I say as I hold her close.

She shakes her head, her breaths not calming down. Her fingers grip the sweater I’m wearing tightly, her body trembling severely.

“You’re safe.” I begin to rock her, hoping it will help calm her. “I’m here, Tesoro. No one can get to you.”

She clings to me, and minutes pass before her breathing returns to normal. She doesn’t move but keeps still in my arms with her face buried against my chest.

Her tone sounds haunted when she whispers, “I hallucinated Mandy brushing her hand over my hair, but I think it was Milania.”

Shit, I triggered her trauma.

“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“Huh?” She lifts her head and gives me a confused look.

“While you were sleeping, I caressed your hair, which must’ve triggered you,” I explain. “Sorry, Tesoro.”

“Oh.” She tries to give me a brave smile, busted lip and all. “Don’t worry. I’m okay.”

Christ, this woman is incredible.

She catches me staring at her and asks, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m just thinking that you’re the strongest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, and I’m one hell of a lucky man because you’re mine.”

“Yeah?” A smile tugs at her mouth, and moving onto her knees, she wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m yours?”

“Yes.” Engulfing her in my arms, I stare into her gray eyes until I lose myself in them. “You’re mine, Eden. I’m never letting you go.”

She brings a hand to my face and brushes her fingers over my jaw.

Caught up in each other, my heart overflows with love for her, and for the first time in my life, I say the words to a woman.

“I love you.”

Instead of looking happy, Eden’s face starts to crumble, and a second later, she bursts out in tears.

I’m just about to haul her against my chest again when she looks at me through her tears.

“You have no idea how much hearing those words mean to me.” She presses a kiss to my mouth. “That’s all I ever wanted. Just to be loved for who I am.”

Christ.

Hearing how much she needed to be loved makes me wish I had met her much sooner.

“I love you, Eden,” I say again, my voice a little hoarse with emotion. “So fucking much my heart feels like it’s going to burst.”

She lets out a chuckle, and finally giving me a happy smile, she plasters herself to me. Near my ear, she whispers, “I love you too, baby.”

Her declaration washes over me, calming the darkness that was unleashed in me over the past two days.

Our timing might’ve been off, but we both needed to hear the words that bind us together for life.

Lying down with Eden in my arms, I kiss her tenderly, careful not to hurt her.

Just as she lets out a needy moan, Esmerelda calls from the doorway, “Lunch is ready.”

“Come on,” I say, pulling Eden out of bed.

We head out of the room, and taking the stairs down, we’re greeted by an excited Bella. I pick up my furball and rub her head as I walk to the kitchen.

Seeing Tyrone sitting by the island in the kitchen, already eating, a smile tugs at my mouth.

“Are you settling in okay?” I ask, opening the fridge to grab two beers.

“Yeah. Esmerelda’s nice.”

My eyebrow lifts when I see the interest in his eyes the second my housekeeper enters the kitchen.

Placing a beer in front of him, I say, “I know. She’s like a mother to me.”

“Am I not getting a beer?” Eden asks as she takes a seat by the island.

“No.” I give her a pointed look. “You’re still recovering.”

I sit down beside her as Tyrone asks, “How you feeling, baby girl?”

“A little out of it.” She waves a hand in the air. “I’ll be fine tomorrow.”

Esmerelda places two bowls of chicken soup in front of us, and it has me scowling. “I’m not sick.”

“We all eat what Eden eats,” she grumbles at me.

Just as I’m about to argue, she brings a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches.

“That’s better,” I mutter as I help myself to one.

My housekeeper sits down beside Tyrone and adds more sandwiches to his plate.

We eat in silence for a while, then Tyrone mentions, “You have a nice place, Dario. A bit big, but nice all the same.”

“What was your reaction when you walked into the penthouse the first time?” Eden asks.

Tyrone just shrugs.

“He was a little overwhelmed,” Esmerelda busts him. “He also called me ma’am like Eden did when we met.”

“Felt like I was meeting royalty or some shit,” Tyrone mutters.

As we continue to eat our food, I keep glancing at Eden, constantly needing to make sure she’s next to me.

She doesn’t eat as much as I had hoped she would.

She pushes her bowl away and smiles at Esmerelda. “Thanks for lunch. Can I help clean up?”

“No, that’s my job,” Esmerelda replies. “You can go back to bed and get more rest.” She shoots me a serious look. “Don’t keep her up.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I mutter before I finish the last of my sandwich.

Eden gets up and gives Tyrone’s arm a squeeze before she leaves the kitchen with Bella trailing behind her.

As soon as she’s gone, Tyrone locks eyes with me. “How’s she really doing?”

I shake my head. “I’m not sure. She went through a lot, so it will take time for her to heal.”

“Did she tell you what happened?”

I nod.

“Bad shit?” he asks, looking concerned.

Yeah, bad shit.

Getting up from my chair, I say, “I’ll let her tell you when she’s ready. Okay?”

“Should I be worried?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. She’s very strong.”

“Yeah.” He glances in the direction of the stairs. “She is.”

“Thanks for the food,” I tell Esmerelda before I leave the kitchen to check on Eden.

“You’re welcome,” she calls after me.

When I head up the stairs, I hear Tyrone say, “Let me help you. It will drive me crazy sitting around and doing nothing all day.”

“Okay. That would be nice.”

A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, and when I walk into the bedroom, I let out a chuckle when I see Bella curled up next to Eden.

I could get used to seeing my woman in my bed.