Giovanni took hold of her hand and kissed her knuckles.“We know that drug is being used against women.It helps them relax, become more compliant.”
He saw her frown.“What are you trying to say?”
“I feared the reason we had such an amazing time together was because of the drug.”
“And that bothered you?”Mia asked.
“I never want to take advantage of my wife,” Giovanni said.“I want you to know you can always be safe and protected with me.I will never push, nor will I force you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Oh, Giovanni, I know that,” Mia said.“I do.That time, the drug, it must have just helped me lower my walls and ask for what I wanted.”She tightened her grip around his hand.
“It did?”
“Yeah, of course it did.Trust me, I would not do anything I didn’t want to do.”
“You married me,” Giovanni said.
Mia opened and closed her mouth.“Okay, I kind of didn’t have a choice in that one, but I did and didn’t want to marry you.”
He raised his brows at her.
She rolled her eyes.“I didn’t want to get married because I was terrified and if I am completely honest, it is because my parents told me I had to get married.I didn’t have a choice, and all the childish stuff aside, and the problems we have, I kind of like being married to you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, I do.Do you like being married to me?”
He fucking loved this woman.She was everything he didn’t even realize he was missing.
“Yeah, I do,” he said.
“You hesitated.”
He chuckled.“I wanted you to know I was thinking of my answer.”
Mia laughed.“I don’t want to keep...”She stopped and let out a groan.“I hate being referred to as a child.”He saw the tears fill her eyes.“It is all that has ever been said to me.My parents, my brothers.I hate being mocked because I try to find happiness in everything.I don’t have the trauma Clarissa has, but I know the world is crap, and not because we’re part of the mafia, but the world is awful.I can see it, and I don’t like it.However, I refuse to add to that nastiness.I want to choose positivity over negativity, and happiness over sadness, and try to find the joy in everything.I like to dress up in stupid costumes or have parties to celebrate spring or summer.It helps make life seem more ...fulfilling.”
Giovanni cupped her face and tilted her head back.“I don’t think you’re childish.Trust me, there is no way I see you as a child in any way.”And then he kissed her.
“I am so glad I brushed my teeth,” Mia said.
He laughed.
“You’ve been gone two weeks,” Mia said.“What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing.”He didn’t want to lie to his wife, so he told her what he had been dealing with.He also made her understand that under no circumstances was it to leave the room.Her friends could not know.
“Don’t you think it is dangerous to not let everyone know?”
“We’re not creating a panic.”
“Have you been able to find those girls?”Mia asked.
He shook his head.
Mia sighed.“What are you going to do?”
“Keep looking.”
