Luring Light - K.E. Osborn Page 0,20
as he snickers to himself, I widen my eyes when everyone turns to face us. Their eyes widen as well—it’s like they forgot we were here.
Matteo grunts, standing from Mia’s bed, straightening out his suit. “The thing is, prospect, the way you look at Ivy, you’ve played yours, too. Guess it makes us both vulnerable.”
I scrunch my brows, Dash flaring his nostrils as he lashes out, “You don’t know shit!”
“Enough with the pissing contest, we’re here to introduce Ivy to Mia. Nothing more,” Tony interrupts Matteo and Dash in whatever the hell that little display was all about.
My eyes meet Mia’s, which are practically glowing in happiness, even though her weakened body doesn’t show the same light. “It’s nice to meet you, Ivy.”
I give a little wave. “Nice to meet you, too, Mia. I’m going to help you with some… um, stuff,” I say, not really sure what they’ve told her about me or what I’m allowed to tell Mia.
“You’re the one with the golden blood?”
With wide eyes, my head spins to Tony. “Matteo likes to tell her stories of a fair maiden who will come save her, she has golden blood, and, well, Mia loves a good fairy tale.”
“Uncle Matty tells the best ones.” Mia shines with such excitement as Matteo winks at her.
“So, are you her? The fair maiden?” Mia asks, bouncing up and down on the edge of her bed, excitedly.
“Mia, don’t waste your energy, principessa,” Tony warns.
She instantly stops bouncing as her big doe eyes stare up at mine.
She’s so freaking adorable, I can’t deny her. “Yes. I’m the maiden Uncle Matty told you about.” I shift my eyes to Matteo, and he grimaces—pretty sure nobody else calls him Matty.
Oh well, he can deal with it.
“I’m gonna try to make you feel better, Mia.”
Her face lights up as if I’ve just told her I’m the fricking Tooth Fairy, or like all her Christmases have come at once. “Thank you, Ivy. Can you stay and play dress-ups?”
My eyes shift to Dash. “Only if Dash can play, too.”
Matteo snorts out a laugh as Dash cracks his fingers with his cocky smirk. “I dunno, I mean, really? I’ve never played dress-ups before and not sure I want to start now.”
Matteo purses his lips like he’s unimpressed by Dash’s less-than-enthusiastic attitude.
“Oh! Can I put makeup on you?” Mia gushes.
Matteo glares at Dash, almost snarling at him. “Dash, I’m sure you don’t want to let the little principessa down, now do you?”
Dash rolls his shoulders, his eyes meeting mine pleadingly.
I grimace as Tony grips my bicep. “Ivy, I need you to come with me. We have a technician in a room across the hall who’s ready to start,” Tony states.
Taking in a deep breath, I bob my head. “Okay, yep. Sure.”
“It will take some time. Dash will stay in here with Mia. There’s no need for him to come, we are literally across the hall. I need Mia occupied, and I need your full attention,” Tony talks directly to me.
I turn to Dash, who’s preoccupied with having an Elsa costume held up to his torso. “Dash, I’m gonna be across the hall getting this done.”
“Right, I’ll come with.” He’s desperate.
“No, you stay here. Entertain Mia. Get made up all pretty, but make sure you keep it all on to show me when I’m done.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want you out of my sight. The VP would kill me if anything happened to you.”
“I’m going to ensure Ivy is well cared for, Dash. Thank you for playing with Mia, I appreciate it.”
Dash somberly slams his ass down on a tiny little plastic pink chair as Mia pulls out her children’s kit of makeup. Matteo steps in beside him, leaning against the wall with his arms folded over his huge chest with a slight upturn of his lips—I can tell Matteo’s going to enjoy this.
The DeLucas lead me out of Mia’s room and across the hall.
“Without your blood…” Amalia’s eyes flood with tears, “… I just don’t know what will happen to Mia or how much longer she will have.”
Exhaling, I reach for her hand, squeezing it. “Everything’s going to be just fine.”
Amalia quickly wipes a stray tear from her eye. Her tough Mafia queen exterior falls firmly back in place as Tony opens the door to the room. Laughter from Mia’s room echoes across the hall, making me smile as I take in the sterility of the room I’m walking into—it’s like doctor’s surgery in here. A patient bed sits in