Page List

Font Size:

“Can’t you train her not to invade others’ personal space?” I asked, clutching his shirt while making circles around him, trying to get away from the curious animal.

“I hate to break it to you, but you’re the one in her personal space.Ora cammina,(now walk),” Buddha removed my hand from his shirt, then placed his palm on my lower back, gently pushing me forward. I was so tired of this giant of a man ordering me around. I was looking forward to escaping tonight while he slept.

I held my breath as Buddha clutched my hand as he led me into the massive dining room, with a huge oak table and six chairs. It was obvious we were late because everyone was already seated. I swallowed an uncomfortable lump in my throat as all eyes were now focused on Buddha and me.

“Oh, look, Tomasso, at who’s finally decided to grace us with his presence,” a woman who I can only assume was Tomasso’s wife and the mother of the siblings. Even though she was addressing Buddha, her eyes were on me. She was gorgeous and dressed as if she wasn’t about to have breakfast in her home. She looked as though she belonged in a fancy restaurant.She wore a yellow dress, her grey hair in a single braid that stopped past her shoulders. Her jewelry was simple, but I could tell they were expensive. Her chocolate complexion was flawless, with not one single wrinkle. Buddha definitely got his color from his mother, and his striking looks were a mixture of both his parents.

“Scusa mamma, (excuse ma). I apologize, but my guest slept late; it won’t happen again.” Buddha apologized on my behalf.

“You need to get your soon-to-be wife in line,” Tomasso said, speaking as if I were some sort of untrained animal. I should cuss his ass out right now for that obscene remark. Buddha squeezed my hand; he held it tight as if he could sense my thoughts.

“Tomasso, don’t be rude. What’s your name, child?”

“Dior,” I answered, and she smiled, probably intrigued that I was named after her favorite designer.

“That’s a very pretty name. I’m Victoria, and you already met Tomasso. That’s my other son, Vincent, his wife Ciara, and our daughter Sofia. Our grandson Rocki is in the kitchen having breakfast with the chef. He likes it there before you judge us. Please, you and your fiancé have a seat,” she smiled proudly after saying the word fiancé.

Hiding my annoyance at her choice of words, Buddha pulled a chair for me, and I sat down, as he did the same beside me. I wondered if everyone around this table knew that I had been kidnapped by Tomasso and was to be married off to Buddha? Something told me the answer was yes, but what would they do? Tomasso was obviously someone nobody would cross, not even his kids.

“Somebody actually wants to marry Phillipe? Your brain probably needs a jumpstart,” the female next to Snow said. Shelooked me over in disgust. I could tell she would be pretty if she didn’t look as strung out as she did.

“Ciara, try to shut the fuck up when you speak,” Buddha said, looking at his sister-in-law with irritation. Ciara flipped him her middle finger.

“It’s too early for this useless banter. Everyone has met Dior, who is now about to be part of the family. Now,mangiamo,” (let’s eat), Tomasso said, pointing at the massive spread laid out on the table.

“Good luck being a part of this fucking dysfunctional mad house. You’ll need it,” Sofia interjected as she stretched with a fork in her hand to take a pastry I recognized as a cornetto from a couple of model jobs that involved sampling exotic dishes. It’s basically like a croissant, filled mainly with chocolate or cream cheese.

I admired Sofia; she was very pretty and took more after Tomasso’s features. She was pale in complexion, with a pointy nose and long, straight hair. It was probably hell being the only female, trying to exist with brothers like Buddha and Snow.

“Thank you for giving me your clothing,” I said with a slight smile. She paused in the middle of picking up her pastry. Sofia stared at my outfit and then turned her attention to Buddha.

“I thought that outfit looked familiar. Phillipe, you really walked into my home while I was out with Rocki and took my shit?” Hearing her say that Buddha took her clothes without her permission had me wishing the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

“I told you I was grabbing a couple of things. It’s not like you’re clothes-starved,” Buddha replied, pouring himself a cup of cappuccino and taking a sip.

“Coglione, (moron). You said Lotus ran out of dog food, so you were taking some of Jax’s.”

Good grief, this family sure loved having dogs as pets. I sat feeling very uncomfortable and out of place, knowing their disagreement was because of me. I was extremely hungry but did not attempt to put a single piece of food on my plate.

“Relax and eat your fucking cornetto,” Buddha said, filling his cup with more cappuccino because his first cup was already finished. He reached for a few slices of toast and a heaping serving of scrambled eggs. Not even bothering to offer me anything, even though I had been on my best behavior.

“Phillipe, are you going to sit and wolf your food down and not put any on your fiancée’s plate?” Victoria spoke on my behalf just as my stomach rumbled. Buddha turned to look at me, but I kept my head straight, avoiding his piercing glare. He then continued eating, paying me no mind.

“Her hands don’t look broken to me. She could fix her own plate,” I ground my jaw, knowing if I didn’t, I would answer, and then he may pull his gun out and place it to my temple. I knew he had his gun on him because I saw him tuck it in his waist before we left the house.

The clanking sound of a fork dropping on a plate made everyone freeze. I looked over at Victoria, who had an expression on her face that said she was not amused by her son’s answer.

“Mi scusi? (Excuse me).” Victoria asked with her right eyebrow cocked in the air. Her expression said she was daring her son to repeat himself. Slowly, I turned to Buddha, who began chewing really slowly as he looked at his mother. Sighing softly, he turned in my direction.

“What do you want?” Buddha’s question was asked as though he was hoping I would say nothing. However, I was about to enjoy this.

“Can I have a couple of slices of toast, some eggs, bacon, and a cup of coffee, please?” I ended my menu with a sweetsmile. I could tell Buddha was thinking of some curse words he would love to tell me, but he held his tongue.

Buddha looked me up and down before he began plating my food out. “Also, some butter so I can put on my slices of bread,” I added just to fuck with him. He paused and looked over his shoulder at me. I knew he was cussing me out in his mind.

“I told you that you met your match,” Snow said, laughing softly.

“Shut the fuck up. You've got bigger problems being married to Ursula the sea witch over there,” Buddha said as he placed my breakfast in front of me.