Page 82 of A New Days Don

Smooth save.

You shut up.

“That doesn’t look like Karmin’s house.” My mother notes, “Where are you, Mila? You know your father, and I worry about you.” She turns away from the screen before I can answer her, “Jaime, this is what I mean. We need to have her location on. Letting her turn it off last year was a mistake–”

My cheeks flush with embarrassment and anger. At 26 years old, I am still being watched over by my parents like I am some troublesome teenager. They don’t trust me to be alone, not since my assault. I don’t blame them per se. I know it was hard on them to know that while they slept, their daughter was being hurt, but I still deserve to live my life. Both of them have suffocated me for so long. I want to be an adult, a normal adult. Not one that needs a babysitter.

“This is where you have been? This is why Karmin hasn’t been able to meet for your weekly brunch?” My mother scolds me, and I grit my teeth.

“No. I have been dealing with a huge case. Karmin knows that. Also, quit putting stress on my only friend to keep tabs on me. I’m not her responsibility.” Despite the anger pulsing through me, I manage to keep my tone calm.

“Mila,” My father speaks this time, and I sink even further into the couch. I would hang up on them both if I could trust they wouldn’t get on the first flight to Vegas. “Your mother and I want to make sure you are staying safe. This, walking into random strangers’ homes, is not safe.”

“He’s not a stranger!” I snap before covering my mouth. The damage is already done.

Both my mother's and father’s eyes go wide in shock, “Tell me you aren’t at a boy’s house.” My mother says slowly, as if I am some teenager she needs to keep away from boys.

“Mom, please.” I beg, “Let’s forget what I said.”

“Mila Elizabeth Lewis,” My mother snaps at me, and I curse under my breath.

“Mom, stop. I’m 26 years old. I’m an adult.” I try to reason with her slowly reddening image on the other side of the phone.

“You are right.” My father cuts my mother off, “I think what your mother is trying to say is that you can’t go waltzing into strange men’s homes.”

My father’s voice of reason comes through.

“Is that his shirt?” My mom pipes up, but my father puts his hand on her thigh to calm her.

Both of my parents freeze so perfectly still that I am convinced the line may have dropped until I hear, “Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis.”

Massimo’s voice is smooth as silk, caressing down my body and simmering the rage in my veins. My mother’s mouth opens and closes, unsure of what to say. I snort in response.

That’s a first.

“Mila,” my father says in his quiet, warning tone.

I can understand my father’s apprehension as I look at the corner of my screen to where the video of Massimo and I are. He is bent over at the hips, his arms resting on the top edge of the couch. He is still shirtless with every inch of his torso, tattoos and all, on display. He looks massive next to my petite figure, something that sends my brain into a wicked frenzy.

Luckily, I don’t have to conjure up a response because Massimo speaks for me, “I apologize for the state of undress. We were just getting comfortable for the evening. I didn’t realize Mila was on the phone.”

“Who is this?!” My mother hisses, clearly trying to avoid angering the beast of a man beside me. I turn my head to Massimo, who is mere inches away from me. His gaze finds mine like a moth to a flame, and he winks before he speaks again.

“I’m Massimo Bianchi, your daughter’s boyfriend.” Massimo returns his gaze to my parents, but the phone has already fallen to the floor.

“What?!” I whisper while leaning over, pinning him with a shocked glare. Massimo turns back to me, smirking and winking at me. As if his smoulder and swoon worthy wink will solve the bombshell he dropped. I hadn’t even been asked yet.

“Sorry, butter fingers and all,” I say sheepishly to the phone. My mother looks moments away from passing out, while my father murmurs something to her, most likely trying to calm her.

The sound of a buzzer echoes, and Massimo pipes up again, “Dinner is here. Next time you are in the city, give us a ring. I would love to take you both out. Mila has told me so much about you, it's about time we meet.”

Massimo kisses the top of my head, leaving me to deal with the aftermath.

Chapter 34

Mila

“MILA ELIZABETH LEWIS!” My best friend’s voice rings through from the other end of my phone in the early hours of the morning on what was an anxious walk to work. With the cruiser destroyed, the house that blew up all over the news, and Gerardo’s email this morning, I don’t know what I will be walking into, but it won’t be good.