Page 55 of Forbidden Obsession

More laughter shot from him. “You got a woman I don’t know about? Only women make you goofy as fuck.”

“How would you know?”

“Because I do, motherfucker.”

He howled, and I shook my head.

“So maybe I do. You should try getting one, and I don’t mean anyone, a woman that loves you, eh?”

“You can’t trust women, Bruno, you know that. What’s gotten into you?”

“I used to believe that bullshit. But I’m telling you, the right one will keep your heart beating long into our dark nights, huh?”

I sucked my teeth and stared at him. I was internally fighting this strange adoration I had for Penelope. And this motherfucker wasn’t making it easy.

“How are operations here?”

“Operations are fine. I run a tight ship. My capos don’t fuck up like the rumors I’ve heard about the capos back in New York City.”

“Yeah? What have you heard?”

“The Black Rose.” His face tightened; jaw locked. “Whoever this fucker is, he’s wreaking havoc, and I don’t understand why we haven’t killed this son of a bitch.”

I nodded. “Soon.”

“That’s what I keep hearing, but this guy disappears, then reappears periodically like some fuckin’ ghost. We’ve got to get a handle on this.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“Maybe.”

“Do you?”

“No.”

“No?”

“You can’t confront a ghost; the only way to bring him out of the shadows is to have something he wants. Until we know what that is, I plan to protect those around me. Ghost or goblin, no one can get past me.”

He nodded, smirked, then slapped me on the back.

“That’s the truth. I’m proud of you. You’ve made one helluva underboss. I always knew you would.”

“Yeah, yeah, don’t get sentimental on me.”

“I will if I want to, damn it.”

I glared at him, and he laughed. “Why are we talking in the helicopter? You hiding something in there?”

I sucked my teeth again. “There’s a woman inside.”

“A woman?” He perked up.

“Don’t get excited.”

“Why? You’ve never given a damn about a woman enough to bring her here, of all places.”

“Now you’re in my business.”

---