Page 15 of Mafia Star

Matteo walks over to where I was standing near one of the open windows. Marco’s slower to follow.

“I was just going to ask you the same thing. I just finished staging the model.”

“We came to see how it looks. I’m always interested in seeing the final product of buildings I design.”

My brow furrows.

“I didn’t realize you were the architect on this project. I didn’t think it was a Mancinelli holding.”

“It’s not. I was hired to do the design. Someone else did the build.”

I dart my gaze to Marco, who’s remaining silent.

“Well, I love it. I was just thinking I wouldn’t mind if this were my place. You gave me a lot of options to work with in here.”

“I’m glad you like it. You’ve turned it into a gorgeous space. Far better than I left it as a sterile, vacant loft.”

Marco finally pulls something out of his ass to say.

“Did you design all the units?”

“Yes.”

Now I’m the one who’s gone mute. Both men wait for me to elaborate. I can’t string a thought together as I fight not to stare at Marco. He’s in perfectly tailored trousers, and a polo shirt that is clearly not off any rack. The sleeves are tight where they end around his biceps, and it stretches taught over his pecs. But you can tell there’s some room around his ribs down to his tapered waist, even though the shirt is tucked tightly into his pants. Gorgeous. Just fucking gorgeous.

“I designed the retail space on the first two floors then did all the residential units up here. One of my colleagues did the floor of office suites.”

Marco steps next to Matteo, so now I could touch him if I dared. His voice is like smooth bourbon. It’s rich but still burns as it goes down.

“You do retail and residential interior design but not other types of commercial?”

“I do. But this was a massive project, so I asked for help. I work on all sorts of urban designs, but I specialize in retail. Residential is just a personal enjoyment that I’m good at too.”

Marco smiles, and it’s like a wolf grinning before it devours a lamb.

“Good at many things, I’m sure.”

Matteo doesn’t seem to notice any innuendo there, so maybe I’m just reading into it. Instead, he twists to look around.

“Are you leaving? Is there time for me to be nosy?”

“Definitely. The door locks when you pull it shut. Take your time.”

I want to escape. Matteo goes in one direction, and I go in the other. I try to walk past Marco, but his hand lands on my ass and squeezes. When I try to take another step, his hold tightens mercilessly. He doesn’t let go, but he steps behind me.

“Are you being more aware of your surroundings when you’re at the club, piccolina?”

He releases my ass, now just cupping it. My heart races, and I’m torn between leaning back against him and wanting to bolt. I opt for taking two steps forward then whirling around.

“I’ve been just fine. Like always.”

He grins at me but says nothing else. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. If his cousin weren’t here, would he make some kind of move beyond what he just did? Would we be fucking by now? I know I wouldn’t say no. Chelle’s due back in three days from her honeymoon. I don’t know if that makes me want to hurry up and bang him before she returns. Or do I not even care? I’m leaning toward the latter.

I’ve gone from a lamb to the slaughter to a deer in headlights again. He moves until his right shoulder presses against my right shoulder. His right hand is on my left hip.

“Be more careful there, little one. Don’t let your luck run out. I will know if someone bothers you. And I won’t ignore it. So pay better attention to who’s watching and following you, Beth.”

He presses a kiss to my lips that’s so brief I have no chance to respond. Then he’s walking past me to join Matteo in the dining room. What the ever-loving fuck does “and I won’t ignore it” mean? I don’t know the specifics, but I already guessed what type of family my little sister married into. Does that mean he’d whack someone for me? Is that fucked-up or sweet? It’s fucking sweet, I guess. Something is seriously wrong with me.

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