Page 16 of My Merciless Don

CHAPTER TWELVE

AUDRY

It took a couple of days, but soon I was quite comfortable. Whatever plans Marco was making, all I could do was wait until he told me what they were. Meanwhile I took the time to familiarize myself with how the clan operated. They seemed to be a well-oiled machine, with everybody knowing what their role was and what their duties were. Marco did not seem to be much of a micromanager, in fact I saw him delegate quite a bit.

I was wrong about the mother and sister though; they weren't just there for decoration. Lucia seemed to have some kind of role in accounting, while his mother Giovanna sat in at all the meetings.

They were very different from the way I had pictured them.

I didn’t like how Giovanna looked at me though – her eyes filled with sadness like she was seeing someone else. It freaked me out a little. I wanted to ask what her deal was, but in the greater scheme of things, it didn’t really matter.

I wandered over to the kitchen at lunch time the next day, feeling kind of bored and at a loose end. I stopped short as I got to the door of the kitchen, blinking twice in surprise. Marco was there, slaving over the stove in an apron emblazoned with the legend, ‘kiss the cook’.

It was like a fever dream or a fantasy.

“Am I dreaming?” I said aloud.

He turned around, spatula in hand and rolled his eyes before turning back to stir the pot – all puns intended. I stepped into the kitchen, staring at him in fascination. “The Capo Cassio cooks?” I said.

He quirked an eyebrow at me, smirking, “Wow, a bit sexist to be so surprised, don’t you think?”

I barked with surprised laughter. This man was just one surprise after another. “My bad. I did not realize that the mafia had caught up to the 21st century.”

He smirked. “What Neanderthals have you been consorting with?”

I shrugged, leaning my hip against the counter next to him. “Clearly the wrong kind. I need to update my rolodex.”

“Oh, that's your first mistake. You're still using a rolodex.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “The thing about rolodex is they can't be hacked.”

“Mmm.” He gave me a mock serious nod. “Indeed.”

I returned his look. “It's not just a conspiracy theory that the government is watching you.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “Of course. I like to have nice chats with the FBI agent watching my laptop just like everyone else.”

I sniggered, taking a step closer to him before bending my leg so that my knee brushed against his thigh. “And pop culture savvy too! There is no end to your surprises.”

He grinned. “I contain multitudes.”

I leaned forward placing my chin on his shoulder and breathing him in. He smelled of sandalwood and mint with a distant echo of tobacco. “I see that. I'm intrigued; can’t wait to uncover them all.”

He took a step away from me, seeming overly interested in stirring the pasta in the pot and didn't respond. My eyes narrowed as I stared at him, trying to figure him out. I wanted to say to him, ‘I know you like me so why pretend?’ But I was embarrassed to and besides, it didn't pay to come off as needy. That was too much of a turnoff for an alpha male like him.

However, I needed to know what was stopping us from being hot and heavy. Was it his catholic upbringing? Was he good with guns and drugs, but not fornication? I was beginning to think that with Marco, it could absolutely be anything.

I bitterly regretted not looking into his romantic history, though with a man as private as he was, it was probably hard information to get. Then I had an idea and I sashayed over to the sink, plucked two glasses from the shelf and filled them with cold water.

I swayed back over to him and affected to trip, spilling water all over his pristine black silk shirt. “Oh no!” I cried, putting the glasses down and grabbing a cloth. I began to dab at this shirt, unbuttoning it to reach his naked chest.

His hard, muscular, naked chest.

I put my palm flat on his left boob, just reveling in the feel of him. I wanted to know what it would be like to have him on top of me, inside of me, around me… I was breathless just thinking about it. He stepped away from me and I opened my eyes, only then realizing they had been closed.

“What…?” I said, blinking in confusion.

He gave me a serious look, wiping the water away from his own chest. “Look, I appreciate the interest,” he said.

---