Page 33 of Desperate Decisions

“You too, jackass.”

CHAPTER 12

AMARA

“Are you okay after last night?” Gianna asked.

I shrugged. “I guess so. He didn’t do any worse than what you saw at dinner.”

“Thank fuck. I was worried. I never know where exactly the men in the compound lie when it comes to their treatment of women. Marco said we can trust Elio, but Enzo feels like a wild card.”

“They’re all playing a fucking dangerous game. I feel like a total anarchist at the compound because I think their hierarchy is stupid.”

Gianna laughed as she guided me through the kitchen of her restaurant and up to the office she worked from. “I feel the same. From monarchies down to mafia bosses. I’m just like…why the fuck does everyone listen to you?”

“Right?”

“Anyhoo, you’ll work here with me. The office will be a little bit cramped with two of us, but we’ll get you your own desk and your own computer. Hopefully we can get this place to make enough money that we don’t get watched so hard. I hate that it’s out of the family right now.”

“That’s because Bianca is a cuntasaurus rex. I wouldn’t want her to have a hold on anything.”

Gianna sighed and settled in her chair. “Right? It’s a shame she has so much power over our mates. Do you think it would be out of line for me to ask you to cook more than one set of books?”

“How so?”

She hesitated for a moment before ushering me closer. “I feel like you and I can be friends and have a certain level of trust.”

“Agreed.”

“In a few years this place will be mine again, and I would like to be able to show Bianca we’re making money, but not all the money. I need legitimate books to submit for taxation and I need books for Bianca, but I need the actual truth to be hidden from everyone.”

“Oh, fuck yes. We’ll turn this into the best fucking money laundering front the world has ever seen and I will hide as much as I can get away with.”

Gianna let out a squeak of excitement and pulled me into a hug. “I know the compound sucks, but I’m so excited to have you around.”

I was certainly glad to have an ally that I hoped to call a friend soon enough. I couldn’t exactly go back to my old friend group, not with how much danger it would put them in. Building up a new network wasn’t ideal, but it was necessary. At least Gianna was making an easy start for me.

I spent the day going over some of the existing books for the last year and making a plan of attack. This place wasn’t as profitable as it needed to be for Gianna’s plan to work, but it would be doable. At the very least, it would be something worthwhile to occupy our days with.

When the day was over and we went to leave, we found Elio seated downstairs, waiting. “Ready?”

“What are you doing here? Gianna was going to drive us back.”

“I want some time with you before we go back.”

Gianna squeezed her cheeks, an absolutely delighted expression on her face.

“What are you so happy about?” I asked.

“It’s just so cute. I never expect it out of mafia men.”

“Go home, Gianna,” Elio ordered. "We’re going to borrow your office for a while.”

Lust rippled through me.

“Have fun.” Gianna waved. “Don’t fuck up my filing system, and sanitize the desk when you’re done.”

Elio gave her a small smile and nodded, passing her to collect me and usher me right back into the office on the far side of the kitchen. The moment the door was closed, his mouth was on mine and he pressed me up against the wall.

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