Page 11 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

Andre chuckles, placing a hand on my waist and drawing me close to him. Not enough where my body is plush against his, but enough where I can inhale his intoxicating scent of bergamot and sandalwood.

I let my eyes flutter closed for a moment, reveling in the presence of this man who towers over me. I’m five foot three on a good day, and even in ridiculous heels I barely reach Andre’s chest.

I am going to climb him like a tree.

“After you,” he says as the elevator doors open, and I step out into the penthouse at the fucking Ritz-Carlton.

“You know, it was hard deciding between a gamer boy’s basement and a penthouse.” I glance around.

The place is huge, with an open living and dining area with plush couches and paintings that likely cost more than my rent. There’s even a bar stocked with every type of liquor, on top of which is a fresh bottle of champagne and a plate of chocolate covered strawberries. With the floor-to-ceiling windows along the entire back wall overlooking Manhattan, it’s breathtaking,

“Oh, yeah?” Andre places a strong hand on the small of my back and guides me over to the bar area.

“Maybe you didn’t know this but at some point tonight, I was told there were sour patch kids in the basement,” I tease.

Andre narrows his onyx eyes at me before disappearing behind the bar and opening the fridge.

I bite the inside of my cheek as I hear the rustling of a packet, and he turns around, tossing a packet of sour patch kids onto the bar top.

“Baby, I can offer you a hell of a lot more than candy.” His voice is deep and rough.

My cheeks burn as his dark gaze devours me.

“I—" My phone buzzes in my purse.

“Why don’t you get that while I sort out some drinks.” He smirks.

I toss my purse onto the bar and pull out my phone, frowning as Cassi’s name flashes on the screen.

“Now you call?” I snap. “You were supposed to have called two hours ago, Cass.”

“Where the heck are you?” Cassi demands. “Dirk told Andy that you guys were having a blast until some old dude interrupted and started a fight with him.”

“Trust me, that’s not what happened.” I snort. “That ‘old dude’ just saved me from the worst date of my life—something you were supposed to do.”

I glance at Andre, who’s pouring the champagne, and flash him a wink.

He shakes his head, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he fights back a smile.

“Sorry about that,” Cassi mutters. “I fell asleep.”

“It’s fine. It all turned out pretty well, actually...”

“You little hussy. You’re with the old dude right now, aren’t you?”

“Stop calling him that.” I chuckle. I glance again at Andre, my cheeks heating as his eyes flick over my body. “I’ll explain everything to you later, okay?”

“Fine, but take a photo of him and send it to me so I can show the police when you go missing?—”

I hang up on her before she can finish.

Andre hands me a glass of champagne, his dark eyes sparking. “I assume I’m the ‘old dude’?” He raises an eyebrow.

“What can I say, I have daddy issues.”

Andre snorts into his champagne and comes around the bar, taking me by the hand and leading me over to the windows so we can look out at the city. “Have you always lived in New York?”

I hesitate for a moment, taking a sip of my champagne as I take in the New York skyline.

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