Page 55 of Ruthless Mafia Daddy

“No, you fucking can’t. You’re fifteen. You either accept this new situation, or I pull you out of school, and you can have a tutor.”

Rosa’s nostrils flare, but she doesn’t fight me, just storms out of the kitchen and slams the door behind her.

“That went well.” Marco chuckles, shaking his head. “I feel bad for Xander now.”

“Better him babysit her than us,” I mutter.

“You think you were a little too hard on her? She’s not a kid anymore.”

“Exactly. Besides, how much harder would it be if Lorenzo got his hands on her, huh?”

As I wait for Rosa to cool down, I go into my office to set up some new foundations for Mason’s International.

It’s clear Max was in over his head when it came to some of the more basic everyday runnings of the company. It’s mindless work, but one I would rather do myself.

Marco comes knocking at around eight, bringing me a plate of food and a drink. “Thought you might be hungry.”

“Thanks.” I look up from my screen. “Being a maid suits you.”

“Fuck you very much.” Marco sets the plate of what looks like orange chicken down on the coffee table by the couch and takes a seat. “You doing ok?”

I frown. “Why would you ask me that?”

“You’ve been acting…different these past few weeks. Is it just this shit with Lorenzo, or is it something else? You can tell me, you know, I’m your brother.”

“How could I forget?” I close down my laptop, getting to my feet.

My body hurts. My eyes fly to the clock on my desk.

I’ve been sitting in my office chair for the best part of ten hours, barely moving. I stretch out my arms and back before moving to the couch and tucking into my food, ravenous.

Marco sits forward. “I’m worried about you.”

I roll my eyes as I chew on the delicious sticky chicken.

“I’m fine. Just a little preoccupied with setting up this new company.”

“You know we have people who can do that for you, right? Saves you going to all this trouble.”

I shake my head. “No, I need to make sure this is set up exactly how I need it. I can’t risk there being any loose ends that could tie us back to the drug ring.”

“Shit with Tommy’s really got you looking over your shoulder.” Marco shakes his head. “I’d like to think what happened to him sent a message, reminding our men where their loyalties should lie.”

“Regardless, I don’t want to waste time fixing someone else’s mistakes later down the road. I’m doing it myself, and that’s that.”

“Fair enough.” Marco leans back against the cream couch, the picture of ease in his white shirt and jeans.

Marco watches me as I eat, but I ignore him. He’s one of the only people who can see through my mask, but this is my business. Besides, I need his focus on Lorenzo and our plan on taking him down.

That and I’m terrified talking about Lila out loud with him will make the feelings I have for her so much more real. Right now I can pretend the whole thing is in my head, like some wondrous fever dream.

But truth is, she’s sunk her nails in deep, and I can’t risk getting close to her.

Not when Lorenzo Rossi is planning on taking out everyone I care about.

17

LILA

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