Page 74 of Scarred Hearts

“Sure look like one to me,” Angelo chuckled.

“Shit,” I whispered, laying the weapon down in front of me, then gestured to the desk. “Leave that stupid folder and get out of my house!” I shouted, and Luke marched over, placing himself at my side.

Bryce fumbled again but obeyed, some of the papers slipping out between the sleeves, and scurried out of the room. Frankie followed him to the doors, shutting them, then returned to where he’d been standing. I stared at the men in silence. Both were tall and muscular, with black hair and beards trimmed against their jaws. They reminded me so much of older versions of Ian, it was crazy. Plopping back down in the chair, I laid my face on the desk, banging it lightly several times and groaning.

“It’s your own fault,” Frankie chuckled, and I looked up at him with my brow arched. “On your sixteenth birthday, when your father asked what you wished for, you told him you wished to take over the family business one day.”

“I was sixteen!” I snapped, throwing out my arm to the side. “I also thought I was going to marry Harry Styles!”

“Well, we’re here to help you,” Angelo added. “Whatever you need.”

“So just like that?” I asked. “You’re not going to defy him and try to take the business from me?”

They glimpsed one another before Frankie spoke. “This isn’t a movie. We’ve been with your family since you were young. We’d rather you run it than one of your brothers.”

“I just need to process this.” I shot Luke a glare. “Did you and Ian know about this?”

“It’s why he insisted on the trip.”

“Women aren’t Mafia bosses!” I snapped.

“On the contrary,” Angelo flashed a perfect, white, dangerous grin. “There’ve been several female Italian Mafia bosses in Italy and there’re several others around the world. Look them all up online; take some time to yourself. You know your way around your own home.” He twisted to Luke. “What time are the others arriving, so I can have Horace prepare the rooms and food?”

Luke glanced down at his watch. “Just about four hours.”

“Perfect,” Frankie said, then turned to me. “It’s clear the shock needs to wear off, so we’ll give you space until tomorrow. There are guards posted in the usual places, and you have our numbers, so call us if you need us.”

I stayed silent. The shock had hit me again, and I felt suffocated. They could tell I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet and thankfully, they knew when to give me space. As soon as they left the room, Luke let out a sigh of relief and slumped into one of the chairs in front of me.

With my elbows propped up on the desk, I buried my face in my hands. “Please tell me this is all a joke.”

“I had a feeling you weren’t going to like what you heard, which is why I came with you. Tyler wanted to, but Ian needed him to hang back and handle something with legal.”

“Oh damnit,” I gasped, “how’s he going to handle this? He’s going to hate me.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I think it’ll be just fine. He’s obsessed with you.”

“I’m a Mafia Boss! Bossa? Bossess? What am I even called?”

Luke laughed and my eyes widened in a glare. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I know it’s not funny but you’re sitting there with pink hair and you’re clueless and?—”

“Luke!”

As his laughter died down, he fanned his hand. “Ty will be okay. He’s aware of the situation, and he was upset that he couldn’t be here with you earlier. And as for you, Mafia Queen, don’t worry about a thing. We’re all here to help, if you’ll have us. You’re not going to turn on us, are you?”

Picking up a pen, I playfully threw it at him and rolled my eyes.

His expression turned serious as he leaned closer to me. “There is one thing I need to tell you,” he said.

“What?” I asked, curious and a little nervous.

“You’re fired,” he said bluntly.

“What?!”

He tried to hide a smile by pressing his lips together. “I can’t have a Mafia Boss as my assistant, and Ian probably won’t let you dance or fight anymore after this. It’s just too strange.”

“You can’t take away the things that make me happy,” I groaned. “I’ll just give the business away and keep doing my own thing. Don’t fire me yet.”

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