Page 54 of Tasting Sin

Carlo shrugged. “It went fine. That girl of yours is pushy.” He ruffled his brow in leftover annoyance, and my laugh roared. “She kept offering cupcakes until I told her I’d take one to go.”

“This one?” I tapped the top of the box.

He shook his head. “No. Mine is in the car.” I laughed again. I could practically see the look on Nellie’s face and the way she probably scorned him until he agreed to take a cupcake home with him. My stomach fluttered with butterflies, and I considered again taking a bite of the dessert.

“She’s something.” I couldn’t hide the adoration in my tone or the longing to see her, but I didn’t care to hide it anymore. “Everything else went okay?”

“Yeah. The FBI showed up, but it was just Ramsey and his even more worthless sidekick.” He shrugged then put his elbows on the armrest and laced his fingers together in his lap.

Carlo didn’t look surprised when my foot hit the ground or when my fist slammed into the surface of the wood desk. “Why the fuck didn’t you lead with that?” I yelled.

“Because it wasn’t a big deal.” His nonchalant attitude wasn’t unusual, and as always, it made me want to punch him. He would punch back if I did, though, and I knew how much power he packed behind it. There was a reason I had him watching over Nellie. Besides me, he was the best to protect her.

“Of course it’s a big deal! What did they say?” I held my hands together and squeezed until my knuckles turned white, taking a deep breath while I waited for him to answer.

He didn’t tense up or move when he spoke. “They asked if she knew who her boyfriend was.”

“What did she say?” Did I want to know because I wanted to protect the family, or because I needed to know how she saw me?

“That you’re not her boyfriend.” Carlo laughed loudly, dropping his head back and earning a frustrated grumble from me.

I hit my hand against the table, silencing the laughter. “Be serious.”

“I am serious,” he said. “She said she doesn’t know much about you. Then, she panicked a little when they said they’ve been watching you two and know you’re sleeping together.”

I grunted, pinching the bridge of my nose between my finger and thumb. “Great.”

He leaned forward, his voice remaining as low and steady as always. “They warned her that you and the family are bad news, that she’s in danger.”

“Fuck!” I stood up from the chair, knocking it to the ground behind me, and I ran my hand through my hair. Then, as if she knew we were talking about her, my phone rang, and Nellie’s name popped up on the screen. “Nellie,” I answered.

“We need to talk.” She was curt, and her voice was strained. I needed to know what was going through her head. Are you in the mafia?

“I couldn’t agree more. I’ll send someone to pick you up.” I started to point to the door, prepared to send Carlo.

Nellie scoffed. “I can drive myself.”

“Don’t drive yourself,” I groaned. “I’m coming to get you. I’ll be there in ten.”

She sighed, but she didn’t argue it. Before she responded, I was already heading toward the door with my keys in hand. “Fine.”

Chapter 34

Nellie

Iwaited in front of my apartment for Ronan to pull up, pacing back and forth along the sidewalk so many times, I was surprised I wasn’t dizzy—or maybe I was already too dizzy from the questions spinning in my head. I had seen The Godfather, and I couldn’t imagine Ronan being like that. Could I?

When he pulled up, I got in the front seat, slamming the door shut and looking at him for a moment. He stared back, like he was trying to read my thoughts. “Tell me the truth,” I finally said, breaking the tense silence. “Are you in the mafia?”

“Nellie…”

“Ronan, the FBI came to my bakery!” I shrieked, the fear and frustration that had been swelling up inside and causing my hands to shake bursting from me. “They told me you’re dangerous!”

The car doors locked, and Ronan pulled away from the curb, still glancing at me every few seconds from the corner of his eye. “Let me take you somewhere.” He merged onto the road, entering traffic.

“Oh my God, you really are in the mafia.” The breath in my lungs that felt a bit like bravery rushed from me in a swift exhale, and panic rushed in. This can’t be real.

Ronan shook his head. “I told you. We don’t call it that.”

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