Page 72 of Sinful Secrets

“I wanted to meet with you and to get some supplies from the basement. Clearly, our operations here need work because no one wants to go into business with us.”

“Maybe it’s because they know not to mix business with a lying, conniving bitch like you.”

Elizabeth gasps as her face contorts. She stands, like she’s ready to go a couple of rounds with Francesca.

The doorbell rings, breaking up some of the tension in the room.

Are they expecting someone else?

A couple of men leave the living room to check to see who it is. Their voices drift away a few seconds later as the blast of a shotgun rings throughout the house.

Chapter Fifteen

SAVANNAH

Television showsand movies are full of shit. Eating a pint of Half Baked Ben & Jerry’s ice cream does not in fact heal a broken heart.

If that was the case, I’d be a superhero by now.

I throw the empty pint container in my trash can. It lands on top of the empty one I had for brunch earlier.

I haven’t heard from Spencer since he told me to lose his number and we were done.

He’s avoiding me, that much is clear, but he jumped to conclusions without letting me explain. I should have told him the second he came home.

I lock my bedroom door and sit at my desk.

If I’m going to get Spencer back and be a part of his world, then I might as well research the Marino family, rules of being in the mafia, and everything regarding the Savannah Sharks.

The palms of my hands slicken with sweat as I try to think about researching the Marinos.

“Maybe I should start with the Sharks.”

That subject is less intimidating and less stressful. I try to search for any phrase that comes to mind, but all that pops up isthe sale of the team to Arturo Marino and articles written when Joseph Marino was drafted several years ago.

At the bottom of the page, there is a link to another article written about Arturo’s wife and the fatal accident that caused his move down to Savannah.

The things they write about Arturo are heartless and crass, like they didn’t give a shit about the death of his wife or the fact that two young kids were now motherless.

I click on another link that leads me to an online community forum where strangers are discussing the most well-known mafia families and what they are known for.

Rossi- drug trafficking, counterfeit products, extortion, sex trafficking, money laundering, murder.

Marino- drug trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping for ransom, protection racketeering.

Castellucci- embezzlement, murder, corruption, gambling, money laundering.

Valentino- drug trafficking, prostitution/escort, gambling, murder, money laundering, protection racketeering.

I reread the long comments that strangers have posted on the forum. The only mafia family that isn’t involved with drug trafficking is the Castellucci family, but all of these accusations are pretty extreme crimes with hefty prison sentences.

Except most of them seem to be true.

I know the Marinos are involved with drug trafficking because I am selling their drugs. Well, I was until I received a phone call from Emily at the club, saying I was no longer needed.

Whatever that means.

My heart constricts with pain, causing me to press my hand tightly against my chest. I know what it means. It means Spencer told them to ban me.

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