Page 111 of Assassin's Obsession

"Mafia school?" I tease.

"St. Catherine's. It's where all the children in the Genovese Family go if they don't attend public school."

"Were you friends then?" Does it bother him that Severu essentially has the life he was born to lead?

"Yes. We clicked right away. None of us showed emotion. They were trained not to, but for me there were no emotions to show."

"Do you mind that Severu is the godfather and Miceli is a don and you'll never be those things?" I ask, a little worried.

What if Angelowantsthat life? Can a stripper be a don's wife?

"My brothers are welcome to those headaches." Angelo runs his fingers through my now tangle free hair, seemingly mesmerized by it. "They don't show emotion, but they experience more of it than I do. They want what's best for the mafia. I want what's best for the few people I care about."

"And I'm one of those people?" I ask.

"The most important one."

My heart swoons in a ridiculously girly fashion I have no intention of admitting to. "So, no sibling rivalry?"

He called them brothers and I like thinking he has some decent family, so, I'm going with it.

"None. Miceli can be a pain in the ass, Severu wants to control the fucking world and Salvatore's still a little pissed I got to Gino before he did, but we're family."

Of course, Salvatore would want to punish Gino for putting the same pressure on Bianca that he did to me, but honestly? If he hadn't, the capo would never have met my friend.

"Thank you…" I pause. Am I really going to do this? Yes, I am. "For killing Gino. He was a predator and he would have found other women to exploit and hurt if you hadn't."

"Yes, he would." Angelo makes a ponytail with his hand and releases it, letting my hair fall softly to my back. "Can you put your hair in a dancer's bun?"

"Are you telling me that's not one of your many skills?" I ask, only partially joking.

"If you want me to learn, it could be." There's zero joking in his tone. He means it.

"Not necessary." I grab the paddle brush from the drawer and smooth my hair into a high, tight ponytail. "Why a dancer's bun?"

It's a little early for sleep, but I assumed sexy times were on the dessert menu for tonight. Not sure how putting my hair up plays into that.

Does Angelo want to try something kinky?

"I want to show you something and I don't want your hair to get tangled again."

"Tired of brushing it?"

"No, but you'll be too tired to sit here and let me do it."

That sounds promising. I finish creating the tight bun and stand up. "Ready."

"You're going to like this." Angelo's eyes glimmer with sensual promise.

No question this man knows what to do with his body, and mine, in the bedroom department. "I'm sure I will."

"I had it installed just for you." Angelo takes my hand and tugs me out of the bedroom, a palpable air of anticipation around him.

All the soothing calm he bestowed brushing my hair turns into sexual eagerness.

When we get downstairs, we take a right instead of a left and Angelo leads me down a hall and through a door, where we step into a garden of jungle plants. The air is a little humid and it smells like earth and flowers.

"What is this place?" I reach out to touch the broad leaf of a banana plant.

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