Page 68 of Taboo Flames

“The only response to my request should have been ‘yes, sir.’ So now, let me make it clear to you. This is no longer a request. It’s an order. I’ll be there in seven.”

With that, I hang up. When I turn to Aurora, she gives me an unimpressed look.

“You’re such an asshole,” she tells me.

I chuckle.

The restaurant is nearly empty when we walk in. We are directed to the VIP section but find some men occupying another table. With a frown, I call for the manager and demand an explanation because there are still some people around despite my earlier order.

The manager approaches, looking nervous, and says, “I’m sorry, sir, but they refused to leave.”

“Did you tell them who gave the orders?” I bite out angrily.

He mops sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and replies, “They must be out-of-towners, sir. They were…eh…unfamiliar.”

I narrow my eyes at the four men being general nuisances by conversing in voices loud enough to raise the dead. I reach for my gun and am about to stand up when Aurora’s hand on mine stops me.

“Please,” she says softly, her eyes shining with fear. “Just let them be. We can pretend they’re not there.”

I direct Aurora to a table in the corner, where I have a clear view of the entrance. It’s a precaution that’s almost reflexive for me.

Dimmed lights wash the space in a muted, golden glow, giving it an overly dramatic romantic vibe, and from the look on Aurora’s face, she enjoys it.

I slide back down to my seat with a stiff smile. “I don’t think it’ll be as easy as you think.”

Right on cue, they let out another ear-splitting laugh.

Her look turns pleading, and I sigh.

“It’s beautiful here. I’ve never been,” she says, trying to distract me. “I thought I’d discovered all the fancy places in the city. I can’t believe I missed this one. This place will make for a great proposal scene.”

“You’ve watched too many soap operas.”

“And you’ve watched far too little,” she retorts with a laugh.

“I haven’t watched any,” I admit unashamedly.

Her eyes bug out of her head. “You’re lying! You can’t be as old as you are and not watch a single soap opera.”

I glare at her, and she giggles.

“I’m going to find one on Netflix, and we’ll watch it together. You can’t say no.” Then, she cocks her head. “Come to think of it, Gio. Outside of being a fearsome mafia man ordering me about and giving me orgasms, what do you do in your free time?”

“Giving you orgasms is a full-time job, baby.”

She rolls her eyes dramatically. “I’m serious here. I’m trying to get to know you. You seem to know a lot about me, but I can’t say the same about you.”

Little does she know that she’s far closer to me than anybody else in my life.

“Are you a secret crocheter?” she asks with a teasing smile. “Don’t be ashamed of it. I’ll think it’s cute.”

“I don’t want you thinking I’m cute,” I scoff. “I’m too occupied with running the cafe to have hobbies. My favorite things are making money and being inside you.”

“And being a dick to poor restaurant managers.”

I throw my head back and laugh. “That too.”

“You know what I?—”

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