Page 42 of The Mob Boss' Pet

“Or my problem is you think you know everything,” she snaps.

“My pet has claws when she’s upset.” I stroke her cheek. “Come on, I’m going to take you out of here for a little while. Let you stretch those kitten legs of yours.” I grab hold of her hand, lacing my fingers through hers, and lead her to the stairs.

“Where are we going?” she asks as we make our way through the house. I don’t give her any time to really see her surroundings, before we’re out the back door and into the yard.

She blinks a few times and holds her hand up to block the sun from blinding her. It’s not overly bright out, but she’s been inside for days.

“This is all yours?” she asks, pointing at the wooded area behind the house.

“No, not all of it. The property line ends at the trees. That path there,” I point across the yard, “leads into the woods. It’s a forest preserve. Not many people make it this far, so we’re pretty secluded.”

“How far from the city are we?” she asks.

I smile down at her and squeeze her hand. “A twenty-minute drive,” I answer her.

Stepping down from the patio onto the grass, I tug on her lightly to get her moving. She walks at my side, our hands swinging between us.

“Aren’t your shoes going to get dirty?” she teases. I may have left the suit in the closet, but I’m still dressed for business. Black slacks and a dark gray button-down while she’s sporting a pair of leggings and a comfortable cotton shirt with a band logo on the front. Her gym shoes will stand up against the walk better than my leather Oxfords.

“Probably. It’s fine. I have others.”

“I bet you do.” She laughs.

The path takes us into the woods. Trees soon hide the house from our view. She wiggles her fingers free from my hand and brushes her hair away from her face.

“It’s gorgeous out.” She inhales deeply. “I love this time of year, when spring is fading away and summer is finally starting to take root.”

The trees are full of leaves, but enough sunlight sneaks through the branches to kiss her face as she looks upward. A small dimple appears on her left cheek with her wide grin, and I realize this is the most genuinely happy I’ve seen her.

Not that I’ve given her much to be happy about since meeting her. Because I’m an asshole.

She stretches her arms over her head as we walk.

“So, what’s the deal with Sarah? She’s definitely scared of you.”

“I don’t even know her; how can she be scared?”

“Well, you don’t really have a warm and inviting vibe about you, Vincenzo,” she jokes, stopping to inspect a patch of wildflowers. I slip my hands in my pockets and watch her fiddle with the light blue petals.

“I’m not good with small talk,” I say.

She plucks a flower and twirls it between two fingers.

“She seems okay with being kept in the dark about exactly how Roberto makes his money. She must really trust him to let him keep so many secrets.” She starts walking again.

“What does that mean?”

She laughs. “You’re going to play dumb with me?”

“No, I guess not. She doesn’t know much of anything, but she knows we aren’t weak. We’ll take what we want when we want to. And no, Sarah doesn’t know details. Yet.”

“Ah, that’s why she’s here? Roberto’s going to come clean about getting shot and why?”

“He’ll tell her what he thinks is enough. If she agrees to marry him, he’ll tell her everything.”

Stephania stops and turns to me; shock drags her mouth open. “He’s proposing?”

“Yes,” I take the flower from her fingers and sniff it. Not the scent I like. It smells nothing like her.

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