Page 68 of The Mob Boss' Pet

I drop the last of her shirts into the suitcase and stand upright. Don’t want to go?

I can barely breathe.

This woman has stolen all control I possess, and I need to get it back.

“Has what you wanted ever mattered here?” I ask, closing the suitcase and zipping it. “I’m sure Sarah won’t mind you keeping the dress.” I pick up her shoes and walk around the bed holding them out to her.

Silently, she takes them from me.

“You want me to leave?”

“Yes.” I give a hard nod. I’ve never lied to her before. I’ve built an empire on manipulation. I’ve snuffed out the life of more than a dozen men. But none of those actions caused so much pain and regret in me as this lie.

“Vincenzo, if this is because I talked with Anderson, I’m sorry. I really didn’t tell him anything.”

“It’s not that.” I know she kept the real reason she was with me hidden from him. She would never betray me, deep in the pit of my soul I know this. But it doesn’t matter.

I’m the head of the Manetto family. I have to keep my head clear. I have to be alert to everything at all times. If my own brother could betray me so easily, how can I ever believe Stephania wouldn’t?

I can’t keep her.

“I’m done with you here.” The devil will have a special room in hell for me when I get there. I deserve nothing less.

Her lip trembles.

Weakness takes hold, and I look away. “Put on your shoes, Stephania. Charlie is downstairs waiting to take you home.” I go to the door, putting as much space between us as I can. I have to. Otherwise, I’ll touch her. I’ll pull her into my chest, and I’ll crumble.

“What happens now?” she asks, wiggling her feet back into the shoes.

“Now? You go home. Go back to work. I’ve already contacted the hospital; your leave ends this weekend. You can go back on Monday.”

“My leave?”

“You’ve been on a personal leave of absence. You can tell them anything you want about that when you get back.”

“And what about Anderson? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him about what I’ve seen? What I know?” She’s reaching, trying to find reasons to keep her locked away with me.

“You won’t,” I say; it’s the only thing I’m confident about. “And if you want to, go ahead. By the end of the day, Sergio’s murder will be explained, and the case will close. There’s nothing you know that can hurt us.” It’s not entirely true. She’s heard phone conversations that could offer help to a man like Anderson who wants to see the Manetto family brought down.

She pales, her eyes darting from the suitcase to my face.

“Time to go, Stephania.” I yank the door open. My gaze falls on the pink collar I placed on the dresser and a lump grows in my throat. “It’s time.” I step into the hallway.

She stares at me, lost in indecision. Her fingers wiggle at her sides, but she recovers quickly. Rolling her shoulders back and raising her chin, she struts out of the room.

“I can carry this.” She reaches for the suitcase from my hand, but I pull it away.

“You’re still in my house, Stephania,” I warn her. I shouldn’t. I should let her go, but I hate the self-preservation in her expression when she glares at me. “I’ll carry it.” I motion for her to walk ahead of me.

Charlie is already at the car, holding the back door open for her when we step onto the front porch. Her spine is so damn straight I’m afraid she’ll crack a vertebra if she tenses any more.

Without any more hesitation, she climbs into the back seat and situates herself on the seat. Charlie takes the suitcase from me and puts it in the trunk while I stare at the profile of the most beautiful, most alluring woman I’ve ever set my sights on. Her attractiveness is a bonus to the light shining inside her, but I don’t belong in her sunshine.

I live in the cellar of the world, and she doesn’t belong with me in the muck.

“Ready?” Charlie asks me as he comes around the car.

“Yeah. Straight to her apartment, Charlie. Nowhere else,” I tell him.

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