Page 74 of The Mob Boss' Pet

Chapter Twenty-Three

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Stephania

I’ve burnt the damn toast again. Smoke rises up from the toaster, setting off the alarm in the kitchen. I run in, still wearing my nightshirt and my hair wrapped up in a towel, waving my hands at the alarm.

Damn toaster. The wiring’s gone bad or the timer’s off. This is the second piece of toast I’ve burnt this week. I pull the towel from my head and whip it in circles under the smoke alarm until the obsessing beeping stops.

I sigh and stare at the toaster. The bread is charred beyond edibility. Of course, the bread is stuck. Carefully, I try to pull it up without touching the metal plates.

I fail.

I cry out and run to the sink, running my finger under cold water. It’s not even noon and my day’s in the shitter.

The doorbell rings.

My packages.

I flip off the water and pick up my towel, drying off my hand on the way to the door. I’ve ordered a new computer. It took me a while to realize mine was missing from my apartment. I had a good idea where it went, but I wasn’t going there to ask. The cost of a new computer was worth not having to step foot on that estate again.

I’ve finally gotten to a place that I don’t clench when I think about him. I’m not going back to that.

The bell rings again.

“I’m coming!” I yell and step over the laundry basket in my living room. I need to fold those clothes before they wrinkle beyond help.

I throw the lock and yank the door open, ready to greet a delivery man.

My stomach drops.

“Vincenzo.”

He stares at me with his all-business expression. Set jaw, firm eyes, the whole nine yards.

“What... what are you doing here?” I ask, still holding the door with one hand.

His gaze travels over me from my wet hair, over my pale gray pajamas, to my bare feet.

“Are you okay?” he asks, looking over my shoulder. “I thought I heard a fire alarm.”

I sigh. “It’s nothing.”

His gaze locks on my hand. My finger’s red from the burn.

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“It’s just a burn.” I tuck it behind my back. “What did you want?” I force myself to sound like I don’t care. Because I’m not supposed to care. When a man abducts you, makes you fall in love with him, then throws you out like the trash, you are not supposed to care about him anymore. But like everything with Vincenzo, the opposite happens.

There’s a sharp tic in his jaw, but he doesn’t pursue it.

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