Page 10 of The Mob Boss' Pet

“Maria’s different. You know that,” I remind him. I’m the last of the three to remain unattached. I have more important things to deal with than searching out a wife.

“How am I supposed to explain this?” He gestures to the bandages.

I rub my chin. “Don’t. Tell her you’re being sent to New York for a week for business. Last minute trip so you can’t see her before your flight.”

“I don’t like lying to her,” he says. “And what about Sergio?”

Another pain grips me, but I flick it away for another time.

“You’re right. She’ll notice him gone.” I try for humor, but the flat expression on his face tells me I failed. “I’ll tell Aunt Nancy she needs to plan the service for after your return.”

My suggestion only darkens his mood. “She shouldn’t have to do that. I’ll think of something.”

“It’s not up to you.”

“She’s not stupid, Vincenzo. She knows what our family does, or at least she assumes she knows. If I keep hiding things, she’s going to leave me.”

“Then I would suggest you put a ring on her finger sooner rather than later so you can be more open with her,” I retort.

“I have the meds,” Anton returns and says.

“Good. He’s getting cranky,” I say. “Get some sleep. I’ll bring Stephania around later.”

“She’s going to have information about us, Vincenzo. If she leaves here, she’ll know things that can be used against us.” Roberto flings my words back at me.

“You didn’t get enough beatings as a child,” I respond. “Mom protected you too much.”

“He’s got a point, Vincenzo. She’s here against her will, and she knows what happened at the café.” Anton backs up our little brother.

“Maybe you should have thought of that before you kidnapped her,” I say to Anton. He didn’t have much choice, but I’m not going to let them berate me about this woman or anything else.

“I’ll deal with her. You,” I jerk a pointed finger at Anton, “deal with him.”

How am I going to deal with Stephania Benzitto? I’ll make her bend. I’ll make her obey. She’ll be our good little doctor. My prized pet for the time being. And when we have no more need of her, I’ll decide what’s to be done with her.

* * *

Ihave to wait to checkin on the doctor. The fucking cops have arrived to inform me of Sergio’s death, and I have to play the surprised cousin.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Detective Anderson stands in front of my desk tapping his pen against a pad of paper.

“Thank you,” I say, pouring a drink for myself and offering one to him. He declines, of course. This isn’t our first meeting. Anderson’s been on my ass for one thing or another over the years. But he’s never found anything that could stick to any of us.

“I don’t suppose you would know who might be involved in this?” he asks, leveling me with his arrogant glare.

I sink into my chair and raise my glass to my lips. “No, no ideas,” I say and sip the whiskey. The burn of the liquor skimming down my throat takes away the bite of pain in my chest for the moment.

“Where did you say you found him?” I ask, balancing the glass on my knee.

“Vernon Park,” he says after checking his little pad.

I stare at him, letting the silence stretch out. He wants to intimidate me, but it’s never worked before. And it sure as fuck isn’t going to work now.

“Have you been to my aunt’s home yet?” I ask. “Or did you run right over here?”

“Uniform police officers are on their way to her residence.”

“Ah, you wanted to make the trip here personally.”

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