Page 24 of Captive Mafia Wife

“Fine. More cake for me, Ging.” Can cats even have chocolate? The prongs of my fork slice through the creamy ganache layer in the center of the cake just as there’s a knock at the door.

I wait for a guard to answer. Prickles dance down the back of my neck, tickling my spine as I wait. Nothing. Another knock. Callum, totally overprotective at every turn, has left me home alone with no guards.

“This is crazy.” Grabbing my phone from my robe pocket, I hastily text him.

Me:Callum, where are the guards

Someone is at the door.

I tapa black lacquered fingernail against my phone screen while waiting for his reply. My heart beats hard at the sound of the next knock.

Callum:Forgot to tell you the guards have a training today

You told me in our screaming match you can take care of yourself

Can you open a door

“Och! Little brothers…I swear…”I punch the words in.

Me:Don’t be that way

Can you at least tell me who is at the door before I get up

Ginger doesn’t want me to disrupt her for nothing

C:Who is ginger

Whoops!

Me:Champers

C:I’ve pulled up the camera

It’s just the delivery man of Fredricks

He’s dropping something off

Fredrick Frisquewith the frisky tongue. Och! What I wouldn’t give to keep that man off my mind.

I set the cake on the side table, toss my fuzzy blanket to the side, and harumph my way down the long hall to the front door, passing by Her Majesty. She’s relocated from the TV room as far from me as possible, now curled up in my red velvet foyer chair.

“Don’t worry, Ginger! I’ll get the door. You relax.”

Fully expecting the kind older man, Ian, our usual delivery person, I fling the front door open without looking through the peephole first. On the stoop stands a shorter man wearing a gray pinstriped suit, gelled-back black hair, and a thick mustache.

There’s a small red cube-shaped gift box sitting on his open palm. He holds it out closer to me. “For you, madame.”

The married version of ma’am in French.

“It’s mademoiselle,” I assure him. “With absolutely no plans to be addressed asmadame.”

Instead of correcting himself, he only offers a funny smile.

What a strange man. I take the box, thank him, andclose the door.

Triple locking it.

I pad back to my seat, sticking my tongue out at Ginger as I pass, and open the delicate box.

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