Page 26 of Captive Mafia Wife

Pfft!“If you call that an invitation,” I say.

“You’ve had plenty of time to get ready.” He eyes my messy bun, the gold gel patches I’ve placed under my eyes to calm the last of the dark circles, the cozy robe I wear, and most likely a chocolate frosting smudge somewhere on myperson. His gaze lowers, taking in the pink tops of my fuzzy slippers. “Are you?”

“Am I what?” I ask, still in shock over his arrival.

He says, “Ready to go?”

“Certainly not! And I’ll advise you to leave my property at once.” I go to close the door. To my shock, his strong arm shoots out, grabbing the edge of the door to stop me from closing it.

Then, he steps inside. The mustache had me off guard, but now I see this man's full size and strength. He’s barely my height but muscled like childhood drawings of the strongman from Fossett’s Circus.

My heart hammers in my eardrums as the heat of panic rises in my chest. “What—what are you doing?”

My pulse takes flight, beating like a hummingbird's wings as I back from the door. The guards are at a meeting. The staff have left for the day. The newlyweds aren’t even close to coming home yet and are probably pulled over shagging in the back of their Escalade SUV.

And Ginger does nothing. She’s still sitting on the velvet chair, daintily licking an already perfectly groomed paw.

I am absolutely, utterly alone. The next house is acres away. We made sure we had complete privacy when we bought the place. There’s no point in even screaming. No one will hear me.

“Look. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you, just step outside. Please. I have cash.” Whipping over my shoulder, I grab the coffee cash from my shiny black hot-girlfanny pack, shoving it at him. “Here. Take this and go outside. I’ll get you more.”

“The Frisque family isgenerationalwealth,” he says, as if I do not know such a thing. “They pay me well.” He shakes his head, that seedy grin coming back to his face. “I’m not here for your money.”

“What are you here for, then?” I ask.

“You.” This time when he speaks, his tone is stern. My blood chills at his following words. “I’m not leaving this house without you.”

“Wait here.”

“With pleasure.” His mustache lifts with his icy smile.

Even his henchman is infuriating. Storming back to the TV room, I grab my phone and scroll through my contacts. Ol’ Freddie’s at the bottom of my call list—the only time I’ve rung him was to set up the meeting last month to choose the whisky for the party.

His name is saved asFredrick Frisque BEST Distiller in Scotland.

His attention to detail and need for perfection make him the best in the business. However, this will need to change. In my anger, my thumbs fly over my screen. “Fixed it.”

Triumphant, I press the new contact,Freaky Freddie—really, everyone should aspire to my level of petty—and wait for him to answer before storming back to the foyer with Ginger and Strongman.

He picks up on the first ring like he’s expecting my call. His smooth voice sluices through the line. “Bonjour, madame.”

“It’s MAD-mo-zell and why is your Frisky Whisky thug standing in the foyer of my house? Are you accosting me in my jammies? Disturbing the cat, who, might I add, is already very jumpy from being home alone this morning?” I pet the cat’s soft fur, cooing, “It’s okay, Gingy. I’m getting rid of the bad man…”

She swipes a paw at me.

Fredrick clears his throat. “I take it you received my invitation.”

“I received a scrap of paper. No name, no timeframe, and no polite request for my presence. Though,” I add despite myself, “the artistry of the balloon, I must admit, was second to none.”

“I’m glad you like the gift,” he says. “And I apologize if you found my manners lacking.”

“Lacking? Pfft! Non-existent, I’m afraid, Mr. Frisque.”

“A lovely gift accompanied with a handwritten note lacks manners?” he says. “I object.”

“Overruled,” I snap. “You’re not the one with a mustached criminal currently scaring your cat.”

“Scared? The very same cat that let Fiona carry it around all night at a wild Halloween party when it was just a kitten. Alex will take you to my car, where my driver awaits you.”

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