Page 13 of Unwanted Marriage with the Mafia Boss

“Do you think he’d risk death too?” Staying alive should always mean more than some building.

“Probably, and if anything happens to him, the rest of the neighbors will go wild. The whole thing will make all the headlines. Actually, I got information that they’re planning to contact the local newspaper. I reached out to some of my contacts, but it’ll be difficult to contain them. They could contact some bigger newspaper or someone hungry for blood, and—”

“The whole project would be in jeopardy.”

Rocco nods.

“Does Paradossi have children?”

“He has a daughter. She’s in college.”

“Right.” I spread my lips into a smile. “Find me the contract he signed and bring it to me.”

Usually, when people are so desperate that they need a loan from the mafia, they don’t read the fine print. Those who do either don’t have a choice, so they sign anyway, or they run away screaming. I don’t know which one of my men closed the deal with Paradossi for me—I never deal with trivial stuff like that myself, except approving the deal before it’s done—but I know my contracts.

If it’s anything like I think it is, I’ll solve my Paradossi problem easily. Paradossi will have to choose what he wants more—his precious home or his daughter. Even if he doesn’t make the choice I want, I’ll still have a way to get him out of my way. His daughter is the key to everything.

“Why are you still here?” I raise my eyebrows as Rocco hesitates in front of the door.

“There’s something else. Your... um... Matteo was seen close to your territory.”

My ex-adoptive brother, or I’m not even sure what I should call him, lurking close to me is never good. He probably suspects I’m up to something, and he wants to figure out a way to stop me. I’m sure he heard about the Gaviani Resort, and he’s pissed.

But he’s not going to stop me either. No one will. I’ll use his father’s last name and be the only Gaviani worth mentioning.

Better than Matteo, and better than his father.

“Have someone keep an eye on him. I want to know right away if he comes any closer,” I say.

I could take care of Matteo once and for all, but I just want him and his father to watch my road to success from the front row, and they can’t do that if they’re both dead. They better not get in my way, though, because I’ll be merciless if they do. Itwouldn’t be a smart move for them, but Matteo has always been reckless.

Rocco dips his head and rushes out of the office. I stare through the window. The sun is about to go down behind the horizon.

Sunset.

The woman who shines brighter than the sun when she smiles. I shouldn’t be thinking about her at all, but here I am. What is she doing now? Where is she? Is she going to be at the club tonight?

I could send someone to track her down, or I could do it myself. Follow her home. Find out all about her and satisfy my curiosity. Maybe then I would get her out of my head.

But now’s not the time to get distracted. She makes me lose control in bed. But she can’t affect my life outside of Amore Bruciante. I won’t let her.

I’m in a familiar car.A black sleek car that I haven’t seen in years. It’s moving fast and everything is blurry... until a red car appears right next to mine. I grip the steering wheel, but I already know what’s coming.

There’s a bump in the road that I don’t see as I try to pass by the red car. I lose control and we collide. The red car skids off the road as I try to regain control of my own car. Somehow, I manage to stay on the road and stop just in front of my adoptive father—Gennaro—and his men.

I stumble out of the car, looking for Matteo. He was in the red car. Before I can go find him, Gennaro grabs me by the shoulders.

“How the fuck did you do that?” he asks.

I open my mouth, but words don’t come out. I’m slightly dizzy, and my heart is still pounding in my chest. All I can think about is Matteo. Is he okay?

Gennaro narrows his eyes at me, and fear washes over me. I hurt his son. His heir. His biological child.

“You want to keep your secret, eh?” Gennaro laughs, clapping me on the back. “Well done, son. You passed your test. Now you’re a true Gaviani.”

His laughter gets louder, and my eyes fly open. I’m back in my room in my apartment. The stupid dream is over. It’s been a while since I dreamed about my old family. It must be because Rocco mentioned Matteo.

I sit up and run my hand over my face. Matteo was lucky enough to have come out of that accident alive, with barely a scratch. The car was totaled, though, and Matteo has never forgiven me for that, or for making him look bad in front of his father. That night changed our relationship forever. It started the beginning of our end.

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