Page 8 of The Mobster's Flower

Perhaps those words are meant to soothe the bleeding wound in my chest and they should comfort me, but they don’t. I know I’ll need help to restart the business, but it won’t be easy forgetting what happened today. The thought of starting over turns my stomach.

I comb my hands through my curls before grabbing a fistful and tugging. Trying so hard to distract myself from those thoughts. To push them to the back of my mind, but they keep popping up.

The years. The work and the sacrifices.

This morning when I woke up, I was equal parts nervous and excited. Months of planning were finally going to bear fruit when I made someone’s day brighter with a rose or a lily. The carnations, especially the purple ones, looked beautiful, and while I wasn’t looking to sell out on my first day, I’d hoped to sell one or two bouquets of flowers.

The thought of going through the process of planning and agonizing over everything again doesn’t sound like something I am ready for, with or without support. Maybe I’ll think differently tomorrow. After all of my tears have dried and I’ve eaten an entire pie, I’ll be excited to start the journey all over again, but not today.

Not right now.

With my hand buried in my hair, I turn to the mob boss, who has been staring at me the entire time. “I’ll take a ride home.”

Vlad raises a dark brow at my words. “Excuse me?”

“My aunt is busy at her bakery, and I can’t get an Uber.” I raise my phone as if to illustrate my point. “I came to the hospital in the ambulance with Arya, so now, I don’t have a way home. I just want to forget about everything that’s happened today and climb into bed with a pie and watch trashy TV until I fall asleep,” I say, all sense of embarrassment swallowed by my sudden bone-deep weariness.

“Answer my question first. How badly will this affect your business? You said you owned a flower cart?”

“Yes. Today was my opening day. I’d set up shop outside Annie’s and was just about to officially open for business…but I didn’t even get that far.” I sigh heavily, not wanting to voice the next part, though I know I have to. “I haven’t fully expected the damage yet, but from what I saw right after the accident, but my cart and my entire inventory are total losses.”

Not wanting to Vlad to think I’m being dramatic or trying to get something from him, I hastily add, “But I had business insurance. I’m sure they’ll cover some of the loss.”

Vlad is quiet for a moment and runs a hand along his defined jawline. The movement has my gaze zeroing in on his full lips, and for a moment, I’m distracted by how soft they look. What would they feel like on mine? He has a dark, neatly trimmed beard. What would that feel like against my skin? Goosebumps rise along my neck and arms at the thought.

I flush when Vlad clears his throat. My eyes dart up to his, and I can see the amusement there. Was it that obvious what I was thinking? Shit. This man is at least ten years older than me and a crime boss, no less. I probably come across as a naive little girl to him.

“As I said, I’ll take care of it. I’m sorry this happened to you on your big day. I’m sure you’re anxious to get this sorted so you can get to work. I’m happy to give you a ride home, but before I do that, I’d like to take you to one of my warehouses. I believe I have something similar to a flower cart. It might not be perfect, but it’ll at least get you by until I can replace yours.”

“Oh,” I say, surprised. “Um, okay.” Wait, did I just agree to go to a warehouse with the local crime lord? Shit!

I try to come up with a way to back out without offending him, but Vlad is already on his feet and walking into the parking lot, gesturing for me to follow. I walk a couple paces behind him, and I can’t help but stare at the outline of his broad shoulders and muscular back that taper to a trim waist supported by strong, thick thighs. The suit he’s wearing is tailored perfectly to his frame, leaving little to the imagination.

I need to stop looking and yet, I can’t. Something about this man…

No, it’s everything about him!

His scent. His voice. His body.

His mere presence.

Everything about him sends my system into overdrive, and I can’t help myself. When he is in my presence, everything else fades into the background. I focus on him and his dominating presence. It’s almost overwhelming, but even after only a few minutes near him, I already crave the warmth that flows through my whole body as I watch him move.

“I own a warehouse in Valor Springs,” he says over his shoulder, that deep voice causing the place between my legs to clench.

When he reaches his car, he turns to look at me, and this time, I don’t break eye contact. Christ, those eyes. They are black holes that threaten to suck me in, and this time, I don’t fight it. I don’t want to.

But at the same time, I’ve never felt anything like this before, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared. For the first time in my life, I’m drawn to man. But Vlad isn’t just any man. He’s older and a criminal. He’s the leader of the Bratva, for Christ’s sake.

He opens the passenger door and waits for me to climb inside, but I hesitate. His eyes narrow on mine. “Everything okay?”

“No,” I say shaking my head. “I shouldn’t have asked you for a ride. I’m sorry. We can do this another time.”

“And why is that?”

I look back at the hospital entrance, feeling guilty that I’ve basically stolen Vlad away from his sister. She needs him right now, but he’s here with me. I can’t take him away from her with Arya lying injured in a hospital bed. I turn away and breathe out a sigh. It’s selfish of me to even consider it.

Vlad grabs my chin and forces my eyes back to his, the move taking me by complete surprise, but his touch… Lord above, the feeling of his blunt fingers on my skin sends my heart racing so fast I wonder if it’s possible to have a heart attack from something so simple. It certainly feels that way.

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