Page 44 of Mistletoe in the Mafia

And Joshua should have involved me if he knew she was going to look into Tanaka. We share a look and I can tell he’s coming to the same conclusion I am. Only he looks much grimmer than me.

“He’s a Japanese-American man with ties to the Yakuza. As in the Japanese mafia. His name is Yuki Tanaka, and he’s had several priors in Japan for possession, arms dealing, and so many other things.”

“You want us to look into the Yakuza?” Joshua asks her, his lips pressed thinly.

She shakes her head. “No, Tanka’s only a foot soldier. Plus, we all know the Yakuza doesn’t have that big a foothold in the city. They aren’t particularly dangerous here in Chicago, unlike other groups.”

I laugh inwardly. She has no idea what’s dangerous and what’s not.

“Get to the point, Madelyn,” Joshua prompts.

“Tanaka’s also had dealings with the Italian mafia in the past. This is our chance to finally look into the organization. I have the evidence to prove their connection. And if Tanaka’s involved with Torres, then it’s pretty clear that the Italian mafia is involved with him as well.”

And she’s lost me. I subtly clench my jaw. “That’s a pretty big leap you’ve made there, Flowers.”

“It makes sense,” she states without looking at me. Her eyes are on Joshua, her expression stubborn. “You’ve shut me down every single time I’ve asked, but it’s not happening again. Torres put two of our agents in the hospital and killed four civilians, not to mention his rap sheet that’s filled with criminal activity. If there’s suspicion that the mafia is backing him then we need to at least look into it.”

My jaw tightens even further. I shoot Joshua a sharp look. What the fuck? He knew she wanted to look into the Italian mafia and he didn’t tell me. My mind races as I try to figure out exactly why this is so important to her.

What does she know?

Joshua seems at a loss for words for a couple of seconds.

“Madelyn, we’ll discuss this later,” he says firmly before leaving the room.

The meeting disperses and, as expected, she sets off after Joshua immediately. But I don’t let her. I follow her out,gripping her wrist before pulling her in the direction of the stairwell. Once we’re there, I push her against the wall and crowd her body with mine.

“What was that in there?” I ask, fighting to keep the emotions storming within me at bay.

“What?” she returns, green eyes blazing.

“You know what. Why do you care about the Italian mafia?”

“They’re a criminal organization that should be taken down and I’m an FBI agent. Why wouldn’t I care about them?”

She tries to wiggle out of my hold but I keep her in place, my concentration unbroken.

“No, what happened in there was personal. You want to go after them for a reason. Tell me why.”

“Dominic, read my lips,” she says in frustration. “I am an FBI agent. It’s my job to make sure criminals end up where they should be: prison.”

“Stop lying to me,” I growl. “Especially not when you know as well as I do that I can tell every single time you do it.”

“You first, Dominic,” she retorts.

“I’ve never lied to you.”

“Sure, but you’ve never told me anything, either. You want me to bare my heart and soul? Well, first you have to give me something. Got it?”

My jaw tightens and I fight the urge to shake some sense into her. I swear no one makes me lose control the way she does.

“What do you want to know? You get one question, Madelyn, and then you have to tell my why you’re so interested in the Italian mafia.”

What does she know? Please tell me she doesn’t know.

She bites down on her bottom lip, her expression thoughtful before she nods once. I brace myself for the question that’s sure to be invasive. But she’s right, I can’t expect her to talk to me if I don’t reciprocate.

“Go on,” I prompt.

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