Page 76 of Mistletoe in the Mafia

I inhale softly, trying to calm my racing heart. I’m going to be fine. Whoever this old man is, I can take him. Granted, he was strong enough to subdue me and drag me all the way here, but I was caught by surprise then. If he tries anything now, at least I’ll see him coming.

“What do you have to say to me? Say it so I can leave,” I say sharply.

He walks toward me then, a lot more agile than I would have expected, given his age.

“You don’t give me orders, little girl. You shut up and listen to what I have to say. Do you understand?” he asks, the words delivered calmly.

“Crystal,” I bite out.

“Good. We can be friends, Madelyn. I’d like that very much. For us to be friends before I die,” he says sadly.

I notice the emotion doesn’t reach his eyes, though. Nothing seems to. They’re cold, dead, lifeless.

“You’re… sick?” I hedge.

“I was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago. Stage four. So you see, I’m in a hurry to do some things before I’m eventually dust.”

This is so weird. “What has any of that have to do with me?”

“Only everything, little girl. Only everything. You have no idea how much you mean to me. You and Dominic. I’ve spent a long time thinking about you both,” he states.

I make a face of disgust. Okay, this situation just got even weirder. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He smiles. “Don’t worry, Madelyn. All will revealed to you soon, but it certainly won’t be revealed by me. That’s not why I’m here. I’m here to tell you a few interesting things about the man you’re falling in love with. I’m sure you’ll be glad to hear what I have to say.”

My hands clench into fists. How does this man know so much about us?

“Doubtful. I don’t give a fuck about what you have to say about Dominic.”

“You’re a good liar,” he notes with a smile “It’s a good quality to have. A man like that has secrets. Secrets you want to know about.”

Tell me something I don’t know. I’m very aware Dominic has secrets. But I don’t want them revealed to me by a creepy old man.

“This is ridiculous. I’m leaving,” I state, starting toward the door.

“He’s a member of the Cosa Nostra.”

Those words stop me in my tracks. I look at the old man, my eyebrows raised.

“What?”

“You know what that is, don’t you, sweetheart? The Italian mafia. They’ve got quite a hold in the city of Chicago. And Dominic is a member of that organization.”

I shake my head. “No. He’s not,” I say vehemently.

The old man laughs. “You’re sweet, Madelyn. So very innocent. It makes me want to ruin you.”

I think I’m going to be sick.

“Dominic’s not in the mafia,” I deny again.

“But I can assure you he is. How do you think he found you? Why do you think he was looking for you in the first place? These are all very important questions, Madelyn. Questions I’m sure you’ve asked yourself already. You’ve wondered, too. Where he came from? Why he is the way he is with you? I have so many answers for you. Fun, truthful answers.”

My heart races as I consider his words. On one hand, I’m pretty sure everything he’s saying is a lie. But a part of me is smart enough to recognize the possibility that it’s not.

“Okay. Tell me,” I prompt. “And if I find out you’re lying, old man, I’ll break your limbs.”

“Such fire,” he murmurs, cold dark eyes gazing right into my face.

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