Page 20 of Taming Mika

Over the rhythmic beat of Fate’s hooves against the cement floor of the alley, I catch the murmur of conversation drifting from thehands. Gossip, as usual, clings to the air, and unsurprisingly, Alfie’s name is at the heart of it. His presence, even in absence, seems inescapable, weaving itself into the fabric of our everyday lives. Despite my best efforts, I can’t stop my thoughts from returning to him and the unsettling tension that lingers after our last meeting. His name alone stirs something deep and unwelcome, and I feel my cheeks flush as Francisco’s voice rises, spinning yet another wild tale.

“He must be paying off the police,” Francisco says with a hint of certainty. “No one else could get away with arson like that.”

“Or maybe it’s his men who make sure there’s no trail,” Javier mutters before falling silent when he spots me.

Normally, I would dismiss the chatter with a sharp reminder to focus on work, but Alfie has occupied my thoughts for days, and my patience is wearing thin. I need answers, though I know they won’t come from him. Instead, I find myself leaning into the conversation, curiosity outweighing caution.

“What do you guys know about Mr. Bonetti’s personal life?” I ask, keeping my voice even, though my pulse quickens as their gazes land on me, startled.

After a pause, Francisco shrugs, his focus shifting back to grooming Bolt’s dappled gray barrel. “He’s the head of his family now. His father was killed in that shootout a few years ago—the one after that big drug bust. You remember?”

I shake my head no. “Should I?” I rarely pay attention to news from the city. It doesn’t have much effect on my life out here, and I don’t see the point of listening to all the depressing violence.

“It was a pretty big deal. It made national headlines,” Alex adds.

I nod, unsure of how to respond. Maybe I should know who these families are. I did a bit of digging on Alfie right after our first encounter and turned up plenty of stuff to raise the hairs on the back of my neck, but I hadn’t thought to look further into the Bonetti family. I didn’t even realize mafias were still a legitimate presence in New York until a few days ago. But that’s not the detail I’m digging for now.

“What about his current family? I heard he’s engaged.” I reach out to stroke Liza’s soft nose, hoping to appear indifferent.

“He’s marrying the daughter of the Kapranov family,” Alex says, his hands working over Liza’s bay coat with sudden intensity. He says their name with a kind of reverent fear similar to how the hands spoke about Alfie before he first came to look at Fate.

“That’s bad?” I ask, my voice faltering.

Javier’s sharp intake of breath sends a chill through me. “Both families are dangerous,señorita. But the Russians—they’re something else.”

Francisco shakes his head. “The Bratva are crazy, is what they are. You don’t want to cross them—either family, really.”

A Russian and Italian mafia both occupying New York City?I feel like I stepped into some kind of alternate universe where men in pinstripe suits might pull up to a barbershop with tommy guns to demand payment in exchange for protection or something.

The atmosphere shifts, tension hanging heavy in the air. “You really haven’t heard?” Javier asks, eyes narrowing as they meet mine.

I swallow hard. “Heard what?”

A flicker of fear crosses Francisco’s face as if even speaking Alfie’s name could summon him. “People are talking about the wedding because if those two families unite, they could be the most powerful force in the city. Beyond any kind of law.”

His words sink in like lead, cold and unrelenting. The implications are far more dangerous than I imagined, and the knot in my stomach tightens. Alfie’s attention has already brought enough complications, and the last thing I need is to be caught between him and his fiancée—let alone her powerful family. My pulse races as I imagine the consequences if she were to discover his interest in me. The very thought sends a flush through my skin, one I fight to suppress as memories of Alfie’s hands on me flood back. I press my thighs together to ease the unwanted ache. I hate how often my mind recalls the feeling of his fingers expertly teasing my clit, and even worse is the instant arousal that follows. I can’t get him out of my head.

But from the sounds of it, I need to, if I want to live.

Francisco’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Not that it matters, right,señorita? You and the bossman have been spending plenty of time behind closed doors.” His grin is sly, and the implication lands like a slap.

My temper flares, sudden and sharp. “If you think a change in management gives you the right to speak to me like that, you’re mistaken.” I stand tall, forcing calm into my tone even as anger burns beneath the surface. “This barn is my responsibility, and I won’t tolerate that kind of talk. My relationship with Mr. Bonetti is strictly professional. If anyone here thinks otherwise, maybe they should reconsider where they work.”

The silence that follows is thick with shock. I take a steadying breath, knowing I’ve let my frustrations spill over. It’s not just Francisco’s inappropriate comment—it’s everything. Alfie’s arrival has disrupted the order I’ve worked so hard to maintain, and I find myself constantly defending my integrity. It’s exhausting.

Javier is the first to break the silence. “Understood,señorita,” he says quietly, casting a warning glance at the others.

Francisco, looking more sheepish now, murmurs his apology. “I didn’t mean any offense. I was only joking.”

I accept his apology with a nod, but my nerves remain frayed. The truth is, I can’t even fully dismiss what he’s implied. Alfie’s presence in my office, the way our conversations shift behind closed doors—it’s not something I can easily explain away. And worse still, I can’t deny the part of me that’s curious about where things might have gone if I hadn’t stopped them.

12

ALFIE

Drumming my fingers against my desk, I stare blankly at the same letter I’ve been looking at for the past half hour. I should be using this time to ensure the shipment we have coming in goes smoothly. Instead, all I can think about is Mika, and the meeting with the Kapranovs that went about as badly as it could have.

Could one woman possibly be worth the hell I’ll be bringing down on the Bonetti family?

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