Page 93 of Mob Knight

Her face blanches so fast it scares me.

“Joey?”

I rub my hands up and down her arms before I pull her chest against mine. I’m gentle when I press her head against my shoulder.

“Joey?”

“Santi didn’t mention that.”

I barely hear her and have to strain to catch what she said.

“What did he say?”

“He was pissed. He said our father already knew, but I’m not convinced he does. I think Santi was giving me the chance to promise to break things off with you. I’m certain our father knows now if he hadn’t heard some other way. Maybepapágave Santi the chance to talk to me before he intervenes. How do you know my brother?”

“We met during a business meeting.”

She sits back, her gaze sweeping over my chest and abs.

“Are any of those scars from him?”

“No.”

“Are any of his scars from you?”

“No.”

She’d curled her arms between us a moment ago, but this time she wraps her arms around me when she leans forward. I run my hand up and down her back.

“Cor, you say I still belong to you…Is that so you—are you?—”

She hesitated, then stumbled over her words. But I can guess what she meant.

“I won’t use you against them. You’re still mine because I’ve given you my heart. I hope I still have yours.”

“You know you do. I gave it to you, knowing I’d have to reveal this.”

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because I didn’t know if you felt the same way about me. If you didn’t, and this was going to end at some point, I didn’t think it was a good idea to say too much about my family.”

I feel like I should be enraged she kept such a massive secret. One that endangers my family. But I’m not because I understand. If we hadn’t met the way we did, I would have kept my position a secret as long as possible. I wouldn’t have rushed to admit my family istheNew York mob. We come from the most fucked-up, twisted world.

“Cormac, can you forgive me for this? Or will you realize in the morning this is going to burn a hole through us?”

“It’s hardly ideal.”

She snorts but says nothing.

“I wish you’d told me sooner because I would have organized a different safety protocol. But considering my position and all the shite I’ll never tell you to keep you, my family, and the people who depend upon me safe, I understand your decision.”

“Are you silently angry?”

She was monumentally uncomfortable a moment ago. Now I hear the fear. Most people wouldn’t, but I’ve spent years causing that emotion in others and detecting when people try their best to hide it.

“No, little one. Worried. Resentful life put us in this position. But I’m not angry. Joey, I’ll never begrudge you keeping that secret. But I need you to promise me something, and it’s notnegotiable. If you won’t, then we might meet an insurmountable problem. I won’t ask for your pledge until you hear me out.”

She sits up, so we can look at each other.

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