Page 33 of Choices

Now, with a way to make money that didn't cut into my time with my kids, hope spread through my chest like a wildfire.

Without missing a beat, Rico nods. "Draw up the paperwork with Matty and it's yours." I can't help but squeal and jump into his arms. I pull him tight against me, blinking away happy tears.

"Thank you," I whisper into the fabric of his shirt. He runs his hands up and down my back soothingly, seeming to understand the whirlwind of emotions going through me.

"And then with a contract in place, whenever this ends, I'll still have a source of income."

His hand stills.

"What makes you thinkthis is going to end?" He asks, his voice still and chilling.

I pull back to look up at him and roll my eyes a little.

"Oh, come on Rico. What is someone like you doing with someone like me anyway?"

"Someone like me?" He repeats, and it sends nerves skittering around my body as if I'm walking on a tightrope, or edging into a minefield.

"You're gorgeous and fit and wealthy, you could have any girl you want. What are you doing with a frumpy, dull housewife?" I look around to find Santiago and Matty but they're not there. "I figure you're interested because I'm different than what you're used to, but you can't possibly think whatever this is will last..."

He narrows his eyes and growls at me again. He rocks his hips forward, letting me feel the length of his hard erection.

"Look, I don't know what you see when you look at yourself, but I see a smart, hardworking woman, sacrificing her life to make sure her family has the very best of everything. Andthatis sexy."

I look at him dumbfounded. My brain short-circuits while I try to comprehend what he has said. I have only ever looked at myself with disgust and despair, only noticing where I had failed, how fat I was, how ugly. But he sees me in a completely different way. He sees me as sexy. He sees what I do and who I am as something he desires.

“I look at a woman like that and wonder…what she would sacrifice for me.And if I’m worth sacrificing anything for."

When I finally release him, I notice almost a dozen men staring at us. Like with Matty, I'm sure we look strange. A frumpy stay-at-home mom hugging a dangerous mafia kingpin. I can't help but laugh the nerves away.

Just then Matty claps Rico on the shoulder and joins our little group. He holds his hand out to me to take and I do.

"Let's go dancing!"

Chapter ten

Matty

Ilead my beautiful woman back up the stairs and to the dance floor. I was nervous when Ben told me Rico had taken her into the basement. I know she knows what we do, but knowing about the underbelly of a city and seeing it are two different things. I was nervous she would get scared off, but the bright, hopeful smile on her face instantly set me at ease.

I lead Hannah through the crowd and onto the dancefloor of the first floor. It's smaller, and the DJ tonight is one of my favorites. He plays mashups of 90s hip-hop and modern pop, Latino, and even some country, but somehow he seems to make it work.

I spin her around to face me and wrap my hands along her lower back, moving us to the music.

She tells me excitedly about her plan to bring women to the boxing matches. I pick her up and spin her in my arms. "That's a great idea! I'm so proud of you, pretty girl."

I pause, waiting for her resistance. I've been calling her pretty girl in my head for years, but this is the first time I've said the words out loud. I wait for her to call me out, to push back against me, but it never comes.

The laugh and smile she gives me could set my world on fire. I set her back on her feet and continue to dance with her.

She rambles excitedly and beautifully. "We could call it book club so our husbands wouldn't know! Oh! We could hire some magic mike guys or male strippers!"

I frown.

I don't like theidea of my girl looking at anyone but us. Getting turned on by anyone but us. But I don't want to rain on her parade. She's happy and excited. I love this version of Hannah. She seems freer, younger than she has in a long time.

I spin her so her back is to my chest so she can't see my frown. "I'm so proud of you. It's an amazing idea." I say, breathing in the lavender of her shampoo. I need to find out what brand she uses so I can buy some and smell her all the time.

I hold her hips and pull her flush against me. I can tell the minute she feels me, hard, pressing into her lower back, because the air between us grows heavy. But she doesn't move away. If anything, she presses back into me.

---