Page 22 of Heartless Mafia Prince

“Rocco didn’t want me to leave, but I was ready to go.”

A chill shot up my spine the second the lie left my mouth. Smitty didn’t tell dad I kissed Rocco. What would he think of me if he knew I came on to him?

It was time to change the subject. “I told my friends my last name is Conti.”

His fork clanked against the plate. He slowly chewed the chicken cacciatore. “What happened?”

“At the end of the school day, I had one friend left. Faith.” I narrowed my eyes.

“How could you, Rocco, and Smitty withhold her identity from me? She’s my frenemy. How can I one day run your empire, if you can’t trust how I’ll react under pressure?” I poured a generous amount of sprite into my glass.

“Sweetheart, don’t worry about the business right now. Enjoy your youth. I have it covered.”

“Does her father want in on our territory?” The lemon and lime soda tingled as it slipped down my throat.

His brows wrinkled. “Ryah, what did I say?”

“Dad, I don’t want to be caught off guard, that’s all.”

“If I think there’s a threat, I’ll protect you.”

A wide fake smile took my face. “Ok, daddy.”

Luckily, my private school didn’t have metal detectors. I kept a knife and a twenty-two in the waistband holder under my school uniform. I wouldn’t take any chances.

“I understand Rocco beat up your boyfriend.”

“Yeah, he felt he was too handsy.”

He swept his hand over his angular jaw, laughing. “You know he likes you, right?”

“You sound like mom. I’m not sure what to make of Rocco. Years back he said he hated looking at me.”

Dad stood, gathered his dirty dishes, and placed them in the sink. “Ryah, I think you should ask him again. I bet his answer has changed.”

I sighed, releasing my hair from the elastic band.

He towered over me and kissed the top of my head. “Goodnight, Ryah.”

“Night, dad.”

Butterflies fluttered in my tummy. I grabbed my things and walked toward the elaborate double purple and yellow spiral staircase. The blue sky and puffy white cloud mural on the ceiling often captivated me. Dad said mom made him feel like the sky was always blue in his heart. Rosetta didn’t know the real meaning behind the mural. Maybe he told her he wanted something pretty painted on the ceiling in the foyer. The exquisite crystal chandelier she chose was a nice touch. I smirked as I continued on.

I didn’t dream of lollipops and rainbows. My life could end at any minute. That was the reality of the life I lived. Our enemies often came for our territory. Rocco and I dealt with a handful of scum for our family’s. My phone vibrated in my purse. Rocco’s statement probably had social media buzzing.

Sweeping my fingers along the fancy details of the brown wrought iron banister, I thought about tomorrow night. Rocco and I would be alone again in the shooting range.

I walked into the bedroom fit for a princess and closed the door. My eyelids hooded the second I saw my king-sized frilly gold comforter. I flipped on the black dangling chandelier and dug my phone out of the tiny purse.

What were they saying about me on social media? I threw my phone on the bed and read the comments as I shimmied out of my dress.

“Rocco’s off the market. Never thought I’d see the day.”

“What did Ryah do to him? He’s always behaved like a mad man, but tonight was worse than normal.”

Lying in only my bra and panties, I thought about my actions that drove Rocco Leonardo Andrisani bat shit crazy. Our locked gaze held firm as he fucked Emily. I didn’t care that he had sex with her. It was the last time she’d ever see his dick again. The way his lips bruised mine with a famishing need that lit my core a blaze. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to have sex. But god did my body want him. He called my name and came for me while he was deep inside Emily. If my friends knew what happened in that room, they’d call me the queen bitch.

I tried to ignore the number of messages waiting to be answered.

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