Page 70 of Heartless Mafia Prince 2: Rocco & Ryah

CHAPTER NINE

ROCCO

FUCK, I DID IT AGAIN. I pissed off my girlfriend. Right after a spectacular weekend. She was nice to the guy from class. So what? That wasn’t a reason to flip out. He looked so lonely. I didn’t want him thinking my girlfriend would be his new friend. Then he’d fall in love with her or some shit.

After lunch, I went to the library for a few hours. I needed to lose myself in my studies so I could calm down.

“Hello, Rocco.”

I peeked up from my Psych homework. The brunette with big brown eyes and too much eyeshadow stared back at me.

“Hello.”

“My name’s Lila. I’m in your political science class.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, offering a generic smile.

I didn’t remember her at all.

“Yes, I sit behind you. All I see are those curls day in and day out. They’re beautiful,” she said, with a southern twang.

“Where are you from?”

“Mobile, Alabama.”

“How are you adjusting to the weather?”

She took my short talk as a cue to sit.

“I don’t understand how y’all manage. It’s freezing almost every day.”

“Thirty-five degrees is warm in early November. Snow will be here before you know it.”

“I’m looking forward to the snow.” She smiled nervously.

“Well, I have to get back to it.” I tapped the hardcover text book.

“I was wondering if you had a partner for the project. I’m very efficient. And I take excellent notes. To be such a handsome man, you’re very intelligent. Every time Professor Orison calls your name, you know the answer.”

“Not all attractive people are stupid.”

Lila’s cheeks flushed before her hand flew over her mouth. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“I’m not offended.”

Releasing a breath, I ran my fingers through my hair.

Her throat bobbed as she clutched the pink pendant dangling from her gold necklace.

“I don’t normally take on partners.”

Her eyes lit up with anticipation.

“But if you work hard like you said, we’ll work out fine.”

“Yes,” she shouted in a whisper.

“I have a few conditions.”

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