Page 95 of Syndicate of Sin Bundle

10

sage

I paced around the living room of my apartment that overlooked the city, nervously chewing on my inner cheek. Constantino’s men had brought over all my belongings from my old place earlier, but I hadn’t been able to dive into unboxing anything after Laila sent me that text.

She had wanted a picture of me, but maybe I had … sent her something wrong.

Maybe she hadn’t wanted a nude or a semi-nude.

After walking toward the window, I rested my forehead against the glass and looked down at the tiny figures hurrying down the sidewalks. It had been three hours, and she hadn’t even responded to my messages. She had Read receipts turned on, and still, nothing.

Did I do something wrong? I didn’t know how to act around pretty girls like her.

Do women require a different kind of sexy picture? More ass, less booby?

How does this even work?!

Deciding that I couldn’t just pace around my apartment anymore, I found a mid-length green dress with white flowers in my closet and glided some nude and matte lipstick across my lips. After grabbing my new iPad and drawing pen, I stepped out of my apartment.

Standing at least six foot tall with dead eyes and slicked-back black hair, Riccardo, my bodyguard, waited outside my door with his hands crossed over his front. I smiled softly at him and locked the door.

“I’m just going up to Constantino and Laila’s floor,” I said.

No response.

I waited for another moment before politely nodding and walking toward the elevator. Riccardo followed a foot behind me and not any farther. I sucked in a breath and stayed quiet because I didn’t really have much of a say.

As soon as I had signed that contract, I belonged to the Mafia.

No matter what, I had to follow Constantino’s rules. And I was sorta, kinda glad he had assigned me a guard because I didn’t want someone to gun me down because I had information about the mob boss and his wife. I didn’t want to get that messed up with them.

When the elevator doors opened, we stepped inside. I hit the top button and glanced over at Riccardo once the doors shut.

“Do you ever get bored, just standing outside my door?” I asked. It had only been a night, but still.

How could someone stand outside a door all day and night?

“No.”

“Oh,” I said, awkward tension building between us. “Well, if you ever get hungry or thirsty, you can come in. I feel bad that you’re stuck, standing there and going everywhere I do. I’d get so bored if I were you.”

“It’s my job to protect you.”

I bounced on my toes and averted my gaze because Riccardo wasn’t down for any type of conversation, it seemed. If he was about to spend every moment of his life with me, I surely hoped that he’d open up to me. I didn’t have any friends here.

But then again, did I want to be friends with a gangbanger? I was already sleeping with two of them.

When the elevator doors opened, I hurried into the hallway and to their front door. My stomach twisted and turned as nerves bubbled inside it. I didn’t know if I was overstepping by coming up here, but I wanted to see if Laila had come home.

What if she didn’t like the picture I had sent? If I had sent it to a guy, he would’ve immediately messaged me back, asking for another or commenting on it. I didn’t want the Burattis to kick me out on my first day.

Riccardo stood behind me as I lingered by their front door, trying to build enough confidence to knock. Instead of staying quiet by my side, he knocked on the damn door for me.

My eyes widened, and I jumped back. “Wait, I’m not—”

Constantino opened the door. Freshly showered with water dripping off his dark hair, he buttoned a cuff on his dress shirt, his undone tie hanging around his neck. His lips curled into a small smirk, and he opened the door wider. “Come in.”

After glancing at Riccardo once, I stepped into the penthouse. Constantino closed the door behind us and walked farther into his home, gaze dropping to my dress. Nervously, I smoothed it out and teetered from foot to foot with my iPad in my hands.

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