Page 20 of Bound to the Mafia Guard

“How are things going?” I asked. “Do you have much more work to do today?”

Rowan closed the massive text and tossed it onto the table in front of him. It let out a loud smack when it hit the marbled surface.

“I’m so over this class. Why is it even required?”

I glanced at the title. “Post colonial literature: Volume 1? I thought your genre of choice was medieval.”

“It is, but apparently we’re supposed to be well versed in all kinds.” He waved a hand in the air dismissively.

“Seems to me like you might enjoy some time away.”

Rowan perked up at that. He sat up on his knees, his head in line with my torso.

I cupped his face in my hands and let my fingers dance over the skin around his neck.

“Yes. That. I don’t care where, I’m ready to break free of this academia nonsense.”

I chuckled and helped him to his feet. His fingers stayed laced in mine, and I caught the vanilla sweetness that seemed to follow my omega everywhere. My eyes fluttered closed as I drew it in.

A light pinch on the side drew me out of my daze.

I met the teasing glare of my mate.

“What?” I said.

“Don’t get distracted. You promised me a break.”

“I did. We can’t be out too terribly long, because Andro would like for us to have dinner with the family.”

“Yes, I heard that the omegas started doing weekly dinners and that we’re expected to attend.”

I grimaced. It was one thing to be a part of the family technically; it was quite another to be expected at the family events. I’d always been involved in the larger family events, but this was the immediate family. Somehow Rowan and I were a part of that now. It was equal parts terrifying and invigorating. I loved the Ferrini family. I would do anything for them. Even attend a mundane, somewhat awkward family dinner where Joey and Connor had barred us from any “shop” talk.

“So what’s the plan?” Rowan asked as we made our way out of the library and down the hall.

“It’s a secret.”

He huffed out a breath and swung my arm dramatically. “You can’t keep secrets. That’s not fair.”

I laughed, smiling in a way that felt foreign to me. Was this what happiness felt like?

“It will only be a secret for the whole twenty minutes it takes to get there.”

Rowan’s lips turned into a pout.

I took pity on him. “You know that bookstore that’s just off Canal Street? It’s three stories tall and has a mix of new and used books.”

Rowan’s eyes widened. “Yes! It has the blind date with a book and the stickers and the book boxes. We’re going there?”

I nodded. “We’re going there.”

“I thought you said it was too dangerous because you couldn’t secure all three floors or whatever you went on about.”

I grinned. “I convinced the owner to open it just to us. I already have a team there that has secured the place. I won’t take chances with your safety, Rowan. Now that Cord is officially making inquiries, we can’t be too careful.”

“I’m sorry. You had me at I have a bookstore all to myself.” Rowan placed a kiss to my cheek, then tugged on my arm, dragging me down the hall. “Come on! Let’s go!”

I was not a stranger to watching people. It was literally my job. I watched, I protected. That was my role.

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