Page 44 of Texting My Mafia Savior

Me:Yes, but I don’t have any answers. Come back to the city. Hopefully, by the time you’re home, I will have thought of something.

I stuff my phone into the glove box and drive. A constant, ugly movie is playing in the back of my head. It’s a reel of what might happen to Lucy, my best friend.

Parking outside Rocco’s office, I head inside, asking for him at the front desk. He meets me in the lobby, looking flustered. “What’s happened? Is Arria okay? Is it my wife?”

“They’re fine,” I tell him. “In fact, they’re on their way back to the city.”

He sighs, putting his hands on his hips. “Does that mean it’s over?”

I shake my head. “Lucy’s given herself to Dominic Caruso. She’s agreed to be his wife. In exchange, Dominic wants to put all of this behind us.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“What do you think?” I snarl. “He’ll treat Lucy like trash and do terrible things to her. Dominic Caruso is not a good man.”

“Lucy made this choice herself, though? I’m being practical, Nico. I have to think about my family. I have to think aboutmywife,mydaughter.”

I rub the bridge of my eyebrows. “I didn’t come here to discuss any plans. I came here because I need to stay at your place tonight.”

“What, why?” he snaps. “I’ve made my wishes clear with Arria.”

“This isn’t about that,” I bark. What the hell would he say if he knew what we’d been texting to each other? I’ve tried to back off. Or have I? “I can’t just take Dominic’s word that he’ll leave your family alone. You’ve got a guestroom, haven’t you?”

“You’re so polite, Nico, inviting yourself into my home,” he grumbles,

“I know you’re not happy any of this is happening, Rocco, but try to be more mature about it.”

He sighs, nodding. I don’t expect him to apologize. When he does, I’m shocked. “I’m sorry. It’s just… well, everything.”

“It can’t be easy.”

“I thought we were done with the mob.”

“You couldn’t know that Arria would have a run-in with the spoiled prince.”

I concede.

“And now it looks like there’s a way out. But it’s not, is it? Because you won’t let Lucy do this.”

“Honestly, Rocco, it makes me sick that you’d be willing to.”

“This entire city is sick. This world is sick. Unlike you, I wasn’tinthe life, but I was close enough to see how evil it could be. Sometimes, it’s about picking the lesser of two evils.”

He’s not wrong there.

“You can stay,” he goes on. “But in theguestroom, understand? You know what I’m saying, don’t you?”

“I get it.”

“Just in case.” He takes a step forward, glaring at me. “I’m telling you to stay away from my daughter.”

She’s a grown woman. She can make her own decisions. I almost say this out loud, but that’d make me a jerk. There’s enough stress in this situation without heaping that on top of it.

“I understand, Rocco,” I tell him.

“I need to get back to work… don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” I retort.

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