Page 18 of Mabilia

She actually expected me to stay inside the foyer and watch her walk out.Fuck that.

I school my features, not giving her brother a single fucking emotion as I walk out right next to her. I’m not a fucking idiot. Staying inside would give off the vibe that I’m scared of them. Her family. I’d be stupid not to be, but no way in hell am I going to show them that.Fake it till I make it.

Mabilia stops in front of the kid who looks like he wants to rip my head from my shoulders. “What are you doing here, Neo?”

“Dad sent me. Ma wouldn’t let him come get you himself. Something about blood on a Sunday or some shit. Personally, I don’t see the issue with getting my hands a little dirty. Today or any day,” Neo says, looking right at me.

I smile at him, holding out a hand and waiting for him to shake it. “Tommy. It’s good to meet you.”

The kid looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. Eventually, he takes hold of my palm. “You do realize the blood I want on my hands right now is yours,” he says, squeezing the fuck out of my fingers.

If he thinks I’m going to back down, he’s got another thing coming. “I do,” I tell him.

“Neo, stop. Let’s go.” Mabilia turns to me, her eyes wide and apologetic. “I’m so sorry, Tommy.”

“It’s okay. If you were my sister, I would have already hit me,” I tell her.

“Huh, good idea,” Neo says right before his fucking fist connects with my jaw. “Stay the fuck away from my sister. Or next time, it’ll be a fucking bullet.”

I blink at him as I rub at my face. “I’ll invest in a bulletproof vest then—oh, and you might wanna close your eyes because you’re not going to like this,” I tell him before I turn to Mabilia. I wrap my hand around the back of her head and my lips press against hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“You really should start wearing a bulletproof vest.” She smiles at me. Her brother doesn’t say another word, though. He simply follows Mabilia to the blacked-out vehicle that’s idling by the curb.

“Let me know when you get home,” I call out to her.

She peers over a shoulder and waves at me, a big smile on her face as she ducks into the car. “Don’t hold your breath,” Neo tellsme, closing her door. “She doesn’t need to fucking message you shit.”

“Nice meeting you.” I wave at him, knowing full well my nonchalance is pissing him off.

They pull away and I head back inside my building. I make it to the living room before my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and a message pops up on my screen.

Mabilia:

I’m sorry my brother’s an asshole. It’s genetic. Also, I had a lot of fun tonight. I get it if you don’t want to see me again, though…

Her brotherisan asshole, but that’s not going to stop me from having her. Nothing will. I’ve decided that I’m keeping Mabilia. I’ve never been so drawn to a girl before. I want to see where this goes.

Me:

You’re not escaping me that easily, babe. I’m not running and I’m not letting you run either.

Mabilia:

Have you tried running with a bullet in your head? I imagine it’d be a little difficult. Just saying, being with me is a risk to your life. Don’t take that lightly.

Me:

Worth it. You’re worth it. Let me know when you’re home.

I throw my phone down, pick up my laptop, and start searching every bit of public information I can find on the Petrovs. If I’m going to go up against her entire family, I need to be as prepared as I can be. Thirty minutes later, I get a text fromMabilia telling me she’s home. So I power down my laptop, after finding very little info on the Russian mobsters, and climb into bed.

“I need to head out for a few hours,” I tell Denny.

“What you doing?” he questions as the crate of vodka bottles he carried in from the storeroom lands on the bar top.

“I have a date.” I smile.

“Since when do you date?” Denny looks at me with a puzzled expression.

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