Page 9 of Mabilia

“That shouldn’t be as hot as it was,” Mabilia says with a mouth full of food.

“How was your day? What’d you get up to?” I ask her, trying to get my cock to calm the fuck down.

“I had to fight Papa to let me go to school. He wanted to lock me up and throw away the key after last night. I’m kinda glad I won that argument, because if I didn’t go to school, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.” She takes another bite of her food. “And this burger is really good.”

“What exactly happened last night? I should never have let you walk out alone,” I tell her.

“Nope, we’re not doing that. Leaving was my decision, and if you had tried to stop me, I probably would have shot you. Or stabbed you… Kicked you in the balls at the very least,” she says. “Whatever happened after I left your place doesn’t matter. It’s done.Over.”

“You have a bruise that covers half your fucking face, Mabilia. It’s not over.” I take a deep breath. I’m not trying to lose my shit at her.

“I’m aware. It’s my face,” she says.

“What happened?” I ask again.

“I appreciate your concern, Tommy. I really do. But you need to stop asking me shit I can’t tell you.”

“But you’re going to be okay, right? There’s not going to be any… I don’t know… charges? Backlash?”

“I’m fine. Papa handled it,” she says.

“Handled it?” I repeat. I know she’s not going to tell me. I don’t expect her to. I know who herPapais. Or at least, I know of him. And the guy’s not exactly someone whose bad side I would want to be on. Although something tells me I already am, seeing as I am sitting in a car with his little princess right now.

“Uh-huh, it’s fine. I might be put under more surveillance from my parents, and I’m sure by now my grandparents have heard what’s happened. Which means my nonno and nonna are currently flying back from Italy,” she says before quickly changing the subject. “Did I tell you how good this burger is? You want some?” She holds the wrapper out to me.

“No, I’m good,” I tell her.

“Oh, thank god. 'Cause I didn’t really want to share. But you know…” Mabilia shrugs “Manners, my mother would kill me if I didn’t use them.”

“What would your mother say about you beating someone up in my bar last night?”

“The bar part she wouldn’t approve of. As for that chick? My mother would have told me I shouldn’t have let her walk out alive,” Mabilia says.

“What are your plans for next year? College? Gap year? Cage fighter?” This girl’s in high school. I should take her home and forget about her. And I would, if I weren’t so drawn to her.

“I think I’ll go to NYU. My family is a little… protective. If I tried to go out of state, they’d just follow me. It’s easier if I stay here.”

“You really think your parents would follow you to college?” I ask her.

“I know they would. What are your plans for next year?”

“I’m in law school actually. NYU,” I tell her.

“So you’re not going to spend the rest of your life playing illegal card games?”

“I didn’t say that. The money is good. But I figure knowing the law might come in handy too.”

“I have an uncle and an aunt who are defense attorneys. They’re the best around,” Mabilia says proudly.

“I know. You can’t be in law school in this city without hearing about the Valentinos and all the cases they win.”

Mabilia stares at me for a long moment before commenting, “You don’t seem very lawyery.”

“And you don’t seem veryhigh schooly. But here you are, in my car, in a school uniform.” I look her up and down.Fuck, that uniform is hot.“Then again, I wouldn’t have taken you for someone who gets into bar fights either.”

“Shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. My Papa says it’s the pretty ones you have to watch out for. They’re the most lethal.” Mabilia’s eyes sparkle with mischief as she says this.

Chapter Seven

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