Page 24 of Mafia Rules

“Dad’s in town and wants to meet the client.” Hardy’s eyes slant down in disappointment, but his skittish behavior makes me think he’s hiding something.

“When?”

“He’ll be in the office tomorrow.”

I immediately think of Eve and how that affects her when my focus should be on this deal. This is my chance to stand out from my brothers and perhaps have my father’s approval on something.

“There’s something else.” Hardy’s voice is shaky, and his gaze avoids mine until he nods toward the house.

“Ash.” My name coming from her lips gives me goose bumps. I didn’t need to turn around to see who it was.

“Sorry, man.” Hardy slaps my arm, then slinks back to the house.

I follow behind him, my mind racing about why Sasha would be here. I reach the top of the steps just as Hardy walks past her into the house. She leans against the railing, wearing a long back pea coat, similar to the one she would wear with nothing underneath back in the day.

“You’ve been avoiding me.” The sound of her voice immediately triggers old memories I’d rather stay buried.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I shove my hands in my pockets, afraid they will automatically wrap around her neck if I don’t hold myself back.

“You would know if you answered one of the many texts and calls I left on your phone.” She looks too comfortable in my presence.

“No need to.”

“Oh… there is a need.” She pushes herself from the railing and walks over to me, dragging her feet, just like she used to do to tease me when I’d tell her to come closer.

I sighed, my concern growing that neither of my brothers warned me she was anywhere near here. They knew the pain and humiliation she had caused me. “Get to the fucking point, Sasha.”

An evil grin spreads across her face. “Still as impatient as ever, Ash. I missed you.” She attempts to touch my face, and I swiftly grab her wrist. “Ooh… reminds me of our bedroom games. I thought it would be a little harder to get you into being my Dom again.”

“Fuck off.” I’m tempted to walk past her and go inside, but something didn’t seem right. My nosey brothers weren’t even listening at the door.

“I guess we aren’t reminiscing first.” Sasha’s lips draw tight, and her hands fall to her side.

“Just say whatever the fuck it is.” I wave my hand in a forward motion.

“I’m your new client.” As she drops that bomb, a smile spreads across her lips, her eyes shimmering with delight.

“Client?”

“The deal you’re working. I’m the new contact.”

I stood silent, not wanting to provoke her in case she wasn’t lying. This must be why my brothers are conspicuously absent from us.

“Carl is my uncle and wants me in the family business.”

I knew she was related to Carl, but I thought she was an ocean away in London. Carl was brokering the deal and doing the cleanup. We need to get the financials off the books and pay off everyone who was owed something before we took over the business. We would get the casino once we paid off their debts.

“Carl mentioned nothing to me.” I glance over to the window, where I see the curtain move and the shadow of one of my brothers.

“He mentioned it to your dad. I’m sorry. I stepped in after that happened. I know you wanted to handle this on your own.” As her hand brushes against my arm, a wave of old memories washes over me, causing me to withdraw. She knew how much my father bothered me. She’d seen it when we were together.

“Is that why he’s coming back?” With a slightly calmer voice, I turn back to her, channeling all my anger toward him.

“Yes. Tomorrow we will all meet at your office. I wanted to see you before, to hear what you want. I will favor you.”

I was perfectly fine without her favor. She didn’t give a shit about me. All those years ago, she betrayed me, and I’d never let her do that again. “And Carl?”

“He debriefed me. I’m aware of the terms and deadlines you want to meet.” She pulls a piece of paper from her pocket and passes it to me.

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