Page 74 of Mob Boss's Second Chance

The fabric of her oversized baseball jersey flutters slightly with the breeze, and the casual ease of her movements makes it impossible to look away.

My throat tightens with the desire—to exit the car and match her strides. I’d do anything to see her pupils widen at my sudden presence and drink her in without the distance between us. Iwantto feel her pulse beating as my fingers encircle her wrist, even if it’s for a couple of seconds.

Cursing under my breath, I run my hands through my hair.

It’s not going to be enough.

Seeing Natalie. Holding her. It’ll never be enough.

My blood surges with the need to have more—to cup her face roughly and kiss her with every drop of pent-up emotions.

I’d give anything to feel her shudder as she leans into me, her legs wrapped around my waist. Her warmth is seared into my memory, and I tilt my hips slightly as my breath goes shallow from the vividness of memories that play through my head.

As I watch Natalie, my hand slides down south, subconsciously reaching for the waistband of my pants. That’s when I see something—an equation my mind conveniently ignored when I first spotted her.

The man.

There’s a man by her side, holding a bag in one hand, while his other hand swings close to hers with every step. My fingers curl into fists, the sharp edge of my nails pressing into my palm as I force myself to breathe through the surge of jealousy clawing at my chest.

He’s looking at her. That lingering gaze, filled with interest, with intent. It’s unmistakable.

Natalie, oblivious or indifferent, walks beside him with that same determined stride. The space between them is minimal, their hands brushing every few steps. The sight ignites something dark in me, something territorial.

I shouldn’t care. They look cozy… and the way she smiles at him speaks volumes, but I shouldn’t care.

My body betrays me. Tensing with unspoken possessiveness, my jaw clenches as I suppress the urge to march over and put distance between them.

I want to throw caution to the wind and pin her against the wall, kissing her until her hands are digging into my back, and she’s begging for more. I want to show him that she’s mine,as toxic as that might sound.

Does she know? Does she realize that he wants her? That his eyes have been fixed on her since they stepped onto the sidewalk?

Or worse… is there something between them?

While jealousy turns me into someone I don’t recognize, they continue their walk, oblivious to my watching eyes. I torture myself with the sight until they disappear into the building—man, bag, and Natalie.

It’s my fault.

I tighten my grip on the steering wheel, squeezing until my knuckles turn white until I feel like I might snap the damn thing in half.

I pushed Natalie away.

She waited for me once, gave me a chance to make things right, and I still threw it away. Now, someone else is walking beside her, looking at her like she’s the best thing in the world.

Maybe she is. Maybe she always was. And perhaps I was the fool who never deserved her in the first place.

Good for her.

The words taste like acid, burning as I swallow them down. I keep my eyes locked on the road, refusing to look in the rearview mirror, refusing to let myself wonder if she even noticed me there.

I wanted her to be safe. But it looks like she’s happy, too.

And me? I was never meant for something so damn pure.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Natalie

“You are not going to believe this!”

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