Page 69 of Mob Boss's Second Chance

I keep thinking back to how he looked when I opened the door and the hunger in his reach when he kissed me. I can feel him tremble as he makes love to me… as he tells me that I’m in his head.

I’m in places where nobody else has reached.

Why would he tell me all of that just to leave again?

Danielle tugs on my arm, making a whiny sound. “Natalieeeee. You need to stop thinking about him. There are other guys out there. Better than an elusive billionaire who thinks the world revolves around him so that he can play with people’s hearts.”

“What if something happened?” I find myself asking as I hold my pillow closer to my body. “Maybe he got roped up with a hectic business trip? I don’t know,” I bite my lip, “it could happen. It’s only been five days.”

She scoffs and tugs on my pillow, making me lose my balance. “Five days is a week, darling. Also—” the pillow hits my face as she tosses it from her side of the bed—“it doesn’t take more than a minute to send a text. He could’ve said, “I’ll be occupied for the next couple of days, but trust this… I’ll be thinking about you.”

Her delivery, with an exaggerated accent and flair, makes me laugh. “He doesn’t talk like that,” I argue.

“He doesn’t talk like that,”Danielle mocks me. “I don’t care what he sounds like or if he looks like a Greek statue—some of them are ugly,” she throws in, “but he’s a dick nonetheless. And that’s why we’re going to the club tonight.”

“Nope,” I shake my head. “No, no, no. I am not in the mood to be sandwiched between people who want nothing more than to hump each other. That’s your thing,” I push my hand in her direction. “I’ll stay there and watch a soap opera or something.”

Danielle, whose shtick is never to take no for an answer, rolls off the bed and walks over to my end. I barely see it coming when she grabs my arm and pulls hard. “Get your butt up!”

“No way in hell,” I protest, trying to loosen her grip. My fingers dig into her skin, but she doesn’t let up. “Danielle,” I plead, “I have better things to do. I need to find a job, or I’ll be out on the street for not paying my rent.”

She stops and squints hard. “You’re broke? Why didn’t you tell me?”

I’m not, but a lie is better than her agenda for the evening.

I sigh tiredly, letting my shoulders slump. “I don’t know. You’ve been working hard, and you had that thing with your boss. I didn’t want to bother you.”

Danielle pouts as she lets go and hops on the bed, putting her arms around my shoulders. Her chin rests on my shoulder blade as she kisses my cheek.

“Why would you think it’d be a bother? I’d quit my job for you. You know that.”

“What scares me is knowing that you’ll actually turn in your resignation letter,” I say, chiding her. She tilts her head and gives me a puppy look—one that has never failed to work. “I’m fine,” I pat her hand. “I’m okay.”

She lets go and retakes her position in front of me. “That’s what you say all the time. What about a weekend trip? Just you and me? I’m sure I can get the weekend off, and we’ll go somewhere with a view. What’d you say?”

It sounds like a good idea, but it also sounds like running away from my problems. I should do what rational Natalie would—get a gig and bury myself in a pile of activities. I haven’t been reaching out to people I know or applying for event planning jobs since I quit working for Anthony.

Sensing my hesitation and reading the room, Danielle offers another suggestion, “What about Anthony?” She says.

I arch my brow, and she raises her hand, asking for patience. “ Just hear me out. He’s the biggest client you’ve had so far. He’s also connected you with other people, and you talked about how friendly he is. Why don’t you hit him up?”

That’s right.

I haven’t told Danielle that I was harassed in Anthony’s apartment. I didn’t tell her about the Cross cousin coming home drunk with a different woman on his arm.

The only reason she knows about my “relationship” with Ethan—if I can call it that—is because I told her about sleeping with him before he ghosted me the first time.

I don’t think I’d ever tell her,either.I know Danielle. She’d be halfway to Anthony’s house before I’m done talking. While I appreciate her protective nature, her anger will change and do nothing.

Going against the Cross family is like… rock climbing without tools. You’d claw against rocks and end up scraped and bloody.

“Club,” I say, changing the subject. “Why don’t we try that?”

Her eyes narrow as she cocks her head, studying me. “Why?”

“Why?”

Danielle nods. “Yeah. You were against it a moment ago, and now you’re bringing it up. What are you hiding, Natalie Sarah Monroe?” She calls my full name with her arms folded and a stern tone to her voice. “What are you keeping from me?”

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