Page 46 of Ruthless Mafia Boss 3: Vino and Claire

My Vino wasn’t the calm man I’d come to know. In that split second, he transformed into a force of raw fury, unleashing a barrage of blows that left the guy reeling. It was brutal, relentless, and I doubted I could have stopped him if his brother hadn’t intervened.

Vino approached me. “Are you okay?”

A red bruise was forming on his cheek, though I hadn’t seen him get hit. “What the hell is happening, Vino?” I demanded.

His actions stirred memories of a man from my past, and I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment.

When my assistants crowded around, their voices laced with worry, I opened my eyes and smiled. “Yes, go back to the table. I need to talk to Vino.”

“The gangster,” I overheard Teff, one of my reliable models, exclaimed.

I shot him a glare, prompting him to turn and head back to our table.

“Claire, this is my brother Vincent,” Vino stated. “Everyone calls him Vince.”

A smooth smile lifted his bearded cheeks. “It’s good to finally meet you, Claire.”

In this moment I realized I didn’t know Vino at all.

“Nice to meet you, Vince.”

I glared at Vino. “Who are you?”

“We already had this discussion earlier. I’m a ruthless businessman,” he started.

“Very ruthless. Bashing in heads in clubs,” Vince muttered.

Vino’s eyes darkened as he peered at his brother. “You’re not helping.”

“I’m going to rip the band aid off.” Vince smirked.

“I’m Vincent and this is Vino Romano from New Jersey.”

Vino placed up a hand, halting his brother’s words. “We control the city of Hackensack.”

I squinted. “Like the mayor and deputy mayor?” I asked.

“No. We’re in the middle of a war right now between New Jersey and New York. Your Al Capone statement was pretty spot on,” Vino added.

I visibly swallowed. “This is what you wanted to tell me tomorrow?”

“Yes, in the privacy of my home. Not in the middle of a nightclub,” Vino gritted out.

“First, the Bratva,” I murmured, my voice barely audible. Now the mafia. God, I had to be a magnet for bad men.

Tears threatened, but I swallowed them down. “Let me guess. The only way I’ll be safe is with you?”

“Yes,” he replied, his tone resolute.

“Was the man talking to me here to k—” but Vino cut me off.

“No,” he said firmly. “He was with someone else. But he dared to flirt with you and for that, he had to pay.”

I swallowed hard. “You were serious when you said you’d do something about my ex?”

His hand moved to caress my cheek, sending a jolt of warmth and lust through me despite the danger etched in his eyes.

I held his gaze, my heart in a tug-of-war. “I’ll go with you,” I said, voice low and determined, “but know there can never be an ‘us’.” The moment I yanked away from his touch, a sudden chill ran through me. I craved the warmth of his embrace even as I pushed it away.

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