Page 19 of Mafia Heir's Alpha
Rosco stepped into the room, not batting an eye at his boss's playfulness. "We're not even late. Honestly, I'm surprised the two of you are on time."
"Such disrespect that I put up with. Andro, can you believe this?" Cord said.
Rosco walked me over to where Cord sat. Cord stood, Avery coming with him.
"Boss, I'd like you to meet Ori Johnson, my mate." Rosco brought me forward so that I was standing next to his side, his hand on my lower back.
Cord raised a brow. "Official titles already? My congratulations." He held his hand out to me, and I shook it. I was shaking like a leaf, my gaze flickering between Cord and Andro.
"Oh, young omega, do you need a drink to calm your nerves? You look like you're walking to your execution. I'm not scary, I promise."
Avery swatted at his chest. "Give him a break. You are kind of scary. Hi, it's really nice to meet you," he said as he turned to me.
"It's nice to meet you all as well," I managed to spit out.
"Let us introduce you to everyone, then. I'm sure you recognize Andro, his mate Joey. There’s Felik and Jeremiah as well. And then you've already met Trev and Rowan," Cord said. “There. Now introductions are done and we can get down to the fun stuff.”
I recognized all of them from the research I’d done on the family.
Cord sat down and gestured for Rosco and me to do the same. "Dinner will be served shortly. I thought we could all use a little time to ourselves first. Tell us about yourself, Ori. What is it about you that has captured our Rosco’s heart?"
Rosco placed an arm on the back of my chair.
I swallowed thickly. How did I ever think I was going to go through with whatever crazy plan I had thought I was going to do? Did I really think I was going to execute Cord or Andro to avenge my father? I couldn't even come clean about who I was right now in the moment, nor did I know what would happen to me once I did. Perhaps I should have left or I should have told Rosco who I was in private. There were too many people and too many outcomes. What if Rosco didn’t love me enough to protect me?
That thought made my blood run cold and my stomach drop like a stone sinking in a lake. My mouth grew dry, so I reached for a cup of water. But instead of grabbing it, I spilled it. "Oh, shit, I'm sorry." I looked around frantically. They all had to know I was hiding something. Normal people didn’t behave this way.
Rosco put a hand to the back of my neck. "Perhaps we're all a little too overwhelming."
Cord shifted in his seat. "We mean you no harm. I know I'm not a regular guy, and this might be terrifying for you, but you have nothing to be afraid of here, Ori."
"But I do," I said, not entirely on purpose. My mouth wasn’t cooperating.
Cord raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
It was now or never… I had to tell them. “My last name's not Johnson—it's Russo." My stomach dropped as I said the words, and everybody around me was giving me shocked stares.
Andro’s eyes narrowed, and he stood, putting space between his mate and me. "What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
I swallowed thickly and willed my eyes to stay dry. "I came to avenge my father—" I couldn't get any more words out before someone came up behind me and yanked me from my chair. They had me on the ground before I could even attempt to get away.
There was too much movement for me to see, but Rosco was shouting, "Don't touch him! Let him go!"
Then there was the distinct sound of a fist hitting someone, and Rosco’s voice went quiet.
"You'll be dealt with later," Cord’s voice rang out. "Trev, you have him secured?"
"Yes, sir."
Someone’s boot was in my back. It was probably Trev’s.
My arms were pulled back, stretching unnaturally, and my sweater had been ripped in the scuffle.
Trev yanked my arms behind my back and roughly tied them. Did he always carry around zip ties in case he needed to secure someone?
I was suddenly up on my feet.
Rosco was sitting in a chair with his nose bleeding.
