Page 69 of Dirty Mafia Sinner
Something rockets by my face, clipping my nose. Startled, my eyes snap open, and I glance around.
There, perched on the wrought iron balcony, is a small bright yellow canary with delicate brown markings. Fearless as it studies me from an arm’s breadth away. If its sudden appearance was startling, the perfectly pitched song it begins singing stuns me speechless.
I still and barely breathe for fear of frightening it away.
My mom used to say bird visits have symbolic meaning. A hummingbird brings joy and happiness. A crow represents change. A cardinal’s visit is the most precious because it means a loved one who has passed on is thinking of you.What do you signify, little bird? Because I’m lost as to what to do.
It’s been an hour or two since he didn’t simply reject my proposition but literally slammed the door in my face. His room is quiet, and he’s likely bossing men about or bending brunettes over to spank them.
Getting what he already has.
I’m a practical person. His harem shouldn’t bother me this much. Recklessly falling for a violent mafioso with a short temper and an unforgiving streak a mile long is absurd. Yet logic flies out the door whenever I’m in his company.
That’s why you invited him home, Riley. To feel again, remember?
Silent now, the canary bobs its head.
I should warn it. This is no place for beautiful things.
With careful movements, I reach for the stale croissant I brought upstairs from the kitchen earlier. I crush a small piece between my fingers, and then ever so slowly, sprinkle crumbs on the balcony railing behind me.
It immediately hops closer, then closer, then quickly pecks up the pieces.
“Aren’t you a brave birdie?” I whisper.
For a long while we study each other.Hope,I think.You’re a sign everything will be fine.
Loud knocking shatters the moment, startling us both. The canary flies off in the direction of the pool as I brace myself for what comes next.
Step by step, I trudge toward the bedroom door, slipping on then zipping up my uniform as I go.
I whisk the door open and am greeted by one of Alessandro’s stern-faced soldiers.
“Boss says to get your ass down to the pool, immediamente.”
CHAPTER 15
RILEY
Surprisingly,the pool is empty except for the figure sprawled on a chair on the far side of the patio. The decorative tile burns my soles as I make my way toward him, apprehension building with each step.
Alessandro’s eyes are closed, and he’s fast asleep.
So much forimmediamente.
I hover by his chair and study him. Bruises are fading. Swelling lessening. Muscles are tighter and more sculpted than I remember. His dark beauty is a sight to behold. A man this evil doesn’t deserve to be so devilishly handsome.
Unaware of my presence, he breathes softly and deep, while my attention shifts lower onto the distinct bulge beneath his swim trunks. My lips part. Big, beautiful boners are a natural state for this man, aren’t they?
Memories flood my mind. Him, pushing into me from behind. Me, riding him, his hands drawing me down hard with each upward thrust. We fit perfectly.
But that was another time, another place. When he was Al, and I was too numb with grief to realize how dangerous he truly is.
Dancing around on my feet, I shake off the burn from stupidly standing here while the man who summoned me sleeps. I search for the man he sent to fetch me, curious if his soldier made a mistake.
“You fuck him?”
I jump, and then turn fully toward him. “You were awake?” And doing what? Studying me beneath his lashes while I drooled over his body?
