Page 68 of Corrupted Heir (Mafia Kings: Corrupted 1)

“Leo,” I said softly just outside the door. “I need to speak to my friend. Do you mind giving me a few feet of space and pretending you’re not listening in?”

“I actually have a filter in my head. Tunes out all girl-talk, so you’re safe,” Leo said with a grin.

Still, I walked past Corinne—who eyed me the whole time—to the fridge, where I had packed an extra sandwich. I handed it to him, and he looked up at me like I had just gifted him life.

“Here’s some lunch. Maybe the chewing will help drown out anything your girl-talk filter doesn’t catch.”

“Good thinking,” he said, remaining in the doorway while I took a deep breath and marched to my doom—or my best friend… it all depended on how the conversation went.

But before I could open my mouth, Corinne lunged to her feet. “I tried to call you so many times! I was so scared, Fallon. What happened? Are you okay? Where have you been? What’s going on? And what the hell is with Stalky McSexy over there?”

I took a deep breath. “I’m fine, Corinne. I’m sorry you were so worried. I couldn’t call… I mean, I can explain…”

It seemed now that I finally had the opportunity to explain, I was having difficulty finding words.

Her eyes darted back and forth between me and Leo again. My poor friend was going to give herself a headache!

“That’s Leo. You can stop looking at him like that. He’s a good guy.” Wait. Did I just call a guy who was part of a crime family a “good guy”? Oh well, I’d deal with that later. “I—”

“What is that?” Corinne gasped as her eyes spotted my wedding ring. She grabbed my hand, pulling my arm over the table to inspect it, nearly dislocating my shoulder.

“It’s…”

“You got married? All this time, I’ve been worried sick about you, and you were… you were, what? On your honeymoon?” she said incredulously.

There was no way even Leo’s girl-talk filter could block out Corinne’s voice. I was pretty sure anyone sitting in the reception area could hear her—maybe anyone sitting in the reception area two buildings over.

“I wasn’t on my honeymoon,” I hissed in little more than a whisper.

“What’s going on, Fallon? I don’t understand. Your dad said you moved out of town for better opportunities. I tried to call you. Your voicemail is full. I knew something was up. You like your routine, you don’t like change. You wouldn’t just leave town like that. You wouldn’t leaveme… would you?”

I quickly stood up, crouched next to her, and wrapped myself around her waist. She looked on the verge of tears.

“And now you’re back, and you’re married, and I don’t know what the heck is going on. I’m so confused.”

When Corinne calmed down, I looked up at her, hoping to convey some small piece of how much I cared about her in my eyes.

She put her hand on my cheek. “You didn’t leave town, did you?”

I shook my head.

“And you weren’t ignoring me?”

“I wasn’t. I haven’t had my phone.” I sighed, glancing over my shoulder at Leo while trying to figure out just how much I could tell Corinne.

Leo was staring straight ahead, just over the top of my head, but he smiled when he saw me looking at him.

“If you ladies want to kiss and make up… all I’m saying is I’m okay with that,” he joked, and even Corinne let out a tiny laugh.

And just because I felt like flustering Leo after he’d flustered me all morning by staying close on my heels, I leaned up toward Corinne and parted my lips.

Corinne smiled devilishly and played along, leaning down ever so slowly. I could almost hear Leo holding his breath.

And just as our lips were about to meet, I leaned back and sprung to my feet.

“Have some potato salad, and I’ll explain everything,” I said, sliding the container on the table toward her and shooting a triumphant grin at Leo.

“I’m telling you, Fallon,” he pressed on with his goofy grin, “it would make you both feel better.”

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