Page 31 of Corrupted Heir (Mafia Kings: Corrupted 1)

I almost scoffed but managed to hold it in. I loved my dad, but I wasn’t so blinded by love that I didn’t notice he only ever came here for a reason.

“Dad, if you’re not here for anything important…” I prompted, hoping to get the ball rolling.

He sucked down the rest of his drink and poured another.

“Okay, okay. I just… I wanted to apologize for pushing so hard with the Luca boy.”

A lump formed at the back of my throat, and I had to swallow it back to force words out.

“Thank you,” I said, reaching out to cover his lined hand with mine. It wasn’t often my dad apologized for things, but—

“So, I just want to make sure you’re on for the next date…” he said, cutting into my thoughts, but the look in his eyes was just a little too hopeful.

“I knew it.” I drew my hand back. The chuckle that slipped out wasn’t jubilant or sarcastic. Really, it just sounded sad. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, we didn’t…”—I raised my hands to make air quotes—“…‘hit it off’.”

His eyes widened in panic. “But… but you have to.”

“What?” Since when did this dating agreement mean things had to end up with some kind of happily ever after?

“I mean, Dominic is a good man, Fallon. I’m sure if you just gave him a chance—”

“What the hell, Dad? You said you owed a guy a favor, so I went out with Dominic, just like you wanted, and it didn’t work. We’re not compatible, end of story. What is it you want from me? Am I supposed to keep going out with a guy I can’t stand? Do you want me to marry the jerk?”

Dad’s face lit up like I’d come up with the best idea of the century. “Well, you know—”

“You can’t be serious!” I said, sitting up straight.

His expression fell, and his eyes turned pleading. “I just need you to do this, Fallon. Give it a little more time, all right? For me?”

So, he hadn’t really come to apologize. He was just here to make sure I didn’t back out of whatever deal he’d made. I wasn’t proud of it, but part of me wanted to make him suffer, to make him think I was calling the whole thing off right here and now. But looking at my father’s frantic face, I couldn’t do it.

I wasn’t normally like this. I’d graduated at the top of my class in college, established my own vet practice, and lived a relatively productive life. But when it came to my dad, I would always be the little girl who only wanted to make her father happy, her only family left.

I sighed and leaned back on the couch, staring up at the ceiling.

“Don’t worry, Dad, I’m not backing out on our third date just like I promised,” I said. The relief that washed through him felt like a freaking tsunami.

He took another swallow of his brandy.

“That’s my girl,” he said, patting my knee.

Yup, that was me. The little girl who would never stop jumping through hoops and bending over backwards to please him.

“I’m sure he’ll change your mind about him, Fallon. You’ll see. I’ve heard he can be quite charming.”

Charming and ornery and devastatingly handsome and frustrating as hell. Dominic Luca was every good and bad thing, all wrapped up in one crazy gorgeous package. He should have come with a warning sign tattooed across his forehead, but I couldn’t wait to spar with him again.

Chapter Eleven

Fallon

Once I’d reassured my dad I wasn’t dropping Dominic just yet, it was unsurprisingly easy to corral him toward the door and send him on his way. He’d hugged me before he left, and the little girl inside me had rejoiced even as I cringed over her enthusiasm.

But I didn’t have time to worry about the ever-present conflict inside me when I had less than thirty minutes left to get ready.Hewas going to be here soon, and I could already feel my mind putting on its boxing gloves, gearing up for the battle that was about to ensue.

At the same time, though, other parts of me were revving up. I could hear his deep voice in my ear, feel his firm, full lips against mine, and see the heat in his eyes when he looked at me. I could imagine the perfect fit of his suit across his broad chest and wondered about the body beneath it. Was he in good shape or totally ripped? God, how I would have loved to find out. I couldn’t help but think about what would have happened if that woman hadn’t interrupted what we’d started on the restaurant’s patio.

Would he have taken me back to his place? Would he have stripped me naked and demanded that I keep my eyes on him while he made me come with wickedly talented fingers? Would he have pinned my arms above my head while he thrust deep inside me over and over again? Or pinned my hands behind my back while he fucked me from behind? So many possibilities, and every one of them sent heat to my core.

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