Page 5 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

“I’m not really dressed for this place,” I choked out. Shit, I’d lose my shit any second. I sensed panic rise within me, my breathing slightly hitched and pulse speeding up.

“No, don’t be silly!” she objected, her eyes eating up the man next to me. “How are you, Mr. Morrelli?”

Groaning inwardly, I wished she’d stop. This was the wrong kind of man to be associated with. Why did she have to throw herself at men? Especially this one. Yes, I felt some semblance of attraction, but I had enough sense to fight it.

“Angie,” he greeted her in a deep voice, and it was terrifying that it sent shivers to the marrow in my bones. His eyes remained glued on me, like he was seeing everything. I swallowed hard, suddenly having a hard time functioning. The way he studied me, as if he searched through his memories for something. Or maybe he already knew and was contemplating how to kill me.

No, no, no!

It couldn’t be the same Dominico Morrelli. This guy was nothing like the description I got from William. I thought William said he was his height and average looking. This guy was clearly taller than my late husband and definitely not average looking.

I swallowed hard, deep down knowing that this man was in fact the infamous Dominico Morrelli, head of the Morrelli crime family. The man my husband stole from.Shit.

Double shit!

Inhaling deeply and then slowly exhaling, I tried to calm my heart rate. I shifted uncomfortably, and with each second that went by, my anxiety rose, choking me with anguish and fear.

This guy is here just as a businessman, I gave myself a pep talk.Not as a mobster. He doesn’t know who I am. He won’t kill you in broad daylight.

“Ma’am, you are not dressed per code,” the waiter objected, pulling me out of my thoughts. There was no doubt that he was talking about me. Fuck proper dress code when there was a mobster within my sight. Wasn’t there a code against mobsters eating in this damn club?

“Angie, let’s just go to Starbucks,” I tried again, pleading in a nervous voice. I was half tempted to yell at her, but that would bring more unwanted attention. I didn’t want to be here, and so many eyes already on me made me even more anxious. In particular, the eyes of the man that rattled me with just his stare.

“The lady is with me,” Nico Morrelli cut him off, clearly expecting to get his way. “She’ll sit at my table.” My eyes locked on his strong jaw and full lips, a determination firmly etched in there. This man got what he wanted.Always.I knew it as well as my own name.

My eyes darted in slight panic to Angie then back to him. This was going from bad to worse, fast. I didn’t have to wonder whether Angie wanted to sit at his table. She was practically drooling over him. If none of us were here, she might have even jumped his bones.

Damn it to all hell! I didn’t want to sit at his table. My sixth sense screameddangeralthough my body warmed under his gaze. I should flee now - every fiber in me urged me to run and hide. Before he realized who I was.

“Oh, thank you so much, Mr. Morrelli,” Angie gushed at him, and a small part of me wanted to smack her.Not because I am jealous,I told myself. Butto wake her up from the drooling session.

“I don’t…” my voice shook slightly, and I cleared my throat. “We don’t want to impose. Thank you for the offer but-”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Angie cut me off. “We would love to, Mr. Morrelli.” She practically purred, and I half expected her to start rubbing herself all over him. Ugh, if she started that, I was definitely leaving. I didn’t need to see that, though I was half tempted to feel his body against mine.

I’m a grieving widow. I only want William.

I took a deep breath, trying to hold on to my calmness. These conflicting feelings - fear and attraction - were pulling at me, stretching me in the opposite direction. I couldn’t recall the last time a man made me so nervous, making my body warm under his gaze. And those eyes of his watching me…seeingme. I had to remain invisible.

I couldn’t afford to be seen. If the mafia knew-

Stop it, Bianca!Those thoughts would only increase my paranoia and anxiety.Just keep it together, and he’ll never know,I lied to myself.

“Wonderful,” the waiter settled it for us. “We have your regular table ready Mr. Morrelli. Your guest is already there.”

Great, a guest too. Another mobster? Nico Morrelli motioned for me to go in front of him, and I reluctantly followed behind the waiter. My neck itched sensing his gaze on my back and the feeling was unsettling. Angie looked over the moon about the turn of events.

Me… not so much. I had the urge to turn around and run. Did all the mafia men move in the same circles? I didn’t know, but there was one thing I was certain of. Drawing unwanted attention would be bad right now. Really bad!

Maybe I could… I wasn’t sure what. Hide? Disappear? Pack up the girls and hit the road? Without any money, it would be hard to hide.

No, I couldn’t bring any attention to myself. The best thing was to lay low and not make any sudden moves. I didn’t want to bring Benito King’s attention to myself or my girls. His attention was elsewhere, and I’d like for it to stay like that.

Benito King ran the underworld on the East Coast, trafficked women and facilitated the sale of belles among the worst mobsters. He and his son Marco were some of the cruelest mobsters to ever walk the earth. They kidnapped and sold girls, of any age, to unscrupulous men that tortured them and used them any way they wished.

If he knew William and I stole money from the mafia, Benito’s men would drag me and my daughters into their world kicking and screaming. Mom always said he was good at changing the rules to suit himself. There was a deal though, and she paid the price. She warned me to always keep away from any connections to the criminal underworld and people in it. And I intended to heed my mother’s warning.

Otherwise, my life would officially become hell. Not only that - my actions would make my daughters targets. All the sacrifices by my mom, dad, and my grandmother would have been for naught.

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