Page 63 of Mafia Fire

“It’s Kat. She’s not who we thought she was. Not at all.”

I glance over at Kylie. She’s still whispering with Charlie. Ice crawls up my veins thinking of the blonde woman with the K tattoo and strange behavior. “What does she want?”

“She wants to talk to you. I won’t say more now, but consider this a heads up for when you get back.”

My gut was right—Kat with a K is going to be a problem. “Alright. Anything else?”

“Yeah.”

He goes quiet.

I press him. “Booker?”

“The Meralos paid us a visit. They want what’s owed to them.”

16

Kylie

On the flight home,Cannon hands me a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream and sprinkles, then asks me what I think about the Hamlet.

What do I think?

I lick the peak of the sweet cream. The Hamlet was a picture-perfect town, a loving community filled with sweet families. It just wasn’t… me. At least, not the new me. The old Kylie might have loved the Hamlet, but the newly unleashed sex kitten Kylie 2.0 craves more.

“It’s fun!” I pause, taking a sip of the chocolatey goodness, thinking of the things I liked. “The women are sweet. I really enjoyed the snowtubing.”

Sensing I’m holding back, he presses, “But?”

“I don’t know,” I shrug. “It felt a little… tame to me?”

He gives a sexy laugh. “Trust me. A Bachman bedroom is anything but tame. You’ll see when we get home.” He gives me a look that melts me to the core.

“But I likeourlives. I like how it’s not just the bedroom that’s exciting. Look at where we work, I mean, is there anywhere more fun to be?”

He slips an arm around my shoulders. “Fire is amazing.”

“I really, really love the excitement of the club. And, after taking care of my grandmother, I kinda feel like I’m not ready for kids.” I peek at him, trying to read his face. “Are you… ready for kids?”

“Kids?” His brow shoots sky high. “No way. Not yet.”

“So we are agreed? Fire is the place to be?”

“Yes.” He leans over, kissing the top of my head. “Fire is the place to be. And wherever you are, Kylie, that’s the place for me.”

He’s quiet after that, mulling over something. I’m not sure what. When his phone rings, he excuses himself, talking in hushed whispers at the front of the plane, every so often eyeing me in a way that makes me feel like something is up.

When we get home, Cannon leaves me with a kiss, telling me he’s got a bit of business to attend to. I sit by the pool, having sandwiches with Nonna while she fills me in on everything that happened at ASAG like she was there. Apparently, the Clamp Tramps have befriended her and love nothing more than to gossip over tea with Nonna and Booker before they start their shift.

She knows everything.

“So,” she asks, taking a dainty bite of a chicken and cream cheese sandwich. The cook even sliced off the crusts for her. “What’s the news from the Hamlet? I heard there was a near love connection.”

Heat flashes over my face. Does she know about me and Cannon? “I wouldn’t say love connection, Nonna.”

“Why not? Charlie’s been alone long enough. If the Beast wants a taste, she should give him a little sugar.”

“Nonna!” I shake my head at her, shocked by her language while secretly relieved she wasn’t talking about me and Cannon. I’m not ready to tell her that we are a thing. There was a lot of macho talk about “you are mine,” etcetera, etcetera, but nothing’s become official yet, at least not in my eyes.

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