Page 13 of Owned By the Mafia

She looks at me cooly and says, “Nothing memorable happened here.”

That stings, but she’s clever.

I follow her out of the building. There’s a fancy Mercedes-Benz parked nearby, and I assume it’s hers.

Shots ring out, and I grab her, pull her to the ground, and crouch over her. I reach behind me, pull out my semi-automatic handgun, and start firing at the car with tinted windows as it speeds past and down the road. I stand up slowly, and she allows me to help her to her feet.

She looks down the street and then at me. “Someone doesn’t like one of us.”

“I think it’s you,” I smirk. “I’m a joy.”

She rolls her eyes, and we turn as men come pouring out of the pub. I see Ronan hobbling out; the men surround him to protect them.

“That’s your brother,” she says as a fact and then just openly walks across the street without a care. “Dina!” I hurry after her. “Be careful.”

Ronan leans on his crutch and holds out a hand. “Apologies, this is not normally how we greet our guests, Miss…”

“Please, call me Dina, Mr. Quinn. It is a pleasure to meet you in person, officially. It is such a pleasure to be on this side of the world. I’ve always loved this area.”

“It has a historic charm to it,” Ronan muses. “I will call you Dina if you address me as Ronan. Please.”

She nods. “Thank you, Ronan. I will be on my way now.”

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” Ronan asks curiously. He doesn’t seem panicked or surprised at all.

I step forward. “I’m pretty sure I got her out the way in time.”

Dina’s eyes meet mine, and they’re cold as ice. She smiles as she turns back to Ronan. “It isn’t the first time my life has been in danger. It most likely won’t be the last, either. It’s the nature of what we do.”

“It is. I am, however, going to ask you to take Robbie home with you.” Ronan looks at me, and we both stare at him. “I cannot, with good conscience, let you go home alone when someone just clearly tried to take out a hit on you.”

“I have to insist; I don’t need Robbie to guard me.”

“Well, you need a lift home,” I say as I glance at her car. “Your car is shot to shit.”

She glances back and sighs. “It is, but I can catch a cab. I really don’t need protection.”

“I’m afraid, as head of the Quinn family, I’m going to have to deny your request and send Robbie home with you anyway. He’s a crack shot, a great guard, and I assure you if he’s anything less than a gentleman, you can come to me, and I’ll deal with him.”

I see her look at Ronan and then at me, and I know she can’t say no because it’s a direct instruction. If she doesn’t listen, then she knows Ronan will call Alessandro.

She nods. “Of course, Ronan. If you insist, I will listen to your instructions.”

“I do insist. Robbie, take her home safely, lock her down, and make sure no one hurts her. Even you.” He looks at me pointedly.

I nod. “She’s perfectly safe with me, I assure you.” I look at her. “Come along, lass.”

She smiles and bids Ronan goodbye before following me to my car. We climb in, and I ask for her address. Once I have it, I concentrate on driving. There’s an awkward, tense silence between us, and I want to say something cheeky to break it.

“If you so much as think about laying a hand on me, I’ll desex you so fast they won’t be able to tell if you ever had a penis to begin with.” Her voice is icy, and I try not to laugh, but a small chuckle escapes.

“I don’t know how you can hate me so much, but I promise I will never do anything you don’t consent to.”

She scoffs, and I glance at her but don’t say anything further.

I navigate through the traffic before I pull up to her driveway. She uses her clicker to open the gate, and I glance around, taking note of vulnerable points in the high wall built around her little mansion of a home. I never understood why single people need to have so much space. It’s really overkill if you ask me.

I pull up to the front of her house and park. We both climb out, and she leads me into the house. I inspect the living room and motion for her. “Stay here while I sweep the rest of the house.”

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