Page 37 of Owned By the Mafia

“If you weren’t a childhood friend, Dina, you’d suffer for that comment. I’m just looking out for you. I will wait with you until you’re discharged, and then I will take you home to our estate to stay there until your house is replaced.” She takes out her phone, putting an end to our little chat.

The intern seems to have picked up that there’s a vibe and hurries her stitching up. I watch and realize her hands shake every time I look at her. Nervous little thing isn’t ready to be a surgeon yet. I sigh and look up at the ward. I just make out Robbie exiting, and my heart does a double beat.

Once I’m discharged, I follow Katya out of the hospital and into the back of her limo. We sit opposite each other, not saying much on the drive back. There’s a guard in the back with us, plus the driver and a guard in the front. There’s also a vehicle following us with four more guards for Katya.

Protect the princess at all costs, except now she’s a Queen and owns the heart of the most powerful man in New York and has borne him three children.

This is not the life I expected for us, either of us, when she offered to bring me over from Russia as a teen. Things change, I guess, and now this is the new norm.

What I want is to be normal. For Robbie and I to be together. I was so hard and quick with him at the hospital that I’m worried I may have hurt his feelings. I know he has them, and I know he can be hurt because when I told him it was Callum, I felt the raw emotion Robbie exuded.

We arrive at the estate, and as I follow Katya into the entrance hall, Alessandro emerges from his office.

“Dina! So pleased to hear you’re okay after your shooting.” He comes over and politely greets me by bumping our cheeks together in mock kisses.

“Well, the traitor is dead,” I say coldly. “We now need to deal with the family that was backing him, and I suspect he has a partner in one of the other families that was helping him.”

Alessandro frowns and motions for Katya and me to follow him as he speaks, “If that’s the case, let us assemble our men and take out this family in its entirety straight away. No family left, no problem.”

“I disagree,” I say, and Katya raises an eyebrow. Alessandro chuckles and pours both of us a whiskey. Katya takes a bottle of water out of the fridge, and we sit in the armchairs facing each other. “You see, I think there’s more at play. A bigger plan, if you will. I want to weed out this possible partner and figure out the family's grand plan so we can destroy it at its core. Often, our enemies are left to regroup and come back to attack us with more experience and strength. We should send a firm message.”

Alessandro sips his whiskey, then rests his arm, holding the glass with his fingertips. “You think if we get whomever we can find, we’ll lose the bigger fish?”

I nod, but Katya interjects, “My love, perhaps we should cancel the family lunch that we’re planning. It obviously isn’t safe, and I wouldn’t want to take the children.”

I glance at Katya and then at Alessandro, who nods. “I agree, leave the children at home, but Dina, is it safe enough for us to meet?”

“I think it’s safe enough to go ahead with the lunch. We’ll be prepared with our most loyal guards, so neither you nor Katya will have to worry. But yes, leave the children at home.” I down my whiskey. “Please excuse me. I am feeling a bit tired. I want to go lie down.”

“Of course.” Alessandro waves me off. “I need to speak to Katya anyway about business.”

I leave the room and go up to my room. I change into fresh clothes carefully. The intern was a little overzealous and gave me a sling, which I tossed to the corner of the room. My wound is nothing more than a dull ache.

I rest on my bed and sigh.

My phone goes off, and I read the text.

Alone yet? It’s been hours.

I smile and settle into my pillows, texting Robbie back.

Yes, I’m alone. And I’m fine. Is everything okay at your apartment?

I wait patiently.

Yeah, body’s been dumped. Place has been cleaned. My only regret is that I can’t kill Callum a second time for hurting you. I’m relieved you’re okay, though.

I bite my lip and take a few deep breaths before I respond.

I’m fine, I promise. I’m so glad you’re okay too.

Robbie, I love you xxx

I wait for what feels like ages, but eventually, I start to drift off without an answer to my last text.

Chapter 21 - Robbie

We’re spending most of our business hours working on the family lunch, which is fast approaching. I work with Dina, but it seems Katya and Ronan have assigned someone to watch us whenever we’re together. I think they’re trying to drive us apart, and as I walk toward the new offices, I wonder if they realize that the fact they’re saying I can’t have her makes me want her more. Is that even possible? We find ways.

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