Page 52 of The Mafia's Omega Queen

“Yeah, James. What’s good?” Arden sets a stack of papers on my desk, then sits down in one of the wingback chairs in front of my desk.

“Not much, my man. Thanks by the way for the program you sent over last month. Thing has been a fucking godsend.” My brows arch as I glance at Arden, wondering what program he shared. Not that it’s any of my business. The man shits new programs all the time.

“You’re welcome. I’ve got another I’ll give you when you get here. This one has more to do with financials than the tracer I sent you, but it’ll be a good tool to have at your disposal.”

Arden catches my eye and nods at the papers he placed down on my desk when he sat down. I snatch them up, ignoring their chatter as I flip through what’s in front of me. It looks like updated maps of the building Archibald is holding up in, along with reports of what their own numbers look like at the place.

Yesterday, we sent a few guys to stake the joint out and get back to us with what they see. It’s been confirmed that Archie is definitely there. But there’s been no sightings of Bianca or Lionel. Plus there are around fifty guards protecting the building. That explains how Arden knew with their numbers that we’d be good without them needing to send more.

My phone rings again, snagging my attention. At some point, as I was going through everything, the call with Kali ended, and Arden left my office.

Glancing at the screen, I nearly groan when I see who it is flash across the device. That man has been chewing my ass every chance he gets. Not that I don’t deserve it. But fuck, can’t I catch a break?

For a moment, I debate letting it go to voicemail, then calling him back later. But yeah, I can’t do that. After all, this is his own brand of punishment for what I’ve done. I hit the green button and put the phone to my ear.

“Thane.”

The nights seem to be getting longer as we get closer to D-Day. That’s what we’re calling it now. D-Day for Death Day. The day Archie dies, and he’s one less threat on our plate. On the other end of the spectrum, the tension around the house is so thick you could cut it with a knife.

If we don’t get a handle on it soon, someone is going to snap, and everything will blow up in our faces. Everything being all the progress we’ve made over the past few weeks in our relationship with each other. Vinny has always been the outsider, and he’s finally been brought into the fold, but one mistake, one word said in anger, can ruin it all.

And that’s the last thing I want. Because, well, I may be falling in love with him. Maybe. Kind of. Oh hell, who am I kidding? I am falling in love with the broody-ass man. He’s changed so much that I just couldn’t stop it from happening. It may also be a product of the mate bond pulling us together, but I highly doubt it.

Vinny once again missed dinner tonight with the rest of us. It’s been a constant the past few days, Andre bringing dinner to his office just to make sure he actually eats. I intercepted Andre on his way and swore to him that I’d make sure he ate tonight.

The lights are turned down low in the hallways, barely illuminating my way to where Vinny sits behind a closed door, stressing over what’s coming. He still hasn’t learned to lean on all of us, but eventually he will. He’ll see that we can take on some of his work to make things easier for him.

My light knock on the door has him calling, “Come in.” I can almost guarantee he thinks I’m Andre with his food. And I’m proven right when he looks up at me in surprise as I slink through the door, shutting it softly behind me. “What’s up, princess?”

“You missed dinner again.” I hold up the plate like an idiot as if it’s something he didn’t already notice. I don’t know why I’m so damn nervous right now. Maybe it’s because I’m ready to take the next step with Vinny, which I literally decided on my way up.

Tomorrow is never guaranteed, and we are about to enter the fight of our lives. And there’s no promise that we will all make it out of this alive. I just can’t let another day go by without giving him a part of me. I wouldn’t say that he’s earned it, because my body and my love isn’t something to earn. It’s something for me to give freely. But he’s proven time and time again that he’s changed.

Which is exactly what I wanted.

But this time, I’m the aggressor, which I’ve only done once when I splayed myself across his desk. Even then, though, it didn’t go any further than me getting myself off. This time, I want my alpha to touch me. To give me all of him.

I just don’t know if he wants to.

“Thanks, princess.” Vinny moves things aside on his desk to make room for the plate, then slides his chair back, watching me expectantly.

After setting down the dish of braised veal with Brussel sprouts and whipped potatoes, I retreat a step to give him room to eat. Before I get too far away, Vinny reaches out and snags me around the waist, pulling me into his lap.

“Did you eat, princess?” Vinny asks, gripping my chin and turning me to face him.

“Yeah.” I swallow hard, gazing into his intense hazel orbs. My eyes dart to his plush mouth and back up again.

His hand moves from holding my chin, up to cupping my face, his thumb brushing across my lips. He traces my top lip, then continues across the bottom, over and over again. His touch is electrifying like I’ve stuck my fingers into a live socket, and it’s shocking me. Each swipe across my mouth sends fire roaring through my veins down to my core, pooling there.

By the time my alpha releases me, I’m sure there will be a slick puddle soaking his slacks.

“You know how much I regret the way I’ve treated you, right, Haylee?” he asks, slowly closing the distance between us.

“I do,” I breathe, my breath wafting across his mouth.

His Adam’s apple bobs, and a look of uncertainty enters his eyes. “Do you know that I’m falling in love with you? I think I have from the first time I met you; I’ve just been a stubborn bastard about it.”

Now, that, I didn’t know. But it makes my own admission much easier to make.

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