Page 10 of Secret Mafia Daddy

When I go up to the desk, they already have my room ready, and the woman upfront slides a key to me.

I don’t really look like I should be staying at the Ritz, just wearing a pair of cut-offs I’d grabbed and an old T-shirt, but my father had probably paid out the ass for this room, so she doesn’t complain.

When I get to the elevator and call it, there’s a man waiting there already, and I keep my eyes downcast, not wanting to be talked to.

“Are you following me, doll face?” the man asks in a low, teasing tone, and I look up, my heart falling to my toes.

Angelo.

“God hates me,” I mutter, and Angelo laughs, getting into the elevator.

“I’ll take the next one,” I mumble, and he shrugs, grinning at me.

“See you later, pretty doll,” he says quietly as the doors shut and I groan, stalking over to the staircase since I’m only on the second floor, anyway.

I haven’t seen Angelo in years, and suddenly now he’s everywhere. What have I done to deserve this?

5

ANGELO

Tonight is the night. That fucker’s minutes are counting down fast and he doesn’t even know it.

I stake out Pasties for what seems like hours, watching naked women walk by. It makes me shudder, not because I don’t like naked women, but because I know they’re here out of desperation most times. It’s their job to know who has a large, deep wallet and do their best to empty it out.

Which is going to be the case with mine if I don’t finish this damn job. Not that I’m giving any to these women, but I’m paying everything out-of-pocket and I won’t get paid until I’m done. I could ask Dante to pay for my expenses, after all I’m here because he needs me, but I don’t fly like that.

I also don’t like going without money, and I’m certainly not going to ask my father for any, so I’m more than happy when I see Claudio’s scarred, ugly face just outside the alley. He’s smoking a cigarette and looking around as if he’s scared, so I duck behind a dumpster.

I haven’t seen Silver Eyes since I saw her by the elevator at the Ritz yesterday, but she’s been on my mind a lot, and that annoys me. If experience tells me anything is that we’ll run into each other again sooner or later. But for now, I have to focus on Claudio.

There’s no one else in the alley, so I feel lucky as I stealthily get out from behind the dumpster and grab him around the neck in a headlock. I pull him halfway behind the dumpster. He tries to scream, but my hold on his throat prevents air from passing so that no sound gets out.

Adrenaline thrums through me like electricity when I take my knife out and slit his throat, ear to ear, then cut off a giant T on his forehead. Dante told me to make sure his death sends a message and I’d say this is a loud one. Don’t mess with Dante. So I turn the guy into a life depiction of The Scarlett Letter, except instead of an A for adultery, he gets marked for the thief he is. It seems fitting.

When I’m done, I leave him on the ground. I’m reaching down for his wallet to give to Dante when there’s a little screech and I whirl around.

A woman stands there, and I sprint to get to her as she takes off. Her heels make her wobble, though, and I grab onto her wrist.

She turns, and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the silver-eyed beauty herself.

“Who sent you?” I murmur, pulling her close.

She whimpers, “N-No one. P-Please don’t hurt me.”

“What are you doing here, then? It can’t be a coincidence that you keep popping out like a fungus wherever I am. What do you know? Who the hell are you?” I’m still holding my knife, but I’m weirdly hesitant to use it on her. Anyone else witnessing what she did would be dead by now, but I can’t seem to put the knife on her throat or chest and just get it over with.

Why? Why does looking into her eyes make me lose myself? Why am I powerless against harming her?

“Please,” she whimpers, and I look into those silver eyes and lick my lips.

“You’ve seen too much, I’m sorry it has to be this way.” And fuck if I’m not telling the truth. But what else am I supposed to do? She can ruin my life and put me behind bars for the rest of my life for this.

“I won’t tell anyone. I promise. I’ll do anything. Please don’t kill me. I have a little girl and she needs me.”

Fuck. She was already hard to think about killing, why did she have to make it impossible? “What on earth am I supposed to do with you?” I muse, looking down at her.

I can’t have her ratting me out. There has to be another option.

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