Page 120 of My Mafia King

This lunch is not about his regular business. Aside from Vito, Gianni, and Louie, four other sharp-dressed men join Salla.

One is older than everybody else at the table, and he is the only one who seems interested in me, so he asks the question.

“Who is she?”

They are between the appetizers and first course when the man asks the question.

Damaso answers, chewing softly.

“I bought her from Boris.”

At first, there is no reaction around the table, and then the man starts laughing, and everyone else does too.

Damaso cracks a smile.

“You trust her?” the same man asks.

I move my eyes from him to Damaso while setting the first course on the table.

His eyes lock mine briefly.

“I trust no one. But since she owes me her life, that’s a good incentive to keep her mouth shut.

More laughter rings around the table.

My jaw is locked as I move around the table and inch closer to Damaso.

His unmistakable smell tickles my nostrils as I set the plate of food down and collect whatever needs to be removed.

My skin is warm as his gaze drifts down, studying my body.

When we lock eyes again, it dawns on me he has been waiting for me to look at him.

I may not be an expert in non-verbal communication, but the man pushes my buttons.

There is no smile on his face, only genuine curiosity for me.

It fuels the tension between us that now almost feels like animosity. Where that stems from is a mystery to me.

Their lunch lasts into the early afternoon hours, and as they get ready to leave, and a few staff members show up to clean up the table, Damaso summons me to him.

“You can take the afternoon off,” he says. “And I need you with me at the casino tonight.”

“That’s it?” I ask, a bit spunky.

A flicker of interest beams in his eyes.

“Yes.”

“I need to call my sister,” I say, holding his eyes. “I can’t wait any longer. I need to make sure she’s okay.”

My knees weaken from his stare before he reaches inside his jacket, takes my hand, flips it over, and places a new phone in my palm.

“It’s a burner,” he says when I tip my gaze down. “Let me know if there are any problems with your sister.”

I look at my new phone, not believing my eyes. And then the words he just said were not what I expected from him.

My reaction is swift as I lift my eyes and simply wind my arm around his neck, push onto my toes, and kiss his cheek.

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