Page 125 of My Mafia King

“You can never tell with these people…” I murmur, having a feeling Boris and Joe Lizard have something in common.

It’s not unusual to have people gang up and try to blow up my territory.

This wouldn’t be my first war, for sure.

But it would be the first war we’ve started because of a woman.

“Okay,” I say in a different voice, regaining my focus. “I’ll see you tonight. I’m sure we’ll have fun. Any luck with that woman?” I ask, tilting my chin toward Vito.

They both push to their feet.

Vito gives me a playful smile.

“He’s making progress,” Gianni says. “She doesn’t want him because he’s not too serious about her.”

I smile.

“Serious about her? How can he be serious about her? He doesn’t even know her,” I say.

“That’s exactly what I said,” Vito murmurs, still grinning.

“You like her?”

“Mm-hmm. This might be the time to settle down.”

“You might be right about that.”

They’re all older than me. Not by much, but they are.

Louie tried to get married once. The woman wasn’t familiar with the Mafia life and shortly after left him.

Vito never tried to get serious with anyone. Him saying that is a first. And Gianni?

He lost his wife in an ambush. The killers were after us, and Gianni swore he’d never get married again.

He may change his mind at some point. I don’t know. I don’t blame him for feeling that way.

And me?

I’ve never thought about it. But I begin to see how certain things are not possible in the life we’re living.

Even when we’re trying to live like normal people do, the price we’re paying if something goes wrong is way too high.

Living with the idea that we could go at any moment is one thing, but putting the people we love at risk is quite another.

“I’ll see you tonight,” I say.

“All right,” Vito murmurs before heading to the exit and vanishing out of the room.

Gianni lingers while I go back to monitoring the pool and the woman working on her tan.

“You shouldn’t think so much,” he says, standing behind me while I face the wall of windows.

“What are you talking about?” I murmur, sliding my hands into my pockets.

“You know what I’m talking about.”

A slow smile tilts my lips.

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