Page 106 of My Mafia King

“I need to stay in touch with my sister. You don’t understand.”

He cocks an eyebrow at me, and I feel like I’m not grateful.

As if he’s done enough for me already by sparing me my life, and now I’m asking him for more.

This is not something he wants to discuss with me right now.

And this is not something I can let go of.

“I’ll do everything you want me to. I’ll even kill people if you think I’m fit for that job.”

There’s a shred of self-deprecating humor in my voice that doesn’t surface, though.

“But I can’t let her be abducted and trafficked in my place. Also, my father is not much better. He sucks at being a human being. He won’t sell her to other people, but––”

“I need to sleep,” he just me off. “And I suggest you do the same. We’ll wake up early.”

“Do I get paid?”

“Go to sleep, Carmina.”

The way my name has rolled off his lips hints at more than him being frustrated with me.

He could barely unclench his teeth to speak, and my name weighed heavy on his lips.

Seemingly, I’m more than a headache for him.

“Okay. I’ll go. How do you want me to dress?”

“You were dressed just fine this evening,” he murmurs, rolling onto his side.

I pull away from his bed and look at his back. A canvas of muscles defines his V-shaped torso.

“I’ll be your everything, Damaso.”

“Go,” he says, tucking his arm under his head and trying to sleep.

His voice is no longer angry, as if he’s given it some thought and got used to the idea that he’s stuck with me.

And I don’t know why, but that thought makes me smile.

Like a shadow, I slide down the corridor and enter my room.

Moments later, I tuck myself under the covers and swiftly fall asleep.

19

CARMINA

The noisein the other room wakes me.

I jump up and check the time. It’s six o’clock in the morning.

I press my ear against the wall.

There are people in the living room.

Without wasting another moment, I dash to the bathroom and get ready.

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