Page 17 of Demanding Mob Boss

Mob is organized crime, isn't it? I haven't seen any evidence of criminal activity, but that doesn't mean much. I'm not sure I'd recognize it if I did see it. I've never known a criminal. Neither Ini or I smoked pot, or shoplifted like a lot of kids. We knew we couldn't afford to get into trouble. We didn't want to get kicked out of our homes any earlier than we had to.

"I met Quinn Murphy," I say with a frown. "I didn't like him much. He got in my personal space."

Cian didn't like him asking me out. Because he's a mob boss too? Cian doesn't seem to be worried about having me around him and his company.

"You need to watch yourself around those men, dear. They are dangerous."

Cian and Lachlan wear power like their suits. Like it's tailored to fit them. Dangerous? I can see it. It just doesn't feel real that they are dangerousto me. Not even Lachlan.

"Cian makes me feel safe."

Ini shakes her head. "You need to find another job. We can go back to ramen noodles and tuna fish, Anna. I don't want you getting mixed up with the mob."

"I'm not quitting my job." I say it more forcefully than I usually speak.

Both Ini and Mrs. Hart look at me with surprise.

"I like working there. It's the only place I've ever worked that I didn't dread going to every day. Not being a criminal doesn't make someone a good person, or even safe."

My aunt and uncle never broke a law that I know about, but they never made me feel safe and they couldn't wait to get rid of me. Ini's foster parents didn't break the law, but they kept kids so they got the payment from the state. They never loved Ini or took care of her like parents should.

Cian's not my family, but he takes care of me. He came to the Greek restaurant and made sure I was okay along with his sister. He asks how I'm doing and he listens to me. He gets me lunch every day and he forced Quinn Murphy out of my personal space. He watches over me.

Maybe he is a criminal, but he's not a bad man.

"Nobody I work with thinks I'm weird. They don't judge me. They don't tease me." I never have to use my rhyme to control anxiety when I’m at work.

And I have a massive crush on my boss. I've been having sexy dreams about him, and I enjoy them.

"But, Anna—"

"No," I cut Ini off. "I’m not quitting. It's a good job and they're good people, even if they are mobsters." Was that the right term?

I've never even watched The Godfather. Maybe I should. I bet I could find books at the library about the Irish mob in Chicago. I'll check this weekend.

"Ever since my parents died, my only friends have been you two. Now I have Cian, Shea, Connor, Jimmy and even Lachlan."

Ini has that stubborn look on her face. "You can make other friends. Ones that aren't criminals."

"No.Youcan make friends." She has lots. I'm lucky to be her best friend because everyone likes Ini. "You can work and take college classes at the same time. You can juggle life!" I don't know why I'm shouting. Only I need her to hear me. "I can't. Before I started working for Cian, I thought my life was going to be an unending andmiserablecycle of looking for jobs, getting one finally, and only keeping it until I couldn't stand it anymore, or I got fired."

"They're crooks," she says stubbornly.

I don't care. "Maybe criminals are my kind of people. "

"You're not the criminal type." Ini laughs, like that's funny. "You're too sweet."

"Ifitthere. I belong." I start to cry. I never cry, but I can't help it.

Ini's face changes and she grabs my hand, gives it a quick squeeze and lets go. "You belong here."

"I don't want to leave," I repeat. Please hear me, friend, please. "Working there makes me happy."

"You call Mr. Doyle by his first name?" Mrs. Hart asks.

"Uh huh. It's such a pretty name." I feel the smile that always comes when I see him break over my face. "He's so kind."

Mrs. Hart stares at me like I've got spaghetti sauce all over my face. "You think Cian Doyle iskind?"

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