Page 6 of Mafia Redeemer

“You don’t waste time.”

I didn’t think she was translating it. I don’t know what I thought she was doing. She looks speculatively at me before our gazes meet again.

“Is that the same asmalyshka? I hear the Kutsenkos call their wives that. It means baby girl.”

Now there’s an insight I didn’t have before. But it doesn’t shock me in the least to think the Kutsenkos likely have the same proclivities as the men in my family. We like to be in control. We’re bigger than the women in our lives. And I know I have the strongest urge to protect Michelle that I can’t explain. It should be to protect her from me, but it’s not. I can be honest about that. I want to protect her from the rest of the world, which will get fucking ugly if she’s with me.

“Yes,piccolina. It is.”

“Maks called Laura that the first night — the night your family attacked the Kutsenkos’ nightclub.”

Fucking Carmine. He organized that shit.

“Were you hurt that night?”

“No. Niko took Lanie and me to the office where Maks had already taken Laura.”

“That’s a relief.”

It is.

“Enzo?”

“Yeah?”

“I haven’t given a guy my number since college. That was a long time ago. I don’t know what came over me, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, all things considered, but I’d like to go out with you.”

She looks terrified. Not when she was talking, but now that she’s done. I take another step closer until I’m standing near enough for our shoes to touch.

“I haven’t been on a date in ages. I don’t remember the last one I went on that meant anything more than a way to kill an evening. I’d like to see you and not just to waste a night doing something other than work.”

She flinches.

“Chelle, I own Spotlight and Constantine’s. I’m an accountant, but I also own several businesses. I meant the nightclub and the restaurant.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I don’t know what you know, but it’s enough to make your wary. Are you scared of me?”

“No.”

Her answer is immediate. She elaborates, and it neither reassures me nor alarms me.

“I don’t know what Maks’s family is into. But I can guess. I keep those guesses to myself. I’m certain your families are more alike than terms of endearment. I’m not scared of you, but what your family does scares me. I’ve seen all the Kutsenkos with their wives. Those women figured out how to reconcile themselves to their husbands’ — jobs — and none of them fear their husbands. If you’re that much alike, which I think you are, then I know I have no reason to fear you. I hope I’m not wrong.”

“One thing I can promise you is that I will protect you no matter what, Chelle. But the one person you don’t need protection from is me.”

God, I hope that is true.

ChapterTwo

Chellie

Body snatchers. That’s the only way to explain what I just did. Body snatchers came and took control of me. But that can’t fully explain what just happened. My brain was involved in writing that damn note. It was my brain that made me flirt with him. Zombies. That’s it. Zombies ate my brain and left me with nothing.

Nothing but an aching pussy that would love nothing more than to find out if Enzo is as good at sex as he looks. I’m certain he’s better. How could he not be? The man exudes sex appeal with every breath. It wouldn’t surprise me if the labor and delivery nurses weren’t slipping him their number the day he was born. I noticed him at Laura’s wedding and thought he was the hottest man there. That’s saying something considering Laura’s in-laws could all be Armani models. There’s not a dud in the bunch. I even thought about flirting with Anton, but — I don’t know for sure — I think his interest lay in a completely different direction than me or any other woman. I would never, ever say that out loud since he’s Russian. He’s been nothing but kind to me, so I wouldn’t endanger him.

But Lorenzo Mancinelli is another case entirely. I’ve never spoken to him before, and I’ve never been that close before. I just noticed him. I’ve seen him from a distance at a couple other events I’ve attended with Laura and Maks, but I told myself ogling him was pointless. Tonight, I’m pretty fucking sure he was ogling me first. If women had wet dreams, he’d be the reason for mine.

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