Page 29 of My Mafia Queen

“I don’t want him to be mad,” I say.

“You’ll need to take this up with him and try not to explain everything, or you’ll bore him to death.”

“Noted,” I say before removing my bag from his hand.

“Are you here to stay?” he asks as I’m about to enter.

“Would it make a difference if I stayed?”

“That’s something for you to find out.”

With that, he winks at Gianni, whose expression is blank, and gestures at him before they both head to the elevator.

“Hey. What about those guys?” I ask behind them.

“What about them?” Vito says, not stopping and turning around to face me.

“Are they still on my tail?”

“They won’t bother you here, for sure,” he says cryptically before moving around the corner and taking the elevator down.

The sound of the elevator descending disappears before I jolt out of my paralysis and enter Salla’s place.

My room looks untouched.

It’s like it was when I left yesterday morning.

The bed is made, and my clothes are all cleaned, pressed, and on the hangers.

I step into the shower and feel much better when I’m done and put on some new clothes.

A red cocktail dress, black heels, and the necklace he gave me make me look different.

I stare in the mirror for a few seconds, acknowledging what’s happening.

My heart moves at an alarming pace as I courageously realize how much I pushed back my thoughts about him.

I’m tired since I’ve only slept a few hours these past twenty-four hours, yet I’m more alert than ever.

I’ve never been more alive.

Later I walk out of his place and strut to the elevator.

* * *

DAMASO

“She’s here, Boss,”Vito says, leaning against the bar and signaling the bartender for a drink. “She’s getting ready,” he says before they both get their drinks.

I don’t flinch.

“Any news?” he asks after taking a swig of hard liquor.

“Not yet. Things quiet?”

“So far, yes,” he says.

I know how‘quiet’works. It’s usually the calm before the storm.

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