Page 43 of My Mafia Queen

It felt as if someone had broken my chest open and yanked my heart out. The pain of losing her had only been surpassed by my fear of my father.

He’d never been easy to live with, and my mother knew that, but like Stella now, she thought she could outsmart him while planning out her escape.

And then she was gone, and Tina and I became unmoored vessels in an ocean that, up to this day, has been a big blob of unknown.

Life is sneaky even when it seems good, and it’s hell when it keeps you guessing and robs you of the joy of relying on things.

On the other hand, this shit comes with benefits too.

Look at me. I have something in common with Damaso Salla, a man I would’ve never met had I had a normal life.

Good comes with bad, and bad comes with good.

I tear my eyes away from the window and look at him.

The pillow partially conceals his face, and he looks peaceful in his sleep.

“Are you going to study me until the sun goes up?” he rasps, startling me.

My mouth drops open in surprise, a smile tugging at my lips.

“How did you know I was looking at you? I thought you were asleep.”

“You woke me when you went to the bathroom.”

I turn to him and prop my head against my folded arm.

“I couldn’t tell you were awake when I came back,” I murmur.

“Nobody can,” he says with his eyes still closed.

He’s right.

I couldn’t tell even now if it wasn’t for him talking.

I slide my hand over his back, tenderly stroking his skin.

“I want you to teach me how to shoot a gun,” I say quietly, and that makes him crack an eye open and cock an eyebrow at me.

“I didn’t fuck you good?” he jokes, amused, and I laugh wholeheartedly, something I haven’t done in a long time.

I catch him drinking me in, and I feel good.

“I want to be able to protect myself,” I say, my smile fading.

“Nothing will happen to you,” he says.

“I know, but it’s better to be able to rely on myself in case something happens. Do you know what I mean?”

“Yeah. I do. We’ll take care of it. Can you sleep now?” he says, closing his eyes and making me daydream about him again.

I smile.

“What now?” he says as if seeing me.

I laugh quietly.

“How do you do that?”

---