Page 28 of My Mafia Queen

“What do you mean clean?”

“I mean, nasty people are after you,” Vito says, and I instantly make the connection. “Were those men his people?” I ask quietly while he nudges me to spin around and move toward the elevator.

He lets go of me.

“Who else?” he tosses at me.

“Is he mad?” I ask, noticing how stern their expression are as we walk into the elevator.

The doors close. Gianni holds my bag while Vito stares at them.

The elevator starts moving.

“Do you know who he is?” he asks.

“Yes. Yes, I do.”

He slowly swivels his head to me.

“Do you really know who he is?”

“I can imagine…” I murmur.

A cold smile creases his lips.

“Good. Then you must know he’s spared your life more than once.”

He doesn’t pull his gaze away, waiting for an answer.

“Yes. I’m aware of that,” I answer without blinking.

The elevator dings, and the doors pull open.

“Okay, then. Let me give you some advice,” he says, showing me out.

We exit the elevator under the eyes of Damaso’s bodyguards.

“Whenever he talks and asks something of you, make sure you listen to him. He knows way more than you. Right now, he’s testing you. He does that even when he doesn’t look like he’s doing it. As a rule, he dislikes people who think they know better.”

“That’s not what it was––”

“Shhh…” he says, interrupting me with a dark smile. “He also hates people who have an explanation for everything. He doesn’t care. All right? He might like you now and let you live, but that’s never a given with him.”

I study him as we walk down the corridor.

Before long, we reach the door to Damaso’s suite and he opens it before waiting for me to enter.

His expression is unreadable, and I look at Gianni.

The flicker of a smile dies out on his lips, erasing the amusement from his face.

“Are you fucking with me now?” I ask Vito.

“I would be more careful with my words if I were you. No. Everything I say is true.”

“I didn’t––”

He flicks his hand up, and I go silent.

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