Page 8 of Marrying the Underboss

Before I have a chance to get a shot off, Jacob rushes me to the ground, my back hitting the gravel drive.

“You think I don’t know what you do up here?” He screams, then smashes a large rock into my face. “Everyone knows when Perrelli wants someone taken care of, he sends the poor bastard to the cabin with you!” Then he hits me again.

“You stupid piece of shit!” I yell, then raise my gun to shoot him in the head. I pull the trigger twice, then he’s off of me.

“Fuck! You fucking shot me in the head!”

“Rossi! What the fuck is going on? Where’s Marino?” Perrelli shouts from somewhere in the distance.

I roll to my side and sit up. My vision is blurry, and my senses are off. That little shit got the drop on me. Me? This has never happened before.

The next thing I know, Jacob kicks me in the face, and my head flies back, hitting the gravel hard. Jesus Christ! Who the hell is this guy? Then I feel his hands in my pockets, searching for something. A few seconds later, he’s gone. I roll over to my front and look up just in time to see a pair of headlights heading straight for me.

Chapter Five

JENNIFER

It'sthe middle of the night and I can't sleep. I’ve been tossing and turning, unable to sleep for more than twenty minutes at a time. The thunderstorm that’s been raging for hours hasn’t helped. I keep thinking about the fact that Jacob could possibly be dead because of me. What has my dad done to him? Whatever it is, it’ll be my cross to bear. In the back of my mind, I knew what would happen if he ever hurt me. I naively thought it would never come to this. I thought I could break up with someone and go on about my life normally.

Does Jacob deserve to die just because he betrayed me? According to my dad, yes, but I don't play by the same rules he does, and I’ve never wanted to. I never wanted to be married to amade man. Jacob and I had several conversations about it, and I told him how much I wanted to have a normal life, even if my dad wasn't exactly normal. The deeper he got in with my dad, the more he assured me he’d never let it touch us. And it hadn’t until now.

He would tell me repeatedly that the things he was doing for my dad were all above board and he'd never get in trouble since it was all legal. Why did I believe him? Because I wanted thatnormal life so bad, I was willing to lie to myself to believe I had it. Now I'm left questioning everything and wondering if Lori was the first girl he cheated on me with. I know what those made men are like and how they treat their women. My dad never treated my mom like that, but I've seen plenty of men who have. Men who hit their wives or girlfriends and make them feel about 10 inches tall.

Suddenly, a notification chimes telling me there’s someone at my door. My heart races as I reach for my phone. When I bring up the app, I see a man standing there, but I can't see who he is since he’s staring down and wearing all black. He's messing with my doorknob, trying to break in. I watch in horror as the man is able to jimmy the lock. The door swings open, banging against the wall. Fuck!

I look around for something to protect myself but can't find anything. I should know better than this. As quietly as I can, I open my closet door and try to hide in the back of it. Only, I trip over a box and fall into the wall with a loud thump. Damnit! There goes my hiding spot. The next thing I know, my closet door is pulled open, and someone turns on the light.

I gasp when I see him. “Kane? Why the hell did you break into my house? You couldn't ring the damn doorbell?”

He gives me a hard look but then it changes as his eyes sweep over me. I swear there’s a look of appreciation before his expression goes blank and he turns around. “Get dressed,” he says as he walks out of my closet. He exits my room, turning on the light and closing the door behind him.

I look down at myself, realizing I only have on a tight white tank top and a black cotton thong. Jesus, he just saw more of me than anyone’s ever seen! Not even Jacob has seen that much. The few times we messed around, it was dark, and I kept most of my clothes on. I really thought him keeping his hands to himself was his way of respecting me. I feel like such an idiot now.

Getting to my feet, I grab a black hoodie and pull it over my head, then yank on a pair of leggings before opening the door and walking straight into Kane’s hard chest. “Oomph! Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were going to be standing right here.”

He looks down at me, then slowly backs away to lean against the hallway wall opposite of me. He doesn’t look away, just stares at me like he’s staring into my soul and can read every thought I have.

I wish I knew what he was thinking. I’ve always thought I was an annoyance to him. Someone he had to put up with because my dad was his boss. It never stopped me from fantasizing about him. I remember the day I met him. He was standing in my dad’s office in the middle of the night looking dangerous and rough, like someone who could cause you a world of pain. That only made him sexier. He’s always been untouchable and completely out of my league. That doesn’t mean I haven’t imagined what it would be like to be his. All of these years, I’ve never stopped wondering.

“I didn't know who was here or if you were safe. I wasn't going to waste time by waiting around to find out. I won’t apologize for it.”

I roll my eyes at the man and cross my arms as I level him with my you-better-take-me-serious look. “Why wouldn't I be safe? Who did you think was here?”

“Use your head, Jennifer.”

I throw my arms up and glare at him. “I am, you big ape! I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

Kane sighs an aggravated sigh. “Have you talked to him? Has he been here?”

“Hewho?”

“That fucking sorry excuse of an ex-fiancé of yours. Marino,” he growls, coming towards me.

I take a step back, and my back hits the doorframe. Kane’s in front of me, only a few inches separating our bodies. My heart races as I try to control my breathing. “You know about that? Did my dad tell you?” Just then, the light from my room illuminates his face. “Wait, what happened to you? Are you okay?” I reach up to check out the damage, but Kane grabs my hand to still me. His hand is rough and much larger than mine, but the way he holds my hand is firm and gentle all at the same time. The man confuses me to no end.

“Marino happened. Can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing if I were in his position, but that doesn't make me hate him any less,” He says darkly, releasing my hand.

“Jacob did this to you?” When he gives me a sharp nod, I grab his hand and pull him into my bedroom towards the bathroom. “Come here, let me clean this up,” I grumble. He comes willingly. Flipping on the light, I nod at the toilet. “Take a seat.” Surprisingly, he complies.

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