Page 21 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

He narrows his eyes on me. Of course, he notices something as serious as me hesitating. “Are you okay?”

I reach for my glass and sigh when I see I’ve finished the tequila I poured earlier. I don’t bother to pour another glass for myself, I take the bottle and drink from it, grimacing as the burn trickles down my throat and simmers in my stomach. “I’m fine.”

“You will get rid of her when the need arises. Do you understand?”

Fuck. I need another drink.

Lying is not my thing, and it’s useless lying to Dominic. I’m not the only smart one around here and he can read me like an open book.

I’m about to tell him how I don’t think I’m the best person to carry out the assignment when an aggravating voice laughs behind me. “You’re kind of slow for a mafia boss, Dominic. You know that?”

Dante rounds the couch and sits next to Dominic across from me. He has an arrogant and smug smile on his face, but that quickly fades when his eyes meet Dominic’s and he notices the scowl on Dominic’s face.

“I know a sure-fire way to rip a man’s tongue from his mouth,” Dominic says in low, dangerous tone. In that moment, my brother looks just like the devil. “I wonder who I’ll test it out on first.”

Dante raises his hands defensively. “Chill, man. I was just kidding.”

Dominic’s frown deepens. If Dante wasn’t an idiot, he’d know the surest way to get my brother riled up is to crack one of those stupid jokes.

“Alright, I’m sorry.” Dante brings his attention to me. I absolutely loathe the accusation twitching his lips before he even voices it. “You want to fuck that cop, don’t you?”

He’s right, but faking anger is the only way I can deny it. “I’ll be glad to rip your tongue out if Dominic doesn’t.”

Dante shakes his head sardonically. “You guys have violence in your DNA.” He looks around. “Where’s the youngest Romano. I haven’t seen him around since I returned.”

I groan. “The youngest Romano is Beatrice Romano, you idiot.” Dominic and Elena had a daughter three months ago. The fact my brother may or may not have to wear a skirt and pretend to be a princess someday, amuses me.

Dominic may be a hard-hearted bastard just like I am, but he’s a complete wimp when it comes to his family. I can’t even deny that I am as well. My nephew and niece are my weak spot, I’d roll on the ground and bark like a dog if they asked me too.

“My bad. Where’s Vincent Romano?” he looks around. “I assume in a club faraway from town and…”

“What the hell do you want from me?”

All three of us twist our heads to the doorway. We all have the same stunned expressions. It’s odd for Vincent to agree to a meeting and…he’s sober. That’s a first.

“Look who we have here,” Dante says in a teasing tone. “The family’s rebel. I’ll bet a thousand dollars you had your carrot in a whore’s asshole seconds before you found your way here.”

Vincent scrunches his nose and slouches me beside me. He smells like Vodka, cigarettes and sex.Disgusting.

“Does doing my brother’s dirty work hinder your sex life?” Vincent’s question is directed at Dante. “You’re too invested in what other people do with theircarrots.Don’t you think?”

“I don’t disagree. Guess what else I’m interested in?” Dante flickers a look back in my direction. I swear I’m going to kill him one of these days. “Marcus doesn’t want to kill the cop lady. I wonder why?”

“Mind your business,” I spit out. Talking about Jane in front of them makes me uncomfortable, not that I don’t trust them. Vincent already has no role in how our world works. Dominic wouldn’t kill a woman I like and Dante wouldn’t do anything unless Dominic ordered it.

I’m uncomfortable because something tells me my newfound obsession is not healthy.

It can’t be any good for me she’s the last thought in my head before I sleep at night and the first when I wake up. It’s been three days since I last saw her, but it feels like an eternity.

I miss her.

Oh, fuck me.

I’ve never missed anyone, so why do I miss her? I hate this.

“Do you love her…”

“No fucking way,” I answer before Dominic can complete his question. I admit I’m obsessed, but love is a bit of a reach. I like her and I want to fuck her, but that is all there is to it.

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