Page 18 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

“There's more to it? Yeah, there probably is. Just to be clear on how efficient my new partner is, I checked your record and you seem pretty good at your job. Why would he want to take you off this case?” he asks and shakes his head, not understanding.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, strengthening my resolve. “I'm going to keep investigating any way. You don't expect me to stop, do you? I won’t give up like that. I have a job to finish.”

“Okay,” he raises his hands, seeming amused. “Carry on,signorina. I’m not going to stop you.”

We get to my car and I rest my arm on the roof and lean against it. I look into his eyes, wondering if I can pry into more personal areas of his life.

“Can I ask you something?”

He takes a step closer and shrugs his shoulders. “Should I be worried?”

“Just basic stuff,” I chortle and roll my eyes. “I swear, no interrogation.”

“Okay,” he visibly relaxes. “Shoot.”

I straighten up and bite down on my lip. “Call it being nosy, but I guess I'm just curious to know more about your life in the mafia. How did it start for you?”

His head nods, seeming unsurprised at my question, and he glances at the sky above, laughing softly. My core tightens, my stomach fluttering. He’s so gorgeous when he laughs like that. “You want to know more about my life and the mafia…” he repeats slowly. “You want to know everything?”

“Well, what you can tell me…” I flash an encouraging smile.

He puts his hands behind his back and knots his fingers together. “I’ll try not to rush it, but, I’m sure you already know the basics about the hierarchy. My brother became Capo after our parents were murdered...”

His voice trails off and I spot the tick in his jaw. I can tell it's not a topic he talks about often.

“I'm sorry,” I mutter. I never thought I could relate to a man like Marcus, but I can feel the sadness in his eyes down to my bones. Because my father was also murdered.

“Do you feel pity for me?” he flashes a sad smile that splinters through my heart. “I hate it when people pity me.”

I scoff. “I don’t pity you, Marcus. You’re a jerk, remember?”

“Right.” His smirk returns. “The thing is, with them out of the picture, it left my brothers and I to run things. Though, one of us, Vincent, has no interest in this life. And I honestly can't hold it against him. The mafia is not exactly the life you wish for anyone. It's dark, cold, cruel, and everything against the norms of society. So, he decided to opt out, but me? I didn’t think I had a choice. My older brother needed someone by his side, and I was the only person he could trust with his life. I couldn’t abandon him.”

I release the breath I hadn’t know I was holding. He does a pretty good job at masking his true feelings, but I can see the tumult of emotion in his eyes.

“So, if you could pick a life other than the one you have now, would you?” I pose the question, and he responds in a heartbeat.

“No,” he shakes his head. “I mean, I don't think so. This is the only life I've ever known. The dark shit is all I know. I don’t think I’d be able to start over with a clean slate, when I have all of this…” he gestures to himself, running his hand from his head and down the rest of his body, “already inbuilt. I am now who I am, Officer Jane, and I don't think anything can change that.”

A smile plays on my lips and I nod. “I beg to differ, but I guess we’ll continue that conversation some other time.”

He laughs and stays quiet.

“Can I, uh, ask something else?” I tap my key against the roof of the car and shift my weight to the other foot.

“You said this won’t be an interrogation,” smirks.

“It isn’t, is it? Just basically getting to know you. I deserve that much if I’m risking my career trusting you.”

He combs his fingers through his shiny dark hair and shifts, with his feet slightly spread apart and his arms folded over his chest.

“I'm listening…”

I clear my throat. “I know this might not sound related, but just hear me out. There might be a connection between the murder cases. I, for one, have heard a lot about the Romano family. And I know you have a lot of enemies. But can you think of anyone in particular who would try to sabotage your family?”

He pauses, appearing to be deep in thought. Then, he strokes his smooth chin with a hand. “Yeah, we do have enemies, but I can think of only one that has it out for us.”

I shift closer, not hiding my curiosity. “Who?”

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