Page 32 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

“I love it when you blush.” He winks at me and I shudder. “So, back to our discussion. Tell me the real reason you chose to become a cop.”

My hands are sweaty, I tuck them between my thighs and swallow. “I’ve told you already. Not my fault if you don’t believe me.”

He skims my face for a moment, his expression blank. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. Does he believe me? Does he suspect me?

Bullshit. He has no reason not to believe me.

“Most cops I know chose this line of work because it runs in the family. Or to get revenge.” There’s a note of something I can’t identify in his voice.

Sweat beads on my forehead. I feel like I’m in an interrogation room being grilled. “I admire that you became a cop simply because of your passion.”

I spot the barista heading to our table with a tray. I take a deep relieved breath and sigh. He places our breakfast on the table and leaves. Lifting my latte, I take a sip. I hum when the rich flavor of coffee and creamer hit the spot on my tastebuds. I don’t notice Marcus is staring at me until I put my cup down.

“What?”

“You’re beautiful.”

I cough, choking on my coffee and hitting my chest. I can’t believe how he says the darndest things so randomly. “You think so?” I reply. He’s seen me blush too many times and I can’t do that again in front of him.

“No has ever told you that?”

I take a bite from my croissant and groan. It tastes so good and I’m so hungry anything would taste good right now. I try for nonchalance. “My mirrors tells me that every morning.”

He opens his mouth. I don’t care what he is about to say next. It will be something cheeky. I need to change the subject. “The police are on your tail and Taylor won’t take it easy on you now that I’m no longer in charge of the case.”

Reaching for his coffee, he drinks from the cup. He doesn’t hum or give the slightest hint that the hot beverage hit his tastebuds the way it did mine.

What did I expect? He is part of the mafia. Whiskey mixed with human blood is most likely his breakfast special.

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?”

I take a bite from my croissant. “What would you have me do? Kill them? I don’t have a problem with that, considering the way he treats you.”

“You should.” Heads turn to our table and I realize I’m yelling. I lower my voice, forcing my clenched fists to relax. “Hurt my colleagues and I’ll have your ass in jail.”

He laughs. “Guess who’ll be in jail with me?”

I roll my eyes.

We finish breakfast and Marcus drops me off at my apartment. “I’ll call you later.”

“Don’t call me,” I tell him as I open the door and slide out from the car. “Oh, and one more thing, tell anyone about last night and I’ll kill you.”

He narrows his eyes on me and grins a lopsided smile. “You like to dominate. That’s okay, as long as I’m charge in the bedroom.”

I don’t have time to think of a retort before he rolls up the window and drives off. I’m dumbstruck, gaping after him.

Shit. He really does say the darndest thing.

I place the backs of my hands on my cheeks, feeling how hot they are. I can’t stop blushing.

Turning around, I start for the entrance to the building but when my phone buzzes in my denim pants. I remove my phone and unlock the screen. There’s a text from a private number.

I can’t breathe when I open the message.It doesn’t say much, but the little it does, make the hairs on the back of my neck rise.

Private Number: HOW WAS YOUR NIGHT, DETECTIVE SULLIVIAN. I’M QUITE JEALOUS, BUT IT FELT GOOD JERKING OFF TO YOUR SCREAMS

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