Page 47 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

After I put on my shoes, I kiss her on the head and mutter, “Sweet dreams,mi amore.”

The faintest of smiles lifts the corners of her lips. I have a feeling she’s having sweet dreams already and I hope it’s me she’s dreaming of.

I turn off the lights in her apartment before I leave. As I stroll to the elevator, I send Antonio Rodriguez’s name and where he works, then I dial his number.

“Chief.” I hear a loud cry as he answers and then the laughter of some of my other men. They’re having fun torturing someone.

“I sent you a text.”

“Give me a second, Boss.” It’s silent for a moment. “ADA Rodriguez, NYPD?”

“Find out everything you can about him.”

Chapter Eleven

Jane

Marcus is gone by the time I wake up and my alarm is blaring.Fuck.How did I not hear my alarm ring the first time?

Sitting up, I grab my phone from the nightstand and turn off the alarm. My eyes glance at the time and I gasp. I’m almost an hour late for work.

How did I sleep so long?

“Christ,” I grumble to myself. “What the hell is wrong with me.” Ripping off my nightgown, I sprint to the bathroom for a quick shower, throw on whatever clothes I can find when I’m out and brush my hair.

I quickly find the case files I’d brought home from work yesterday and stuff them in my tote bag. I’m almost sprinting out of the house when I remember I haven’t brushed my teeth.

God, Jane. Pull yourself together, will you?

Running back inside, I brush, spritz on some perfume and run out again, shoving myself and my handbag into the car when I reach the parking lot. I drive to the station at the highest speed I can without breaking the law.

My heart skips several beats when I spot Rodriguez standing in the middle of the office when I enter. He’s holding a pen in one hand and a coffee in the other. I’m quite certain he was addressing my colleagues before I entered, so why is it suddenly so quiet in here? It could pass for a graveyard.

Everyone turns their heads to me, gaping at me like I’m a murderer who’s about to get a life sentence. Taylor is the only one who offers a smile as I walk to my desk.

I hold my breath, extra conscious not to miss a step and fall. I can’t afford embarrassing myself when everyone is looking at me.

“Good morning, Ms. Sullivan,” Rodriguez says with a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “You’re late.”

I place my handbag on my desk and force a nervous smile back at him. “Um—I had a situation.”

He nods. “I’m sure you did.”

I don’t like the tone of his voice one bit. It’s really a struggle and I’m chewing the inside of my cheek to hold back the retort forming on my lips. “I’m sorry for interrupting. Looks like you were saying something, please go on. Don’t mind me at all.”

My desperate attempt to divert attention from me fails because Rodriguez chooses to be a pain in the ass today.

Ugh. I hate him.

“You’re right, I was. But I suddenly can’t remember what I was saying. Guess whose fault that is, Ms. Sullivan?”

“I’ve already apologized. Please carry on.”

“You’re a rude little brat, aren’t you?”

I scrunch my face. I don’t think I heard him right. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.” He walks to my desk and slams his empty coffee cup on it, leaning into me. “I don’t care that you’re a detective or that you’re a woman. Try not to get on my nerves or I swear to—”

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