Page 48 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

“Just when I though Josh was the worst thing that could happen to me as a detective.” I cut him off, folding my hands over my chest. I’m not in the mood for this bullshit from him today. “Stop acting like a manchild, Rodriguez.”

“Or what?” He smirks, moves away from my desk and returns to the center of the room. “Ms. Sullivan is to take the Stardust Diamond case.”

I fly up to my feet. “What?” He wants me to take over a jewelry theft case? He’s got to be kidding.

“You heard me right. Submit whatever documents you have on the murder case to Josh.”

I’m laughing, because that’s the only way I can stop myself from lunging at him and ripping him apart. “I’m a homicide detective, you can’t just take me off the case because you don’t like me, and what? Jewelry theft? Do I look like a joke to you?”

Rodriguez shrugs. “Chief’s orders. Go and speak to him if you hate the decision.”

“Oh, trust me I will.” I storm off to Chief Smith’s office, knocking just once before I push the door open and march in. He’s on a call when I come in, but blinks up at me and mouths,What do you want?

“I need to talk to you, Chief.”

He removes the phone from his ear. “Can’t you see I’m busy? Come back later.”

“I’m afraid this can’t wait.”

He scoffs, glaring at me. He presses the phone back to his ear. “I’ll call you back in five minutes.” Then he hangs up. “This better be worth the insolence you’ve just portrayed. What do you want?”

“Why was I removed from the Hell’s Kitchen case?”

“Oh, that.” He leans back and swivels his chair from side to side. “You’re not fit for that case. I’ve told you that before.”

“Yes, you did. But you put Taylor in charge and asked me to assist him. Why am I suddenly being forced to take a jewelry theft case?”

He sighs, reluctant to answer. I assume he’s thinking of a meaningful reply. Too bad nothing he says will make any sense to me right now. “Because you’re not fit for the job, how many times am I supposed to repeat it?”

“As many times as you need to for it to make sense, Chief.” I’m breathing hard, my eyes fogged with angry tears. I’m so close to losing my shit and screaming at him, but that will givehim even more ammunition against me. “I need to be on this case.”

“Just do as you’re told, Sullivan. Being stubborn won’t be of any benefit to you or anyone else. I’ll look at assigning you another case, just not the Hell Kitchen’s murder case.”

“But—”

“No buts. Close the door behind you, I have a call to return.” He waves me away, picks up his phone and pretends I’m no longer in his office.

Anger simmers deep in my gut, rage coursing through my veins. I can’t move, I’m too angry to get my body to cooperate.

Chief Smith twists his head to me and shoots up a brow. “What are you still here?”

To punch you in the face for being such a shitty boss.

I swallow, pushing back my retort. I manage to turn before he calls my name. “One more thing, Detective Sullivan. Don’t go snooping around. Your father would still be alive if he’d minded his own goddamn business.”

My father? He knew who I was—whose daughter I was?

My blood curdles as I spin around to face him. “Y-you knew my father? You know who I am?”

“Right from the day you walked in here as a detective. Your father was a good cop, but he got killed for it. I wouldn’t trust the Romano’s if I were you.”

My breath hitches. Does he know about me and Marcus? “What do you mean?”

“Leave, and take my advice with you.” He shifts his focus back to his phone, swiveling his seat towards the window.

I’m glad he did, because that way, he doesn’t get to see me stagger as I try to regain my composure. He doesn’t see the tear rolling down my face. Swiping at it, I leave his office.

Rodriguez is nowhere to be found as I amble to my desk, sucking in air so my legs don’t give out.

---