Page 57 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

“Rodriguez mentioned something about her being George Sullivan’s daughter. That means nothing to me, though. Itdoesn’t matter whose daughter she is, what matters is that I care about her and need to protect her.

“You remember the cop we thought raided our warehouse twelve years ago and was shot on the same night?”

I think for a moment, then the memory floods my mind like it happened yesterday. “What about him?”

“She’s his daughter.”

I suck in a breath. How could I have forgotten him?

“Listen to what I’m about to tell you. Because that will determine whether I help her or put a bullet through her skull myself.” He rubs his chin. “She may have approached you to take revenge for her father. She could be planning to kill you. Knowing all of this, do you still care about her enough to want to save her?”

I don’t hesitate. “Yes.”

A smile flickers on Dominic’s face. “You’re in love with her.”

Chapter Thirteen

Jane

“How did this happen?” Detective Taylor asks, wearing a pair of white gloves and squatting beside David—our forensic guy, as he takes pictures of the crime scene.

I cover my mouth and yawn. “I’ve no clue.”

It’s six a.m. on a Saturday morning. I was only able to get four hours of sleep last night and I haven’t had my morning coffee. How am I supposed to function on anything other than zombie mode?

I stayed up late after I got home from dinner with Kim, watching a show on Netflix—not actually watching the show. Staring blankly at the tv while I mulled over my conversation with Kim.

She wants me to acknowledge my feelings for Marcus and to give a relationship with him a try. I want to, but I’m afraid he’ll just turn me down.

I mean, he would have spoken up if he wanted something more, right? The fact he hasn’t said anything yet means he has no interest in me. At least not in the way I want him to.

I drifted off to sleep on my couch, still thinking of him. I’d decided I would meet with him today and talk it out, but I don’t think that will be possible anymore because I have a case to solve.

“Who would do something this horrible to a State Attorney?”

I turn around, my eyes meeting with Josh’s. He has an arrogant smile on his face that makes me want to kick him in the balls. What can I say? I woke up on the wrong side of my bed—or couch, today. “Do you have anyone in mind who would have a motive to hurt him?”

I received a call at exactly five-thirty a.m., thirty minutes ago, urging to me to drive down to Hell’s Kitchen despite how cold it is. I bury my hands in the pockets of my faux, fur jacket to keep them warm.

When I arrived the crime scene, my heart sank t because the victim was no other than ADA Rodriguez and he was in a terrible state—his face barely recognizable. He was unconscious, barely had a pulse when they found him.

“Are you asking if I have any suspects? Because I do.”

My interest is piqued. “Who do you think did this?”

“You.” He grins. “Come to think of it, you two have been fighting pretty much all the time lately. If there’s anyone who would have had a motive to hurt him, it would be you.”

I hiss and roll my eyes. “Trust me, you’d be the first person to get a taste of my wrath if I’m ever let go of it. I don’t like Rodriguez, but I dislike you a lot more.”

“Cut it out, guys,” Taylor calls out, rising to his feet. “Whoever did this had a clear motive, seeing as they kept him alive despite roughing him up. We’ll have to wait for the forensics to find possible fingerprints or DNA.”

Clear motive.

Could it have been Marcus? No way. I stop my suspicions from blossoming. I asked him not to get involved, so he couldn’t have done this. I’m certain it wasn’t him. “I don’t know about you guys, but I do know whoever is behind this was responsible for the Hell’s Kitchen’s murders as well.”

Josh rubs his lips. “It makes sense now that you say it.”

“Let's focus on any evidence we find and hope Rodriguez wakes up soon. He must’ve seen the person who did this,” Taylor says, flipping through his notebook. “This isn't the first incident in Hell's Kitchen, and it won't be the last unless we act fast.”

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