Page 98 of Mob Star

“Do you want to tell them the truth about how little time we’ve spent together?”

“No. No one else counts the hours they spend with the person they’re dating. I don’t want to do that with you. That said, maybe we don’t tell them we’re talking about moving in together.”

“That’s probably wise. And that doesn’t have to happen immediately. If it’ll make it better with your family to ease into that, then we will.”

“It’s not what I want, but that is the better choice. I don’t know how your family will react.”

“My parents would probably like me to wait to get to know you a little longer, but they already know about you. They know I’m serious about a future with you. I wouldn’t be with you if I weren’t. But they know this world and understand it. Your family is on the periphery.”

“And if they ask you about your family business?”

“Then I’ll tell them all about the legal ones and as much as I can about the other stuff.”

“And when they ask me alone about the mob?”

“You tell them what you know and tell them you don’t know more than that because I don’t believe it’s safe. Again, your family will understand that better than most.”

“True. I know there’s stuff my dad doesn’t tell my mom for her safety. But I also know there’s stuff he tells her he probably shouldn’t.”

“I think that’s true about all couples in this world. I will always try to think before I speak, but I let it slip that I wasn’t in New York. I trust your opinion and advice, so there may be things I ask you about. But it’ll be nothing that could implicate you. It’ll be nothing someone could force you to tell.”

“How worried should I be about the cops coming to me?”

“Aware, but not scared. The feds caused some trouble for Mair, but it was always about getting to Dillan. The same happened to a woman involved with a Mafia guy.”

“So, another woman in your family?”

“Don’t let the Mancinellis hear you calling any other family Mafia. It hurts their feelings. They’re quick to remind everyone that they’re Mafia with a capital M. That they’re the real ones since their family is from Sicily. They love to take a jab at us because we’re ‘only’ the mob.” He uses the air quotes and all.

“The rivalry even comes down to what people call you?”

“The Colombians are the Cartel. The Russians are the bratva. Sometimes people call both syndicates the mafia with a lowercase m, but no one in a syndicate does. Some of the lesser organizations call themselves mafia or mob, but that’s because they have nothing better to call themselves.”

I hear a hint of humor, but I think he’s serious about most of that. I guess I can see why the way they identify themselves is important. Their reputation and appearances are important. I guess it’s machoism. But I think it’s also a sense of family. They identify as a unified group.

“Do I need to fear the other syndicates?” I think that’s a valid concern.

“There’s some recent history I need to explain to you, but this car ride might not be long enough. It won’t paint my family in a good light. The abridged version is Dillan inherited his position from our moms’ cousin who seized it after our uncle on our moms’ side died. Dillan was out of town. Uncle Donovan was a pretty good leader once he listened to Dillan, who is a strategic genius. But when he ignored Dillan’s advice and went after a bratva wife, it put our family on a slippery slope. Declan nearly destroyed us by going after the bratva again, but after a different woman. Shite we couldn’t stop when my generation stepped into our full roles was already in play. We will always put us ahead of them, whoever the them might be. We did some unsavory shite because things we inherited were in motion we couldn’t stop. At least we couldn’t stop them and still come out alive. The Italians made some shitty choices too that endangered bratva women. They nearly got one killed in Greece. The Cartel’s hands aren’t clean either. They’ve gotten away with shite neither the bratva nor the Cosa Nostra know.”

“Cosa Nostra?”

“It means ‘our thing.’ It’s specific to Sicily. There are other Mafia factions in other parts of the country. You met Serafina that night we ran into Maria and Matteo. Her dad’s side of the family is Venetian Mafia. Her mom’s is Sicilian.”

Fuck. That’s a lot to digest. No wonder she watched me so closely. She’s probably spent her entire life assessing whether people are a threat.

“So, the bratva and Cartel don’t hurt women?” Double fuck. “That sounded horribly judgmental. I’m sorry.”

“It’s a fair question. Neither of them have clean hands. The Cartel’s done shite that’s endangered women, just not to the extent the Mancinellis and mine have. The bratva says they never target women or children, but that only comes to not physically harming them.”

That doesn’t reassure me in the least. The disdain in Finn’s voice makes me wonder what the bratva did. It feels like it must have been recently.

“Are you going to tell my parents about this stuff with your family or the others?”

“I’d rather not, but if it’s appropriate or necessary to, then I will. But you know I won’t tell them more than I just told you. You’ll learn more with time. That’s inevitable. But I’d rather you find out in whatever context it comes up rather than me unloading it now.”

I nod. I suppose that makes sense. But what if the context sucks?

Finn’s hands on my ass have me rocking on his dick, and it’s slowly building my need to come. Like having a vibrator on a low setting and just letting it buzz against my clit. It’s going to get hard to concentrate soon.

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