Page 67 of One Wild Night

“Ryan?” I turned just as I was about to open the door. “That kiss was a thank you. Don’t read anything into it, okay?”

“I won’t,” I sighed, leaving quickly. It had meant something to both of us; I felt it in the kiss. Why were we denying our obvious feelings for each other? Okay, maybe it had something to do with getting ourselves killed if we ever actually did anything about it. Fuck my life!

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“You’ve done well, myboy.” Carlo patted me on the back when he and Tony returned the next day. It had been a waste of time in Miami. The Leonis weren’t interested in hearing about a petty feud. If it had been a situation concerning the two families as a whole, it would have been different, but an argument over a poker game between two rival mob members was of no concern to them. Tony and Paul had to sort this dispute out themselves.

“What’s Tony going to do now?” I asked. He was upstairs checking on Siena to see if she was well enough to attend church this morning.

“He’ll try to talk to Jenkins...to reason with him. Tony has already agreed to pay him back the money if Jenkins will stop long enough to listen,” Carlo said as he looked over at his computer. He was checking his shares, I gathered.

“What were the Leonis like?”

“I only met the Underboss because the Boss was otherwise engaged, but Luca was very understanding. It would seem that Jenkins is a live wire, just like my son.”

“So every Mafia family has one,” I teased.

“Perhaps,” Carlo chuckled just as Tony walked in. “How is Trixie?”

“She wants to come to church,” he replied, darting his eyes at me. What the fuck was his problem? I’d saved his girl—again, I might add—but Tony was still glaring at me like he wanted to punch me.

Half an hour later, Siena came down the stairs looking like an angel. She nodded, gesturing toward me before Tony pulled her into his arms.

“You look lovely, baby,” he muttered, kissing her lips. Lovely!? She looked fuckingstunning. I rolled my eyes in frustration and walked outside, pulling a cigarette out.

“We’ve done a sweep,” Bennett called from behind me as I finished my smoke.

He and Jamie must have just gotten back. “Anything to report?” I asked.

“There’s no sign of him.” That wasn’t good; something told me that Paul Jenkins was still in Chicago. A mad man wouldn’t just walk away when he’d been wronged. He was going to make Tony pay for stealing from him, one way or another.

“Well, keep an eye out. I’ll be at the club after church if you need me.” The boys nodded as Carlo emerged with all the family.

Church was a big thing to any mafia family, but it meant even more to me. Siena and I were the only non-family members invited. She was family in Carlo’s eyes, just as I was, even if we weren’t bound by blood.

“What did you think of the service?” Heidi asked as we began to make our way down the aisle. Would this woman ever get the hint?

“There’s a lot that can be said about sacrifice.” I smiled, trying to inch away from her before Vincent came over and started talking about weddings again. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Siena watching me as she stood with Tony. I couldn’t quite get a read of her face. Was it jealousy?

“Have you ever had to sacrifice anything, Ryan ?” Heidi asked.

My sanity every time I talk to you?“No, not really,” I sighed, watching as Carlo made his way over to me.

“Can I speak with you, Ryan?” Carlo asked. Heidi made a quick exit after that, as did most of the family.

“Is everything okay, Carlo?”

“I wanted to say well done. The East District is under control, and well...you ran things effortlessly while I was out of town.”

“I’m just doing my job.”

“Ryan, you have no idea how much I wish Tony were more like you.”

“He’ll learn, Carlo, just give him time.”

“I’m not so sure anymore,” Carlo admitted before we were interrupted by shouting and screaming. I had one guess at who was outside...Paul fucking Jenkins.

I rushed out the doors, coming face-to-face with my biggest fear. Paul and his men were pointing their Glocks at Tony, who, in that split second, had pulled Siena in front of him, using her like a human shield. Motherfucker, was that really how he saw her?

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