Page 33 of Mafia Kingdom

Marco exhales, his breath warm against my skin. My heart stumbles, but hope flickers as he studies me, as if weighing his next words.

“If I let you call her, will you stop fighting me?”

I nod, but inside, I know the truth. If an opportunity presents itself, I’ll take it. He’s mafia—no matter what, being near him is dangerous. My dad warned me about Marco, and for the first time, I wonder if I should have listened.

“Okay.” His voice is firm, decisive. “Call her. I’ll arrange for your sister to be brought here.”

“No.” My head shakes violently, my temper flaring. “She is not being kept here.”

Marco finally steps back, his jaw tightening. “I can’t please you,” he mutters, like I’m the one being unreasonable. “What about your mother?”

The question slices through me. I swallow hard. “She’s dead.”

Regret flashes across his face. He runs a hand through his hair, sighing. “I’m sorry.”

I look away, finding solace in Buddy’s familiar presence. “It was a long time ago.”

Uncertainty lingers between us, but Marco doesn’t push. Instead, he gestures for me to follow him. “Let’s call your aunt and see what we can do.”

Marco’s office is pure luxury—sleek black furniture, dark wood bookshelves lining the walls, and a massive mahogany desk that demands attention. A leather couch sits near the window, and a glass decanter of whiskey gleams under the dim lighting. Everything about this room screams power, control. It unsettles me.

He moves to the drawer at his desk and opens it, glances at me before taking out my phone. He holds it out and pulls out the chair at his desk for me to sit in.

I take the phone and sit before I dial Aunt Karen’s number. She picks up after three rings, her voice groggy with sleep.

“Hello?”

“Aunt Karen, it’s Sasha. Is Lily okay?”

There’s a rustling sound, and then she exhales. “She’s asleep. Sasha, do you know what time it is?”

I wince. I hadn’t even thought to check. “I’m sorry. I lost track of time.”

Aunt Karen sighs. “What’s going on?”

“I need you to keep her for a few more days,” I say carefully. “Dad’s in the hospital.”

Silence. She doesn’t ask what happened. Doesn’t even acknowledge the fact that her brother is lying in a hospital bed. Instead, her voice is clipped when she finally responds. “Two more days. That’s it.”

“Thank you,” I murmur before hanging up, my stomach twisted in knots. I had wanted to speak to Lily, but maybe tomorrow I could call her.

Marco moves closer, perching on the edge of his desk. His leg nearly touches mine, and I’m acutely aware of every inch between us. Or lack of it.

“I could move her,” he offers. “Have her kept safe.”

I shake my head instantly. “No. It means I stay here for two more days, and then I get my sister.”

Marco doesn’t argue, but something shifts in his gaze. He leans back slightly, nodding once. “I’ll send men around to Karen’s house to keep an eye on things.”

The tension inside me eases just enough. “Thank you.”

The door creaks open, and Buddy pokes his head in before letting out a low whine. My stomach drops. I know that sound.

“He’s going to be sick,” I say, pushing off the desk and rushing toward him. Because right now, I’d rather deal with that than whatever the hell is happening between Marco and me.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Marco

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