Page 41 of Auctioned To Her Dad's Mafia Enemies

He smirks, drying it with exaggeratedflourishes. “He was introduced to her, like the old days.”

“Seriously? Like an arranged marriage? Ididn’t know it still worked that way for some people these days.”

“She could’ve said no, but when they met, itwas like—bam!” He claps his hands together, making me jump.

I shake my head with a small laugh, amused athis performance and willingness to be open and funny with me. “She got hit withthe thunderbolt?”

“Exactly.” He grins, stacking the plate backinto the cupboard.

“They make a good-looking couple. He’s veryhandsome.”

Alexis tilts his head, considering. I let mygaze sweep over him, soaking up the sharp line of his jaw and the perfection ofhis olive complexion. He really is a very handsome man himself.

“You think so? He looks preppy like he justwalked out of a country club.”

“Not like you, you mean?” I tease, drying myhands.

His eyes gleam with mischief, hazel darkeningto a rich caramel. “Not everyone is as good-looking as me.”

I snort, tossing the dishcloth to the counter.“Be careful, Alexis. If your head gets any bigger, it will blot out the sun andwipe out all life as we know it.”

He throws up his hands. “It’s not beingbig-headed if it’s true.”

“Looks aren’t everything.” I counter, knowingfull well how much of his confidence is built on his appearance.

“If the book cover is ugly, no one picks itup.”

“If it has a pretty cover but the story isboring, no one sticks around to finish it,” I fire back.

He nods begrudgingly but with his trademarksmile. “This is true.”

“So, your story,” I say. “What is it?”

He spreads his arms wide as if unveiling amasterpiece. “A tale of excitement, romance, drama, suspense.”

“Romance?” I arch a skeptical brow.

“Well, maybe erotic passion,” he corrects.

“The erotic passions of wiping your captive’sprivates?”

His grin widens shamelessly. “My dick washard. That should tell you all you need to know about how erotic I found thatexperience.”

“I get a feeling your dick is hard most of theday.”

“Only when he’s ignored.”

I chuckle and bite my bottom lip. This, atleast, is familiar—banter, teasing, something resembling normalcy in the midstof chaos. He likes me. This big mafioso with the flamboyant charm finds meamusing. And despite the fact I’m spending time with him under duress, I can’thelp liking him, too. But my mom was clear when we came back to nurse my aunt.Don’t get involved with anyone inthelife.They’re snakes in sharp suits. They don’t just have fangs to eat.

There’s a balance here, and I need to play thegame. Teasing is one thing, but I can tell it would be easy to take things toofar with Alexis.

“I’m going to rest upstairs,” I tell him,taking a step back. His eyes drift over the length of me, lingering on mybreasts and hips. It’s not an invitation for him to join me, but he wishes itwas.

“Okay,gattina. We’ll continue this conversation later.”

As I make my way upstairs, I turn to find himwatching me, with his trademark shark smile still in place. He’d eat me aliveif I let him and spit me out like an olive stone.

“Careful,” I whisper to myself as I reach thetop and can finally breathe.

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