Page 498 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

Which is exactly why I used school as an excuse to leave home.

I don’t want to live my life as a spoiled and superficial mafia princess who is constantly in the spotlight, draped in designer clothes from head to toe. I have goals and dreams, things I can only accomplish on my terms.

I don’t want to be a prisoner to my family’s legacy.

And I definitely don’t want to marry someone who’s equally ingrained in that existence.

I escaped that fate and will never look back.

Out here, nobody knows who hangs off the branches of my family tree.

Nobody knows that I’m Lily Salesi, daughter of famed mobster Joe Salesi and granddaughter of the deceased, yet notorious, crime boss, Vito Salesi.

Not even Chloe.

As far as she knows, I’m just an East Coast girl whose family is in the real estate game.

It’s not a total lie. My dad is a real estate mogul and investment genius.

But let’s just say his business model isn’t limited to buying and flipping properties.

Chloe never pressed me about my family’s history. I guess she just sensed that it wasn’t a topic I’m anxious to discuss, and it’s not like I would ever volunteer the gory details of my past and their present.

No questions, no lies.

The animals don’t give a damn where I came from. They only care that I keep them safe, warm, and fed.

And people? Well, I try to stay away from them most of the time because, you know, they suck.

“I’ve been dealing with a few, uh, problems lately. Things I didn’t expect.” He forces a smile so fake, it can rival most of the DDD cups on girls walking the Strip. “But it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

Hm. Is he purposely trying tonotbe convincing?

“Iamstudying to be a doctor, you know.” I narrow my eyes at Nico.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I’m not a little girl anymore. You don’t have to hide things from me, Nico. I know what you do, what Dad does. I know the kinds of people you deal with. Stop trying to brush things under the rug because you think you have to protect me.” I twist my ponytail around my finger. “And for the record, I always worry about you. All of you.”

“I hated it when you left,” he says, letting out a deep sigh. “I didn’t like that you were vulnerable and exposed without us to watch over you, even with the Russians keeping an eye out. But it’s better you’re away from all of this. You might just be safer there after all,” he murmurs, I think more to convince himself than me.

“All of what?” I ask. “And don’t avoid the question because you think I can’t handle it, because I can. And I will.”

His expression darkens. “I just meant that I can’t control everything the way I want. Sometimes I think I make the right moves and they backfire on me.”

Alarm bells sound in my mind. “Nico, tell me the truth right now. Are you okay? Are Mom and Dad okay?”

He nods. “Yeah, we’re good. For now. It seems like this whole syndicate thing may be just what we need after all. When Dad and I come to Vegas in a couple of days, I think we’re going to move forward with becoming part of the group. We have a lot of influence out east but without other business opportunities and alliances in place, it’s only a matter of time before we start losing power. This syndicate can eliminate that risk.”

“That makes sense,” I say. “And you said the Severinovs want you to be part of it, right?”

“Yes,” he says in a tense voice. “And others we’ve worked with, too.”

“Do you trust them all?”

“As much as I trust anyone.”

“Well, that’s a good start,” I say. “You can build from there.”

---