Page 541 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

“I see everything I like,” I say in a husky voice.

“So why are you so far away, then?” She pats the ledge next to her, a come-hither twinkle in her eyes.

“Because I don’t trust myself to come any closer. If I do, I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep my hands to myself.”

She nods. “Yeah, I’m counting on that.”

“So you’re thinking we need a little stress relief before we take on this notorious gangster family?”

“Maybe I need something to take my mind off of the fear,” she murmurs, twisting a strand of hair around her finger as she dangles her feet in the water.

I walk over to her and sit on the ledge, draping an arm around her shoulders. “I want to tell you not to worry.”

“But you won’t because you can’t.”

I rub the sides of my head. “I wish to God I knew what we were up against. And I wish you weren’t so stubborn. You must be Sicilian.” I grin at her.

A giggle escapes her lips before her smile fades. “My entire life I never really knew what I was up against, what anyone in my family was up against. I picked up things here and there from my brother Nico as I got older. He and my father have always been so protective of me, especially because I’d been trapped in Nico’s house with my sister-in-law Shaye and some lunatic who was looking to settle a score by killing us both.”

A shudder visibly quakes her shoulders. “I was really young, but I can still remember the screams, the shouting, and the gunshots. Shaye told me to stay in the bedroom, to lock the door, but I was petrified. She was alone with this crazy man and I had no access to a phone to call for help. I was just a little kid, but that memory is burned into my brain.” She lets out a sigh. “It’s always sitting on the back burner as a reminder of what we’re up against. What we’re always up against and what we all stand to lose if the worst guys win.”

“Lil, I’m sorry you went through that,” I murmur, rubbing my hand down her back.

“I didn’t sleep for weeks after that. The trauma was just so devastating…” Her voice trails off and she shakes her head. “But you know what? My sister-in-law is the one who ended up stopping him. She’s the one who saved us, even after he’d hurt her. She was so strong. So badass.” Lily smiles. “I always looked up to her after that. I knew she’d find whatever strength she needed to fight a battle. She was never the damsel. It was damn inspiring for me as a kid and as a young woman growing up. This life gives you two choices — you can cower behind the battle lines or charge the enemy.” She turns her gaze up to mine. “I choose the latter.”

“You don’t sound so scared to me,” I say.

“Don’t mistake determination for confidence.” She squeezes my hand tight. “I refuse to cower, but I’m still afraid that I won’t be able to save the people who need it. I’ve escaped before, but not because I was strong enough to overtake an enemy. I escaped because I got lucky.”

“Listen, luck always comes into play, but the reason why you’re still here is because you’re smart. You think on your feet and do the unexpected. That’s why you’ve won. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”

“Thanks,” she whispers, snuggling up against me. “You’ve got me all pumped up right now. Let’s go kick some ass.”

I chuckle. “Easy, killer. I told you, we need to lay low right now. Your favorite concierge is gonna pull a fast one and we need to be here to catch her.”

“I’m getting the first punch,” Lily mumbles. “That pretty jaw of hers is going to be shattered beyond repair.”

“You’ve got a lot of rage in that little body,” I breathe against her ear.

“Rage isn’t the only thing buzzing through me right now.” She flutters her eyelashes.

“You’re making me want to put you over my knee again.”

“I’m trying to get you to put me over your knee again.”

We stare at each other for a few seconds until she lets out a low whistle. “I can’t believe that only twelve hours ago, I was in my apartment studying for an anatomy exam.”

“Well, I gave you a pretty in-depth lesson back at Chloe’s. Must have been helpful,” I say.

Lily rolls her eyes. “Um, yeah, not when the exam is on the anatomy of exotic animals.”

“I’ve been called exotic.”

“Are you sure you’re not confusing that with erotic?”

“That too.” I wink at her.

“Zeno, is my life ever going to be normal?” Her smile fades and her eyes darken. “This whole life I planned for myself, am I ever going to have it? Am I always going to have a target on me because of my family?”

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