Page 66 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

Everything crashes back to Earth, and it takes all I am not to reach behind me to grab the counter, even as my legs wobble and my head slowly spins.

I’m breathing unevenly and so is he. I make myself look at him. I expect to see the gleam of triumph in his gaze, but what’s there is deep and swirling, something I can’t quite read. Something, if he were another person, I’d think was shock and a rush of emotions he’s not ready for.

But this is Matteo Villani.

A man who does nothing without reason.

A dark, dangerous man, one who pulls all the strings.

A man I can’t trust.

“Well now,” he says, his rich voice soft. “That was unexpected.”

He steps away from me and starts to set about filling his espresso maker with fresh grounds, almost like it didn’t happen. Only the rise and fall of his chest gives him away.

Matteo isn’t as impervious to me as I thought.

But I can’t let myself go there. It doesn’t matter. What matters is this is the last place I want to be, and I’m only here to save my family. And if he wants to play it cool, then so will I.

“I was thinking maybe we could go to my old neighborhood today,” I say.

He looks at me as he presses the button on the coffee machine, and it hisses as it pushes the water through the grounds. “Why?”

I pick up my mug but don’t take a sip. I don’t want to put my mouth where his was. The kiss is more than enough to process, and my stomach is still fluttering wildly, my pulse points jumping in the aftermath.

“I may be here to be your wife, but I’m still going to work.” I glare at him.

His gaze darkens. “It’s not smart for you to be there right now. Dominguez won’t dare come for you here. But you’re fair game in your father’s domain.”

“I thought I’m marrying you to protect my family.”

“You are,” he says, picking up his small cup and taking a swallow of the thick black liquid with the crema, as he calls it, floating on the top. “And I am. But until the wedding happens, there’s always a chance he’ll make a move if your family is all together.”

“Then what good are you?”

“I’m the best chance you all have. You in particular, Heaven.”

I frown and slam my mug down. “You’re playing me. And my father. What are you up to, Matteo? This is meant to be you taking care of the problem for my family.”

He looks at me, all the passion from moments ago gone. In its place is the hard and dangerous man I know.

“If I was playing you, I’d do it in a way you wouldn’t notice.”

Something cold slithers down my spine. Why does that sound like he’s telling me something I don’t get?

“You’re an underboss,amore mio. You know how these things go, and while you may be young, you’ve grown up soaked in our life. Dominguez is dangerous, and he has a different set of rules. I’m working, and I’ve made inroads, gathering information, but you and all of your family in the same place is stupidity.”

“I’m going.” I know he’s right. And I know he’s not walking into Dominguez’s stronghold and laying down rules, but I also know Matteo is the enemy, too.

And he’s hiding something.

It’s there in his gaze.

After a few seconds, he nods. “We’ll go. But you don’t go into any meetings alone.”

“Oh, come on?—”

“Heaven,” he says. “You want the truth? I’ll give it to you. Dominguez is old school biblical in retribution. He’s not smart, and he lacks finesse. He likes to hit hard, everywhere. And he’s doing it. I’ve kept everyone safe for now, but you going into your old domain is a risk. He knows we’re together, but he doesn’t know Conor’s involvement. He’s hitting everyone, everywhere, and seeing who bites.”

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