Page 99 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

What the hell’s going to happen next?

CHAPTER23

MATTEO

Conor fucking killed Dominguez’s daughter.

It changes everything.

I can’t stop the thought. I can’t stop any of the thoughts as they slice into me throughout the wedding.

Just like I couldn’t stop the sudden pain when Heaven looked at me with hope and heat and softness in her gaze. She’s utterly beautiful. Inside and out. And I wanted nothing more than to lean into that, carry the game along—a game that feels way too real. A game that feels good.

But no.

Because fucking Conor killed Dominguez’s child.

Before this, Dominguez was controllable. It stood to reason he might find out who killed his second before I was ready to let him know. And my reasoning for stepping in and offering protection for the Mulligans is something that makes sense whether fucking Conor did what he did or not.

It was the plan we had together. I stop bloodshed, which means stopping loss and taking on the risk of things going wrong for Dominguez if he tried to take the pivotal Mulligan clan out. Me taking the reins by working a business marriage with Heaven meant smooth sailing.

Conor killing his second gave me the perfect reason to do it, and it brought the Mulligans to me, had them thinking they had the upper hand which has allowed me to gain control faster.

The protection is a given. They have enemies. And I knew when Dominguez worked it out, I’d have to smooth it all over.

But this?

Fuck no.

The dangerous, deadly part is Dominguez kept this secret from everyone. Everyone.

And knowing he kept it secret that his daughter had been shot…

That was, and is, out of left field.

I do my research. I take my time. I never would have entered into any of this without having had my eye on the family for a long time. It had seemed the stars had aligned, and having Heaven was simply a bonus and a boon to my plans. And now…

My plans are in free fall and worse, I’m not sure I can get through this with Heaven. Not that she’s mine or will ever be. But there’s no quick way out of it for her. If I whisk her away, my reputation will stumble. And then Dominguez will burn things down.

He’ll risk his life and empire because he’s just lost the one thing he loved. Maybe the only thing.

And his eyes are on Heaven.

I want to say I don’t give a fuck about her, but that conversation with Jorge changed everything. Brought an ugly clarity to me.

I care.

And that’s the worst thing I could ever do.

I care for her. It’s not sex. It’sher. Everything about her. She’s crept under my skin, found her way into me and now… Shit.

I could let her go. I know I have to. Even if things were different, we’d never survive me doing what I’m going to do. But caring means the last thing I want is her hurt. And if I’m honest, that’s been there since the morning her brother pulled a gun.

The morning I could have lost her.

My heart thumps hard and loud. The entire wedding—the bullshit that happens at the fucking church after the ceremony—flashes past in a blur, and all I can think about is getting her into our own private car, the one Gio will be driving, and away from all this, to somewhere safe where I can think, where I can recalibrate and work out my next move. If I do this right, I can have it all, except Heaven.

I care. It’s caring,notlove.

---