Page 33 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

Unlike them, I don’t gamble with mine.

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” I say, closing my hand into a fist.

Roman nods, sets down his cup, and leans forward. “Doing Heaven Mulligan ahead of time is gonna help at that meeting tonight how?”

I sigh and cross my legs, keeping the hand fisted. I could correct him, even though I was damn close to fucking her. “You’re thinking she might say something to her father and we lose the deal.”

It’s not a question. I know how he thinks, and what he’s thinking.

He thinks this whole thing is for our family to establish deep roots in New York, with one of the oldest established crime families. And stepping outside the usual Italian allegiances is a way to do it. Especially where the Mulligan clan stands in the web of organized crime power in this small yet important world hub.

Roman doesn’t answer. I cast him a look. “The deal is a stepping stone and I’ve no intention of fucking it up by fucking Heaven.”

I will be fucking her, though. In every way possible…just not inthatway.

He nods. He’s halfway to the white paper bag when he stops and glances at me. “Matty, you’re not being stupid here, are you?”

Unease trickles down my spine. People don’t usually accuse me of being stupid. Reckless, perhaps, in my past, but never stupid. “I’m never stupid.”

“I know you,” he says quietly. “The way you zeroed in on Heaven?—”

“She’s a means to an end.”

“A gorgeous one. A challenge. And I saw how you looked at her.”

“Well, we were at the club.”

He’s frowning. “I don’t mean then. I mean last year, when you decided on this path. After seeing her at that gala.”

“Because of who she is and the connections I can use.”

“If you lose your shit over her, then things could crumble.” He’s a little pale as he says that.

“You know me,” I say quietly. “I don’t lose my shit over women.”

I don’t lose my shit over anything. Joey… I stop myself. Rehashing fucked-up events from the past won’t do a thing. I’m not interested in anything but power, and the future all my sowing is going to reap.

Heaven is intriguing, yes, but that’s a good thing. Intriguing helps me in winning her to get what I want. Nothing more, nothing less.

I flick my gaze to my brother and reiterate the core theme. “I know what I’m doing.”

“I know there’s more to this than you’re telling me. And you say you didn’t fuck her, but?—”

“Enough.” I don’t raise my voice. I don’t have to. “Even if I ran a train on her with all the men in our club, or fucked her cunt and ass and mouth, nothing is going to happen. I’m not losing my shit over any female, especially an Irish one.”

His eyes are wide. “You didn’t…”

“If Ihadpounded her into oblivion and tattooed ‘whore’ on her it wouldn’t matter.Nothingwould change with this deal. Not one letter.”

“Matty, Jesus. That’s crude, even for you.”

“Changing letters?”

“No.” He swipes the bag and pulls out a sugar-dusted donut and examines it. “What you said about her.”

“That’s what you were asking. Isn’t it?”

“No, I asked if you screwed over your plan by screwing her. I saw you go to her in the Shadow Room. And then you disappeared with her.” He licks sugar from his finger. “What am I supposed to ask? If you played fucking dominoes with her?”

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