Page 496 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

I watch as he scrolls through the few days prior. The hotel has been a madhouse, so it’s not surprising that I don’t recognize them. But there’s an odd feeling twisting my gut.

I feel like I’ve seen this crew before, but where? When?

Serge shakes his head. “Nah, nothing for the whole week before. Lemme look again. Could be that they’re counters looking to take advantage of us being so new. There are plenty of cocksuckers out there who are looking to scam the new places, figuring we have so much business, we’re not paying attention.”

“Yeah,” I mutter, rubbing the back of my neck. “I guess.” That guy in the hoodie, though. He looks so fucking familiar, but I can’t place the face.

“I’m gonna send a few of these images to Alek Severinov,” he says. “Maybe he’s seen them before. If they’ve worked here in Vegas, he’ll know about them.”

I smirk. “You sure you’re not just trying to get the big, bad Russian boss to notice you, Serge?”

He flips me off. “I’m trying to keep our place from getting robbed, Zeno.”

I poke at me ear. “I can’t hear you. You’re head’s all the way up Severinov’s ass. Pull it out for a second.”

Sergio glowers at me. “You know, there really is no shortage of people who want to maim you these days, is there?”

“Shit, that’s the story of my life, Serge. A new zip code won’t change that.”

“Well, I’d watch your ass if you have any hope of ever leaving this zip code alive.”

CHAPTER8

LILY

You’re hard to forget, but I have to.

Why, dammit? Why does he need to forget me? Why would he do those things to me and then walk away? I’d chalk it up to him being a complete manwhore, just like Kat said, but something makes me wonder if it’s all bullshit.

Besides, would a manwhore look at me with such regret if he could just find another innocent victim to screw around with?

Kat knows something. I’m sure of it, especially after last night.

Dammit, I am so tired of them all leaving me in the dark! I’m a grown adult who lives on her own, for Christ’s sake! I’m not a child, and I wish Nico would stop seeing me as his baby sister and respect me as an independent woman who’s capable of making her own decisions.

I lean my back against Vito’s cage at the shelter the next morning, holding him in my lap as he sleeps. I can feel his thumping heart as I stroke his back. He devoured Tommy Marcone’s food last night like it might be his last meal. And if I hadn’t gotten the call to rescue him, it may well have been.

That woman Rayleigh may have ice blood running through her veins, but she made a call that saved a life.

I can’t completely hate her.

But she still sucks.

I let out a deep sigh, my shoulders deflating.

When my knees cramp to the point where it hurts to straighten them, I know it’s time for me to get up. I slide away from the cage and place Vito inside. He cuddles up on the blanket I put on the floor, barely opening his eyes when I move him.

“Sleep tight, little guy,” I whisper, locking the cage and slowly rising to my feet. The animals are still snoozing since it’s so early, but I couldn’t stay away when I knew Vito would probably be scared when he woke up in the cage. I drag my gaze over the furry bodies nestled in the cages around Vito’s, saying a silent prayer for them to find good, caring homes. If my condo wasn’t so small, I’d take them all home with me. I’d never be able to feed them a feast like the one Tommy Marcone whipped up in a hot second because I can barely hard boil an egg, but I’d definitely love them to pieces.

But this guy…

My gaze settles on Vito.

Him, I need. Especially since he’s now my grandfather’s namesake. How could I not adopt him? The only thing that gives me pause is how little I’m actually home. It makes me sad to think of him waiting at the door for me to finally appear after my long days in classes and labs. Once I start vet school, I’ll be gone even less.

How is that fair to him?

On the other hand, at least he’ll have a warm bed, lots of food, and plenty of love and cuddles whenever I do show up. I smile at him as he settles deeper into the crate and walk toward the office.

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