Page 45 of After 5

“Be careful. If the Mafusos catch you in the area, they’ll hang you off the Empire State Building.”

The visual made me shudder. When I visited Caiyan, I tried to avoid the Mafusos’ area of New York City. They kept close to the docks in the import/export areas in the Bronx. There were rumors Gian-Carlo kept a bank of offices close to the harbor, but he wasn’t getting any younger and frequently stayed at the house in the Hamptons.

“I can’t believe Mahlia is going along with Gian-Carlo’s demands,” Marco said.

“Mahlia wouldn’t like anything better than to have a Caiyan sandwich and rub my nose in it.”

“What did he say when you asked him what he was doing?”

“He told me to be patient, and he said something about smoke and mirrors.”

“Hmm sounds like he’s got a plan. You should sit back and see what happens.”

“I’m afraid it might end up with me eating wedding cake alone.”

“I’ll postpone being a shoulder for you to cry on until we figure out what the Scot’s got up his sleeve.”

“Maybe afterward, if he says I do, you can bail me out of jail.”

“I’ll comfort you in ways you can’t imagine.”

I smiled. “Thanks. You know how to make me feel better.”

“You think I’m joking, but in reality, I’m rooting for the other team.”

I attacked my last slice of pizza. Marco was a good friend. I didn’t feel the same connection as I did with Caiyan. I was attracted to him, but what breathing woman wasn’t?

“Friends can have benefits, you know?”

My mouth dropped open at his spot-on accuracy of my thoughts.

“You just tore at that slice of pizza with your teeth. I saw a bobcat do that at the zoo once.” He added a fake shiver.

“Sometimes I worry you can read my thoughts. You don’t have ESP, do you?”

“Jen, I’d love to be inside that head of yours, but sadly I have to base my findings on observation alone. I am interested in the benefits part of that statement.”

“Is getting me in the sack all you ever think about?”

Before he could answer, the waitress sidled up to our table.

“Can I get you two lovebirds anything else?” she asked.

“Um, we’re not a couple.” I said, unraveling any notions of fringe benefits.

A little whoop of delight left her lips. “In that case, I’ll just leave the check right here. You can pay anytime.” She slid the check face down toward Marco and left with a longing gaze.

“I bet money she left her number on the ticket,” I said.

Marco flipped over the bill, and a wide smile spread across his face. When I reached for my wallet, he waved me off.

I ignored the fact he put the number in his wallet after he paid the check.

Marco kissed me on the cheek and left me standing in front of the office. A slight tingle remained where his lips brushed my skin.

The girls were standing at the plate glass window watching Marco walk across the street when I entered the office.

“Where’s he going?” Elvira asked me. The three of them were staring out the window nodding approvingly.

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