Page 146 of Vicious Games

I brush her damp hair away from her face, my knuckles trailing gently down her cheek. Her skin’s still flushed, glowing from what we just did.

Mine. All mine.

“Speaking of the Wicked Witch of the East, have you talked to her yet?” I ask softly.

She shakes her head, and my smile fades.

“Babe—”

“I know. I know.” She sighs. “And I will. It’s just that… she’s done so much for me. Saved me, more than once. I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Why would she be disappointed?” I tilt her chin so she meets my eyes. “You’re going to the best culinary school in all of Chicago. That’s something to be proud of.”

“I’m not sure she’ll see it that way,” Frankie murmurs, her brow furrowing.

“Want me to talk to her?” I offer, to which she shoots me a look.

“You’re the last person she’d want to talk to. She’d probably blame you for me deciding not to follow in her footsteps and become a nun.”

She wouldn’t be wrong.

After all, I’m the one who had my father, Gio, pull every string he could to get Frankie a full-ride to one of the most elite culinary schools in the country—scholarship, room, board, the whole package. And it’s right here in the city, close to Darius like she wanted. And of course, me.

Total win-win.

Not that her beloved Mother Superior would ever see it that way.

“Sooner or later, you’re going to have to tell her, babe,” I say, brushing my thumb over her bottom lip. “If she really cares about you the way you think she does, she’ll be happy for you.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“Even if I’m not,” I grin, “I’ll be happy for you.”

She giggles, that sweet sound echoing off the confessional walls as she lightly smacks my chest.

“You’re just happy because you’ll have easy access to me.”

“Damn right.” I smirk. “One of the many perks of you going to that fancy-ass school is that it shares the same campus with mine.”

“Did you tell your parents yet? That you’re going to Chicago University?” she asks, reminding me that I have my own secret to share.

After I got Frankie into culinary school, I started thinking about what our lives would look like—her in college, me freshly sworn into the Outfit having taken theomertà. It didn’t take long to realize it wouldn’t work. Not just because I haven’t told Frankie about the family business, but because it would pull my focus away from her and push me into a life I’m not ready for. I need a little more time to enjoy being anormalwith her just a little while longer.

So, I guess that makes two secrets I haven’t shared yet.

But hey, life’s good right now.

Why ruin it with something as ridiculous as me being a Mafia prince?

“Not yet,” I admit. “But my mom’s gonna be over the moon.”

“And your dad?”

I shrug. “As long as Mom’s happy, he’s happy.”

“Happy wife, happy life, huh?” she teases.

“Yeah…” I look into her eyes—those ocean blues I’ve drowned in a thousand times before.

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