Page 26 of Mafia and Gold Digger

“You must have heard…”

“In case it’s escaped your attention, Christian, I haven’t exactly been around lately. And even when I’m here, I’m not one to listen to idle gossip. So, what the hell are you talking about?”

“You know, theLittle Miss Light Fingersthing.”

“The what?”

“The stealing,” he says.

I arch an eyebrow in question.

He sighs. “She has a thing about shoplifting stuff.”

I remember the photo of those dresses with security tags in her closet, but I wonder if it’s more than that. “What sort of stuff exactly?”

“Girly stuff and that sort of shit.”

For a moment, I wonder if he’s totally serious, and then I burst out laughing.

“Glad you think it’s fucking amusing, Saint. But we don’t need any extra attention from the cops.”

I finally manage to stop my laughter. “We’re into drug running, money laundering, and murder, and you’re worried about some girl stealing a few pink bows to put in her hair?” I shake my head as I start chuckling again.

“Saint, I’m being fucking serious. She’s a serial shoplifter.”

I can’t help a snort. “Just how serial is serial in this instance?” The question leaves my mouth before my brain can stop it.

“She’s been caught a few times, but no charges were pressed.”

I nod with a hum, rubbing my hand across my jaw.

He takes another sip of his drink. “She’s a hard worker. She lives in an apartment with her mother and three siblings. Her mother has a lot of issues, so Emerald basically has to be a mom to those kids.”

I can already sense that despite the cute smile, Emerald Fiorelli is a complex person. She’s gold-plated dynamite. And I don’t do that. Doesn’t matter how gorgeous she is or how much she intrigues me. “Look, you don’t need to worry about me. You know I don’t do relationships or feelings or shit like that.”

And I mean what I say. Trouble makes problems, and problems make distractions. Distractions get you dead in my line of work, and I’m not about to let any captivating green eyes, beautiful body, or smart mind change that. I’ve worked too damn hard to get where I am today. Cold. Calculating.Unfeeling.

I get the job done, and I don’t let emotions cloud my actions.

I avoid anything that has the potential to get messy. And from what Christian’s just told me, Emerald is the definition of messy. It’s better to just forget her and move on. Compartmentalize.

Job first. Women second. Emotions never.

The words repeat and repeat in my head.

All the more reason to focus back on why I’m sitting in this booth in the first place. I turn back to Christian with a shake of my head. “So, how do you want me to do this?”

Christian slides the intel folder across to me. “Read this. Then we can talk next steps.”

I smile down at the folder. This is my favorite part. Dissecting the targets. Lining up all the pieces to fall just where I need them.Just like a game of fucking chess.

* * *

After leaving the casino, I head home to Venetiville. The dogs need to be fed and let out. Venetiville is the gated community which is exclusively home to Imperiosi families, and my mansion there is the house left to me by my grandparents.

I scrub a hand across my jaw, rubbing at the stubble. It’s important I’m here. Iknowthat.

Doesn’t mean I fucking like it.

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