Page 97 of Mafia and Gold Digger

I breathe her in until my lungs burn, and all I can see, taste, and smell is Emerald goddamn Fiorelli. Burning into every pore and cell. I press harder into her, my fingers slipping into the hair at the base of her head, tilting her head to deepen the kiss.

And for some reason, it feels different this time. So damn different…

The sound of a car door slamming in the distance snaps me back into my body, and I pull back, panting.

My hand drops, and I stare at her.

Chest heaving, lips parted, eyes glazed. Fuck, if she doesn’t look like perfection.

And all I did tonight was kiss her.

Fuck.

Me.

I clear my throat, stepping back. The cold air rushes in, claiming the scent and heat of her as I open her door and round the car without a word. I watch from the corner of my eye as her finger touches her lips and her throat works before she grabs the door and slips in.

Silence fills the car the entire damn drive. What do you say after kissing someone like that? No, not justsomeone. Someone to whom I know I can never give what she truly needs or deserves.

Before I can even process what the hell just happened, we’re back at my mansion.

She’s out of the car and making her way to the front door before I can even find the words I want to say.

I stare after her. My hand drags through my hair, musing the strands before squeezing the back of my neck.What. The. Fuck. Just. Happened?

I wait until she’s disappeared inside before roaring back out of the drive.

The ride to the casino is a blur of lights and sounds, my thoughts a rollercoaster. The way she fitted against me, the scent of her, the taste. It’s all branded into my memory. It’s a miracle I even made it to my destination without crashing.

Arriving, I just sit there in the parking lot, pressed back against the leather seat.

I’m reading too much into it.

And yet, the way she looked afterward. The dazed look in her eyes, the flush of her cheeks, the way she melted against me. It all has my head fogging, and my jeans tightening. I close my eyes, but it doesn’t help—the image of Emerald is too fresh in my mind to ignore.

It doesn’t matter what’s gone on between us before today.

Because with that one kiss tonight, she’s managed to shatter any self-resolve I’ve ever had when it comes to her. And she reels me back in stronger than ever…

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

SAINT

After meeting with a source regarding some intel, I arrive at the casino late morning and head inside via the back entrance. I’ve taken over the office next to Christian’s, and I’ve got a ton of urgent stuff to deal with today.

But reaching the office, I come to an abrupt halt in the doorway.

Because my tidy, immaculate space has been turned upside down.

There’s various plastic toys spread on the desk and floor, stuffed bears fucking scattered everywhere, and the crystal decanter of my eighty-grand finest single malt whiskey is laying on its side and completely empty.What the fuck?

I march along to the staffroom and fling open the door. “Who the fuck has been in my office and made a fucking mess?” I roar.

And as all eyes turn to me, there’s only one pair that I see.Green and glittering.

And before anyone can say anything else, two small voices pipe up in unison from behind Emerald. “Mr. Saint!”

What on earth are Jaspar and Giulietta doing here?

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