Page 15 of Mob Princess

4

Israel

I heardthe whirring of the elevator and strode from the kitchen. I’d been trying for the past few days to work as much as I could from my penthouse so I wouldn’t have to take Bonnie with me anywhere. And, despite our deal, I hadn’t yet done anything with her in the evenings.

I couldn't bring myself to do it. That woman made me weak. She made me feel as if she had my balls in a vice grip, and I didn’t need that kind of distraction in my life. Not while our lives were on the line.

But a visit from my brother was much overdue. I greeted him the moment the doors opened. “Giovanni.”

“Israel,” he greeted, catching me in a bear hug.

I clapped him on the back, glad to see him. I grunted as his hand came down against my stitches and the extensive bruising that had resulted because of them. Still, it didn’t stop me from hugging the life out of my younger brother.

I mean, I hadn’t seen him since the wedding.

He cupped the back of my head. “How are you, brother?”

I sighed. “Could be better. But what is our world without someone trying to kill us?”

“You speak the truth, Iz.”

“It’s good to have you here, Gee.” I released him. “How long are you staying?”

Bonnie’s voice piped up behind me. “Giovanni, I didn’t know you were coming.”

My brother shot me a look. “You didn’t tell her?”

I snickered. “Do you tell your girlfriends anything?”

He whispered. “She’s your wife.”

I shook my head. “She married me under a false name. That nullifies our marriage agreement.”

Bonnie cleared her throat. “You know I can still hear you two, right?”

Giovanni held his arms out for her. “Come give your kind of brother-in-law a hug.”

I chuckled, but Bonnie didn’t move. And I didn’t like that. I didn’t like the fact that this woman—who was practically a stranger in my home—wasn’t playing the part she needed to be playing.

You’ve got one chance, Bonnie.“Come on. Give him a hug.”

Her eyes slowly slipped over to me. “I’ll hug him when I’m ready.”

Giovanni looked over at me. “Well. Anyway. I’ll show myself to a room.”

As Giovanni picked up his things, I set my sights on Bonnie. She sure as hell wasn’t ever going to be rude to a guest like that in my home ever, ever again. And if she had to learn that lesson the hard way, then so be it. Giovanni was family. That man was my brother. He had always been there for me whenever I needed him, which had been many times. Especially growing up in the kind of household we did. He was welcome here anytime, and no woman that lived with me would ever turn a cold shoulder to him. Oh no, I’d see to it myself that Bonnie’s attitude changed, and quickly.

Otherwise, I’d toss her out into the street until she decided to drop the disrespect.

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