Page 5 of Mafia Daddy's Girl

Alessandro strips out of his suit jacket and hangs it on his office door. At first, I'm confused, assuming we're heading downstairs toBellissimo for our drink. But when he instead approaches the bar cart in the corner of the office, grabbing a bottle of light brown whiskey, I know I've made an error. We aren't having a drink in public. We're having one all alone here in his office.

Joining him for a drink was already a bad idea, but this? It's a whole other level.

"Do you want a glass?" he asks, pulling two glasses from the shelf.

I nod, and Alessandro pours the liquor, his eyes lingering on the way I shift from foot to foot as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. When the tumblers are full, he offers me one. Our fingers touch as I take the glass, and his dark eyes lock onto mine.

"Sit down, Emmy," he murmurs, "before you fall down."

There's a short leather couch against one wall, and it's much more inviting than it has any right to be. I sigh as I sink into it, taking a sip. The whiskey is a little spicy and very strong. Alessandro takes the seat next to me and stretches his legs out, resting them on the low coffee table in front of us.

"You're really doing a great job, you know," he tells me.

"Thank you."

"It's a lot to take on, but I trust you. You're a hell of an asset, and that's important. This isn't going to be an easy transition."

I can tell by his tone that something is weighing on him, so I stay quiet. Sure enough, Alessandro keeps talking.

"The guys that are left are loyal, but not as loyal as they could be. They're questioning my ability to rule. If I have any chance of succeeding here, I have to show them who's boss. That starts with finding out who killed Enzo. Once I find the son of a bitch, it'll shut everyone up."

"Is that why you've been pushing Marco so hard?"

Sandro's brow quirks. "Have you heard us fighting?"

"No," I say, blushing a little. "Okay, yes. But I don't like him either."

Alessandro laughs once. "He seemed sure that Enzo would pass the torch directly to him. He's going to have to get over it if he wants to keep his position."

I smile, taking another sip of my drink. This isn't so bad. Part of me was sure that as soon as I was alone with Alessandro, I'd make a fool of myself. But his presence is comforting. "Why did you want to meet with me, Sandro?"

"Hm." He shifts. "Honestly? You intrigue me, Emilia. I don't think you're being honest with me. Or with yourself."

I swallow, setting my glass down on the coffee table. His words should inspire fear, but they don’t. Why in the world do I trust this man so easily? "I don't know what you mean."

"Yes, you do. You're not stupid. Don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying," I say, crossing my arms. “All I do is come to work, do my job, and leave. I’m not hiding anything.”

"That's the problem, Emilia." He reaches for me, his fingers brushing against my cheek. "You aren't living for yourself."

The touch shocks me. It’s so intimate, but comes so easily to him, that it catches me completely off guard. Before I can stop myself, I’m leaning into the caress.

"You know nothing about me," I reply, and his fingers trace the line of my jaw.

"I know you were hired by Enzo as an informant." Alessandro's eyes search mine, and his face is closer than it was a few moments ago. "And that's the reason you've been given such a position of power now. You're smart, talented, and I know my uncle paid you enough that you've probably got a pretty little nest egg saved up. You could have done anything, gone anywhere, but instead you stayed here. Why?"

"Why are you so interested in me?" I counter. The truth isn't anything scintillating, but it’s embarrassing instead. I haven't left because this life is comfortable, and I've been afraid. But I don't dare tell him that.

"You're hiding," he says, his breath fanning across my face. He smells like whiskey and spice. "But there's nothing to hide from anymore. You're free. What are you going to do with it?"

"I have no idea."

"Hm,” Alessandro says again before he leans in, takes my glasses from my face, and presses his lips to mine.

For a second, I'm too surprised to move, but then my eyes flutter closed and I melt into him. Sandro's hands cup my face, and thekiss deepens. I gasp, opening my mouth, and his tongue darts in, sliding along mine. His hands trail down my shoulders, coming to rest at the small of my back. He pulls me closer, and his hard body presses against mine.

He works his hands into my hair, expertly undoing the pins and running his fingers through the long fall of it once it comes loose. Sandro hums in approval. “I’ve wanted to do this since the moment I first saw you.”

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