Page 6 of Doll's Eye

She jerks her head back. “What the hell is that?”

Fia laughs, and I shake my head at her innocence. She’s in college, for goodness sake. How is she still so sheltered? “It’s like bondage, dominance, submission, and masochism?” I think out loud.

“I think there’s also discipline and sadomasochism in there somewhere as well,” Fia adds, and I raise a questioning eyebrow at her. She shrugs her shoulders with a guilty smirk.

“Wait, what the hell are you guys talking about?” Fia and I both laugh at her. “It’s not funny!”

Doing my best to sober up, I look at her. “It’s a kink, Gemma. Yes, he might tie up women and like to use toys and such in the bedroom, but he doesn’tbeatthem.” I purposely leave out the part of him putting collars on them because she would actually die. And this is all hearsay. It could all be total bullshit for all we know. None of us have slept with the man.Oh, God. I’m going to have to sleep with him.

“Okay, so maybe he doesn’tabusewomen, but what about all the other things? He’s killed so many people!”

“I’ve killed too,” I state flatly.

Her whole demeanor softens as she remembers my brush with death a couple of years ago. “Yeah, but you were defendingyourself, Less. That’s different. He does it for a living and with his bare hands. And he likes it!”

“He might like to be morehands-on, but it’s whatBabbohas enforcers for. He might not be doing the actual killing themselves like Massimo, but he might as well. So, if Massimo is a bad man, so areBabboand our brothers.” Her body deflates as she heavily sighs, and I know I need to be patient with her. “Gemma. I know this is hard for you to understand, but I need you to trust me. Trust that I know what I’m doing and that I’m perfectly happy with my choices. Just be thankful this will never be asked of you.” I take her hands in mine. “You get to meet someone normal and fall in love like a normal girl, and that makes me so happy for you.”

“Babbowould let you do that too if you told him it’s what you wanted.”

“It isn’t, though. I promise I am not being forced into this nor do I feel obligated to do so.”

She shakes her head. “I just can’t let you—”

“You have to, Gemma. This is my decision, and that’s final. I will not be talked out of it,” I say firmly, and she studies me for a long moment.

“Seriously?” I nod my head without blinking. “Ugh!” she groans. “You are crazy, you know that?”

“I do,” I state arrogantly.

Fia snorts. “And so does half the east coast.”

Anyone relevant that didn’t know me by name sure as hell learned it two years ago. A man who worked for the Gallos made the grave mistake of trying to take me in an empty banquet room at an event, not knowing exactly who I was. Not only did I kill the bastard, but I made sure to send a message.

After getting the upper hand in the struggle, I cut his limp dick off with one of my pocket knives and stuffed them in his mouthto choke on. Then, using the same knife, I carved my initials into his chest, legible enough to read.

The dude was low on the totem pole, and I’m like royalty, so the Gallo’s did not seek revenge. If he were higher up in the chain of command, they might have taken out one of our own in retaliation, but they knew better. The bastard got exactly what he deserved, and everyone learned I am no rose.

That was the first and only life I have taken, but I know it will not be the last. Leaving my family’s estate to marry a De Luca, I will no longer have full protection from my brothers.

“And you’re wrong.” Gemma gives me a sad smile. “No matter how normal I try to be and how far I go, I will always be mobbed up. Nothing can change that.”

It’s true. She’ll always be connected to the mob. And if any guy were ever to hurt her, they’re dead for sure. I can’t even keep track of the number of guys who have been given a good beatdown if they in any way mistreated me. Meaning, unlike a princess. And anyone who has stuck around long enough was given a mock execution as a test. No one has made it past either of those. They all ran for the hills. It never bothered me, though. I don’t want a pansy. If they can’t handle my brothers, they can’t handle me.

“You’ll find someone good enough and brave enough to stick around one day knowing who you really are.”

“Maybe date someone else who is mobbed up,” Fia suggests.

“No way! I don’t want to date a gangster! I want away from the mob, remember?”

“It doesn’t have to be a made guy. It can be a soldier.” She shrugs.

“So, I’d always be worried if they were coming home alive or in a body bag? No, thank you.” She scowls.

“It doesn’t have to be a soldier necessarily. Just someone who would understand this life. Someone who wouldn’t judgeyou for who your family is. Someone connected but not entirely involved,” I say.

“Yeah, someone who isn’t directly connected but in the know,” Fia adds.

Gemma waves her hand around. “I’m not even looking for someone right now. I’m still in college, and I’m enjoying it. That’s enough for me for the time being.” She sighs. “So, a wedding.”

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