Page 36 of The Devil's Heir
When Jackson pulls the chair out all the way at the other end of the table, I correct him. "She will sit beside me."
"Yes, Sir." Jackson hurries toward my end and pulls out the chair on my left.
My pauper smiles at him, saying, "Thank you."
Her smiling at my help irks me for some reason, but I say nothing about it. Instead, I grumble, "You're late."
"Oh, I'm sorry, Sir. I'm not used to getting up so early. Since I usually worked a later shift, I always slept in. I didn't find an alarm clock in my room, or else I would have set it."
"Jackson, be sure pauper has an alarm clock from now on."
I'm not being a dick, I just expect my employees to show up on time, and since she's on the payroll, Liliana is no different.
"Yes, Sir. I'll go to the shopping center during your meeting and buy one," Jackson states dryly.
Breakfast goes by fast, and soon, I'm ushering my pauper to the waiting car. Jackson holds the door open for my pauper first, and then I slide in beside her. Liliana slides over to the other side, trying to get as far away from me as possible.
I smirk.
"How are you feeling, pauper?"
"I feel fine, Sir. How do you feel?"
"I'm talking about your cunt, pauper. How does it feel after being plowed through last night?" I ask crudely.
Her face reddens, and she turns to look out the window. "It'sfine, Sir."
"Look at me when you speak, pauper."
Her gaze meets mine, but there's a fire inside hers that amuses me. I'm getting to her already, and I've only just begun. Before long, she will know her place with me—by my side and in my bed. Well, notmybed, but she'll get the gist of it. Nonetheless, I think having pauper under my roof is going to be an experience neither one of us will forget.
"So, who will I be meeting today?" she asks, obviously trying to change the subject.
Typically, I wouldn't bother answering her because, honestly, it's not her concern. I'm taking her to meet them sotheyknow who she is and who they need to protect. However, something urges me forward, and I find myself naming the four most important men who come after me.
"Joseph Lonzo is my underboss and next in line. He'll most likely retire in a few more years. His son and friend of mine, Joey Lonzo Jr., will take his place when he does. Joey is also one of my capos, along with Koval and Elliot. You will listen to them if I ever send them to protect you. One of my capos will always be with you if and when you leave the estate."
I notice some of her ire melting away, likely because I've just assured her that she wasn't a prisoner here. It's never been my intent to keep her locked up. No, I want her here because she chooses to be. I don't care that it's because of the money; it's still her choice.
She called me her bully years ago, and although I haven't changed, I want her to see that whether I'm a bully or not, she will still choose to stay. I can't quite pinpoint what it was that drew me to her all those years ago, but Liliana coming back into my life means something. I don't believe in soulmates—fuck that—but my pauper was meant to be mine in some capacity.
"Underboss and capos? So, you're taking me to meet your mafia family?" Liliana asks nervously.
I give her a stern look for her lack of proper address.
"Come here, pauper." I tap my leg. "Drape yourself over my legs."
"What?" She presses herself against the door.
"You will learn to address me properly, so come here now. I won't tell you again."
"I'm sorry, I forgot—"
"Which is why you need this," I cut her off.
Liliana stares at my lap, and then her eyes meet mine, and I lift my brow. Sighing, she slowly scoots over to me. I refuse to yank her over my lap; I want her to put herself there.
When she finally settles her stomach against my legs, I order, "Lift your dress, pauper. Show me that pretty ass of yours."
