Page 57 of Claimed By the Possessive Mafia Prince
“I don’t know who or why.”
“But you’ve got suspicions.”
“That would mean sharing things with you I can’t, not until…”
“Until what?” she demands.
“I know you, and I go beyond this island.”
“Is that what you want?” she says. “Because, newsflash, we barely know each other.”
“On one level, you’re right. But honestly, beautiful, I’ve got more chemistry with you than I’ve had with anyone in a long time. Ever, maybe. And I know you want to stay focused, and that’s the last thing you want to hear, but it’s the truth.”
“It’s not thelastthing,” she murmurs, her cheeks glowing a gorgeous shade of red. “Honestly, I feel the same… sort of. But I was ruled by my feelings once, and it messed everything up.”
“The prom thing?”
She takes a step back. “The prom thing,” she repeats. “You said it like it’s some silly, pathetic little concern. Like it doesn’t matter. But I ruined my mom’s business.”
“That wasn’t your fault.”
“What about your parents’ vow renewal? When I ruin that, will it be my fault?” When I don’t reply, she turns away. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
I watch her go, wanting to call for her to come back, but there’s no point unless I can offer something more.
Instead, I go to find my uncle, asking around some of the other mafia men. When one of them tells me he said he was checking in with island security, I grit my teeth.
I catch him as he’s leaving the building, a dark look on his face.
“What business do you have questioning the security, Uncle?”
He stops, hands stuffed in his pockets, eyes narrowed at me. “I’m not discussing anything with you.”
“That sounds suspicious.”
He takes a step forward, glaring at me. “Are you playing games, nephew? Are you who I think you are?”
“You sound unhinged. And you’re projecting again.”
“I’ve known men to wear masks before. For years, they wear masks, until one day the mask falls, and the blood starts to flow. I’ve seen it countless times. Is that who you are, Dario?”
I grab the front of his shirt. “This sounds like some real amateur-hour reverse psychology to me.”
“Something is happening on this island, nephew, and I don’t fucking like it.”
“So, your tactic to avoid suspicion is to blame everyone else. Are you forgetting I know you’ve been vying for the Don spot?”
Eddy pushes my hand away and walks into me, knocking into my shoulder. I almost chase after him and smack him across the mouth, but that would mean starting a conflict we can’t come back from. That would risk bloodshed.
I can’t make that move until I’m certain he’s the one pulling the strings.
CHAPTER 21
SIENA
I’m eating lunch at the restaurant alone when Naaif approaches me again.
“I’ve got my own personal stalker,” I joke.
