Page 72 of Ruthless Secrets
Clara rolls her eyes. “Oh, well, there are so many options I’m not sure how I could choose. I could watch another movie, or read the same magazine for the tenth time or?—”
I chuckle. “Okay, I get the hint. You’re bored.”
“Not all the time.” Clara’s eyes glisten with mischief.
This time, I make no attempt to hide the fact that I’m palming my length beneath the table.
Clara’s throat bobs, and I smile as her eyes start to glaze.
“I’d be more than willing to help,” I tease but Clara looks away, any hint of arousal instantly vanishing from her face.
She sighs. “Marco… I’m being serious. Zoe and I can’t stay here forever.”
I place both my hands on the table to stop myself from stroking my aching cock. “And you won’t have to. This is just until I can be sure you and Zoe are both safe.”
Clara’s eyebrows pull together in a frown. She laces her fingers around her coffee mug and chews on her lower lip.
Whatever thoughts are currently swarming about in her head, I have a feeling they’re not good.
“Clara, talk to me.”
“Will Zoe and I ever truly be safe? Considering what your family does?”
I lean back in my chair and fold my arms across my chest, trying not to smile. “And what exactly does my family do?”
Clara’s cheeks turn pink as she turns her attention back to her coffee mug. “You know, the whole mafia thing…”
“I see… Do you think the mafia is all about bad guys killing other bad guys?”
“Is it not?”
“For the most part, my brother and I run well-respected businesses, and that’s where our main focus is. Is it entirely legal? Not always. But our intention is never to hurt or kill anyone without good reason.”
“What classifies as a good reason?” Clara’s voice is barely above a whisper.
“Laying hands on you and Zoe for a start.”
“Why would people want to hurt me or Zoe? I didn’t even know who you were until a week ago.”
This isexactlywhat I was afraid of.
“Clara, look at me.”
Clara blinks back tears, but she does as I ask, and my chest cracks when I see her beautiful green eyes filled with such sorrow. “Not everyone is as fair or reasonable as my brother and me. People like to hold grudges, even long after the person responsible is dead.”
“So, Zoe was taken because of a grudge?”
I let out a long sigh. “It’s complicated. But it’s being taken care of.”
“Taken care of how?”
As much as I would like to be honest with Clara, there are some things that she’s just better off not knowing.
“Tell me what I can do that will help make your stay here more bearable?” I reach for the coffee pot to refill her cup. “Tell me about your hobbies. How do you normally spend your free time?”
“My hobbies? You do know I have a six-month-old baby, right?”
“How did you use to spend your time before you birthed the spawn of the most handsome man on the planet.”
