Page 14 of Mafia Men Need Love Too
Nico stood, leaning forward to plant his palms on his desk. Every muscle in his body looked ready to launch him over that desk. “What do you mean?”
Alexi raised a brow. “Regardless of whatever Lang and your man were planning, the fact remains that a debt still needs to be…serviced.”
The way his gaze raked over her for a brief second made River bite her tongue to hold in a bark of nervous laughter. This was no laughing matter! She was about to be sex trafficked! Feather Locklear would be orphaned and homeless. She’d lose her job at the elementary school because there were at least twenty younger teachers in the state who’d sell their own organs for a job in her school district, and they’d happily walk over her poor, sex-trafficked body to take it.
“The debt isn’t for her to service,” Nico said through clenched teeth.
“Can she tell me where to find her husband to collect the debt?”
Under normal circumstances, River would hate being discussed like she wasn’t even here. But these were not normal circumstances, and she was more than happy to let Nico speak for her. “Her ex-husband. And not yet,” he hedged. “But he can’t hide for long. Not from my investigators.”
River was impressed that Nico had an investigator, let alone multiple investigators, at his disposal. Alexi didn’t seem to share that feeling. He looked as nonchalant (and scary) as ever as he said, “I don’t know how such things are handled in your territory, but in mine, when debt is incurred and the debtor disappears, the next of kin is held responsible. Immediately.”
That sounded like an insult. Like he was implying that Nico handled debt in a loosey-goosey, weak way. The way Nico’s jaw twitched told her that her impression was right. She glanced around, trying to decide what she could use as a weapon to help Nico if this thing turned into a physical altercation. That lamp looked particularly heavy. Could she reach Alexi’s head to bash him with it? Maybe if she climbed up onto the desk first…
“I’ll pay the debt,” Nico said through clenched teeth. “For your inconvenience.”
River blinked at him. That was a lot of money. And he threw that offer out there like it was nothing.
Alexi looked vaguely amused. “You know I won’t accept your money.”
“It’s all you’ll get, because you’re not leaving with the girl,” Nico said through gritted teeth.
All traces of amusement vanished from the Russian’s face. “You would interfere in my business like that?”
Nico straightened to his full height. “Only when your business is with my fiancée.”
Disappointment like River had never known washed over her. Nico was engaged? She’d kissed (and tased and kidnapped) an engaged mafia boss? So, the best kiss of her life had been with someone else’s man. Wasn’t that just typical of her luck?
That’s when Nico held out his hand to her, and realization hit her like a freight train.
He meant her.
He’d just told the head of the Russian mafia, the guy who wanted to sex traffic her, that she was his fiancée.
Sweet fancy Moses, what the hell was going on?
But that was a question for later, she supposed. Following Nico’s lead seemed like the right move. Standing on shaky legs, Feather Locklear still cowering on her shoulder, River made her way over to Nico and slipped her hand into his much larger one.
She didn’t dare look at Alexi, though. Surely, he didn’t believe a man like Nico would ever agree to marry a schoolteacher whose idea of a good time involved Netflix, pizza, and enough wine to impact the economic conditions in Napa Valley.
“That all seems very…sudden. And convenient,” Alexi said, skepticism positively dripping from his voice. “Why is this the first I’m hearing of your engagement?”
Nico laughed, but the sound held zero warmth or actual humor. “I wasn’t aware I needed to report changes in my relationship status to you, Alexi.”
River did glance over at Alexi then. His face had taken on a ruddy hue that would’ve made her worry about his blood pressure if he hadn’t been trying to sex traffic her. But since he was, she found it hard to empathize with him.
“Of course you don’t, my friend,” Alexi said with a slight bow. “Congratulations on your engagement.”
His tone did not match his words. The mafia was so weird. Why couldn’t anyone just say what they meant?
Nico yelled for Enzo, who stuck his head in the room so quickly River wondered if he’d been standing outside the door with a glass up to it so he could hear the entire meeting. “Enzo, please pay Alexi the money he’s owed and accompany him to his car.”
“Yes, boss,” Enzo said, waving an arm in Alexi’s direction. “Right this way.”
Alexi paused halfway to the door. “I look forward to receiving your wedding invitation, Nico.”
He didn’t even try to hide the challenge behind his innocuous-sounding statement. If he didn’t receive that invite and see them married with his own eyes, he’d know the whole thing was a scam. River could only imagine what would happen then. What kind of action would he feel justified in taking if he knew he’d been lied to?
