Page 8 of The Boss
“So the Irishdidn’tkidnap Ellie and Mark.”
I nod. “Correct. Someone else did. Someone else is moving around pieces on the syndicate chess board and three of the four families don’t know who is making the moves.”
“So that leaves the Russians then?”
“Yeah but no motive. They’re up to their eyeballs in profit and power. I suspected the Irish because they’re weaker, needier. Now I’m looking at Mexico, Europe, Canada.”
“Well, Toronto is about to be in your backdoor.” He says and I shudder, thinking about the fact that I’m moving to Boston to live with the man whose name I can’t bring myself to say.
“Ugh. I can’t believe I’m marrying him. I’ll be that psycho’s wife, Z! His wife!”
He sucks in a breath. “Like I said, Lu, you’ll work this situation so it works for you. I have no doubt. I also have no more comfort to give you so you need to call your best friend and talk out all the…girly shit.”
“Girly shit?” I ask and he grimaces. “Sex! You’re talking about sex?!”
“You’re the one who has made me listen to your feminist rants about your virginity for years! And I got nothin’ to say about it so go call Ellie!” He is whisper-shouting now, and blushing too. He’s such a good egg, even if he is a ruthless killer in the Italian mafia. Damn, I’m going to miss him so much.
“Fine, I won’t make you talk about my vagina with me. Some cousin you are.”
“Please don’t say that.”
“Say what? Vagina?” He flattens his mouth into a thin line, a face that looks like he regrets the day he was born. I laugh. “You don’t like the word VAGINA?” I yell it so loud all the passersby look at us. He flips me the bird and walks away. “You’re going to miss me!” I call out and he finally puts his hand down. I turn and motion the “Let’s go,” signal to my bodyguard a few paces back. He gets out his phone to summon my driver.
Time to go home and call my squad.
Even if she’s hiding things from me, Ellie wants what’s best for me.
And she’ll agree that what is best for me is pretty much anything and everythingbutSkulls Quinn.
CHAPTER 6
Luna
“Hey Lu!” Ellie’s gorgeous face fills my phone.
Then is quickly eclipsed by her younger sister, Mia. “Luna! My Queen!”
I chuckle but my heart’s not in it today. “Oh good, both of you. Um, I have news.”
“What’s wrong?” Ellie asks, reading my tone immediately.
“Sometin won?” Mia exclaims with her mouth full of whatever her sister must be baking. I can see my best friend’s bright white designer kitchen in the background.
I sigh, then square my shoulders. There’s no easy way to say it, “Yup. Guess it’s my turn. Papa arranged a marriage for me.”
“Bosco?” Mia asks hopefully, but Ellie frowns and shakes her head. She knows I wouldn’t be so upset if my plan were finally falling into place.
“Not Bosco,” I say, fighting to keep my voice steady.
“Who?” Ellie says softly, bracing herself.
I sniff, mad that I’m getting emotional.
“Wait, no. What? It has to be Bosco. That was your plan! And Bosco is into you and your dad seemed fine with the match and you’re going to be the don!” Mia starts to lose it a little bit, and I haven’t even gotten to the worst part yet. I forget that she’s onlyeighteen. And that she’s my number one fan, number one hater of men, and number one hater of the particular mens’ world we live in.
“I’m not, it turns out.” My voice is scratchy now.
“What!”
