Page 44 of The Mafia's Bride
Gambling wasn’t my vice, but it was the only thing Dom and I bonded over as kids. Betting on the horses, became a way for us to forge a relationship.
When my English was lacking, body healing on the couch in Nico’s home, Dom used the horses as a way to teach me numbers, to speak English. He spent all day with me, having me recite words. I didn’t care about gambling, but he did, so therefore, I did.
Dom became my first friend.
From there, our relationship grew to quick schemes in the alleys to swindle tourists out of their wallets, to scoring bigger jobs. We made inside jokes while hiding from the cops, knowing we could rely on the other. I learned the streets under his tutelage, learned who the big players were, what we did in the shadows under the De Luca name.
He taught me to survive.
Throwing him money for a bet is the same as throwing a ball around for other cousins.
His smile is wide and amused, remembering the same childhood memories. “You got it.”
Dom leaves tapping the desk twice, a gesture of luck we’ve done since kids and we had to spilt up before getting tagged. I’m left alone to brood for all of four seconds before Tony knocks on the door.
My only thoughts have been on solving this crisis and getting back to my wife. A wife who has been in my home for two weeks and who I’ve yet to be alone with for longer than a few passing moments.
I take in his expression, eyes flickering over the earring in his brow, and the pressed black shirt and pants. Military precision because he’s ex-special forces. His entire body is rigid and that sets me off right away. Nothing gets under Tony’s skin. “What?”
“You’re needed out back.”Fuck. The entrance we bring in the products for distribution on the dance floor.
The same alley Sloane entered and fucked with my car. I’ve had to put it in a different spot so she didn’t get that idea again. My wife is creative but predictable in her rage.
Standing, I button my suit. “I swear to God, Tony, if it’s the cops after the fucking day I’ve had, I’ll blow your head off myself.”
My man snorts as we descend the secret stairs. “You’ll wish it was the cops.”
Exiting on to the side alley street, I notice the G-class car with tinted windows before I see the man leaning against it. My soldiers surround him, hands at their waists, deep into the alley where passersby won’t see us.
The man doesn’t care. He’s calm, confident with an air of a depravity surrounding him, one that promises death if pushed the right way.
I thought I wouldn’t have to see him, but apparently God likes to laugh at me. Killian Linwood glances up, flicking ash away from his cigarette as if he’s merely hanging with old friends. Completely unbothered by the weapons and trained men ready to snap his neck and thatbothersme.
He’s too confident.
“Fuck, it’s you?” I throw a hand through my brown locks, pushing them back behind my ears. Of all the people to be standing here, I did not expect the hitman.
Tony’s right. The cops would have been a better option than this man.
“With that kind of welcome, I should stop by more often.”
“What do you want?” I gesture to a few of my men to back away. Not that the guns aren’t needed, but it’s stupid to level them on Killian. It’ll only piss him off, and I don’t have the energy to waste on him.
He once took on three armed guards in a tight space two years ago and walked away, alive. I don’t need to see what he’d do here.
“Product is due in at the end of next week.” His lifts soulless black eyes to me, standing from his relaxed position. He’s a few inches taller than me, but lean, with a cobra’s instinct to kill. My mind calculates how fast I can pull my gun before he strikes. “I’m here to make sure you’re ready for it.”
His tone has my jaw clenching and my hands twitch.
“Did Ace send you to do her dirty work?”
Killian smiles and it’s not friendly. Hell, it’s not evennice.
Awareness prickles the nape of my neck.
“No. Ace doesn’t know I’m here.” He glances to my men, pushing his way closer to me. He smells like mint and death and I barely stop the recoil. “In fact, it needs to stay that way. She doesn’t know I’m in the city.”
“Then why the fuck are you bothering me?” I throw my hands out wide. “In case you haven’t realized, Linwood, I don’t work for you. Hell, you don’t work forme. I have my own shit to handle, and your drop-ins are nothing but a hinderance, at best.”
