Page 18 of Unruly Protector
A plate with delicious smelling lasagna is shoved between my face and the papers I was reading.
“You need to eat,” Rina says and I drag my gaze away from the delicious looking food.
“Trying to poison me already?”It’s my attempt to crack a joke, but it’s clearly not appreciated when I watch how her face turns into a blank mask.
“Then don’t eat my food.I’m going to retire for the evening.Good night.”She places the plate on my desk and I can barely wrap my fingers around her wrist to keep her pinned in place.
“Don’t go.It was a bad joke.”A sigh rips from my chest.“This smells delicious, did you make it?”
“Yes.”She gives a gentle tug on her arm and I reluctantly let her go.“After I had a great time with your sister and her friend, I came home to an empty house.You were still locked inside your office and cooking, next to yoga, relaxes me.”
She takes a seat across from me.With my desk in between us, I’d say we’re at a safe distance to have a normal conversation.If I can keep my foot out of my mouth that is.
I shove the file her way and take the fork to dive into the mouthwatering looking lasagna.“I was going over a few details about something that happened a few years ago.It involves Beck’s sister.Beck is—”
“A friend of Henley and Gracy.I met his wife, Flora, this afternoon.Gracy brought her along, she seems really sweet.”
“Beck went to prison a few years ago.Long story short, his sister, Ivy, was tortured, defiled, and almost killed by Dustin Soren, a drug dealer.Said drug dealer had a dispute with her ex, Daniel Sneyder, another drug dealer.Beck went to Daniel to get the info on who almost killed Ivy, but ended up in jail for assault when he kicked Daniel’ ass.”
“What a mess,” Rina mutters and grabs the papers.“Wait, it says here both drug dealers were arrested.”
“Correct, except—”
“Dammit,” she snaps, cutting me off.“They’re both out.Is this why it’s on your desk?Are they picking up where they left off?Making waves in your territory?Oh, shit.Do you think her ex will do something to Beck?Or his sister...or maybe your sister since they are friends.That’s it, right?You’re looking into it because it poses a possible threat for Gracy.”
I’m still chewing my first bite of one hell of a delicious lasagna when she rattles out her thoughts.I can’t help the smile itching to slide across my face.She’s most definitely smart jumping to this conclusion and triggers the same questions that would pop into my brain while reading this information.
I swallow and nod, giving her my thoughts and concerns to see what her response will be.“These two caused issues in the past.Dustin tortured and almost killed the sister of the man who is a friend of Gracy, Daniel was the reason.All of this was the reason why Beck ended up in jail along with it.I’m looking into it to see what I need to do, but killing both Daniel and Dustin would be an easy solution.”
She glances through the papers before putting them into a neat pile and places them back on my desk.
I’ve eaten a few forkfuls of lasagna when she finally says, “I vote for killing them.How’s the lasagna?”
And the grin is fully blown onto my face.This woman.Magnificent.She’s most definitely not a shy little mouse afraid of her own shadow.Raised in a mafia world, women are shielded and yet they are aware of the violence within.Most cringe away or act like it’s not there, yet this one?Fully aware, accepting, and almost favors it when she agrees to my easy solution.
“Magnificent,” I huskily reply.“As is the woman who made it.”
One of her well-groomed eyebrows raises but she chooses to ignore my compliment when she says, “I’ll leave you to it.If you’re still hungry after you’ve finished your plate, there’s some more in the kitchen.Goodnight, Clemente.”
“Goodnight,Rina.”For sure as shit I add some huskiness to her name.
She’s almost at the door when she turns.“Why Rina?Why not Cat or my full name?No one calls me Rina.”
I point the fork in her direction.“And that’s exactly the reason why,Rina.”
She huffs and slips out the door.Yeah, we’re gonna get along just fine.
