Page 40 of Kidnapped By the Mafia Boss
“6174,” says a man at the edge of the group, holding his phone in his hand.
“That’s cheating,” Westminster states matter-of-factly.
“We’re mafia bosses, not twelve-year-old maths geeks. We cheat.”
“No,” Westminster replies with exaggerated patience. “In the London Maths, I mean Mafia Syndicate, we don’t?—”
“Fuck’s sake.” A man who has been silent until now strides forwards, grabs Howard’s head to yank it back, and with a practised motion slides a knife over his throat before anyone can react. Blood arcs through the air then spatters onto the plastic sheet.
I stare in disbelief.
The man lets Howard go, and he slumps.
There’s a moment of shocked silence.
“Fuck, Angel! You’ve spoiled all our fun,” Lambeth protests.
“Da.” The kingpin of Angel sneers then stalks away, head down.
“What’s the matter with him?” the Canary Wharf boss asks, scowling. “Very unsporting, I’d say.”
Westminster sighs and massages his forehead as he looks askance at Dimitri. “Do any of you Bratva idiots havemanners?”
“Apparently not,” Dimitri answers dryly.
There’s a gurgle from Howard and the blood continues to spatter with a grim dripping noise that echoes in the large room. Then he’s still. Gone. Glassy eyed and dead.
“You okay?” Dimitri asks, low and only for my ears as the other men split off into shaking their heads and walking away, conversation, or commentary on the man before us.
I drag my gaze from the blood—so much blood, I had no idea a person had that much inside them—and focus on Dimitri. And suddenly, my world realigns.
There’s nothing but the circle of his protective embrace.
“Yes. Let’s go home and forget… What’s his name?”
Dimitri’s smile is slow. “I don’t know who you’re talking about. Can’t be anyone important. None of your firsts.” He squeezes my waist. “None of your lasts, either. I’m all of those.”
I grin. “My first stalker and my last.”
“First date,” he adds.
“My first kiss.” It seems a lifetime ago that I was concerned Howard might have taken my first kiss. And now he’s gone. There’s only Dimitri and me.
He turns us, and we begin to walk away. “First to chase you.”
“First love.”
“Mm.” His is a satisfied rumble. “First and only to get you bred.”
“We need to work more on that though.” I grin, leaving behind the man who accidentally forced us together. I’m tingling with the possibilities of the future. With Dimitri. My gorgeous, savage, dangerous mafia boss. Mine. “To be sure.”
. . .
Today
I run from what I love, because he will always catch me.
He’s my dark monster and my comfort. I can be his maiden in white, fleeing all responsibility in the night, and the caring mother of his children during the day.
