Page 56 of Mafia Captor

I let myself enjoy my home as I make my way through the downstairs hall to dinner. John’s playing piano, the soft melody floating through the house. He’ll probably play right through dinner.

The abstract art I’ve bought pops out in splashes of bright colors against white walls. The dining room has high ceilings, white wainscotting reaching two thirds of the way up the wall to meet the dark navy paint above it. The solid hardwood floors gleam; I have them refinished annually because I love real wood and I love my dogs but the two don’t go together without maintenance.

Sasha, my mini-Australian shepherd, and the only female other than Ma to have my heart before Ashe, comes trotting down the hall to my side. She shoots me a happy look.

I give her soft fur a stroke. “You smell steak, don’t you, baby?”

Sasha and I make our way to the dining room, joining the guys. They made it here in record time. They know I buy the best cuts of steak from the cattle ranch down the road. We’re standing around the dining room, shooting the breeze, waiting for Ashe and John.

My dogs are well trained but that doesn’t mean I don’t allow them tastes of my dinner under the table. I may be cold-blooded, but I’ve got a soft spot for pups.

And one little blonde.

As if on cue with my thoughts, Ashe appears in the doorway of the dining room. My breath catches in my throat. She’s stunning. There’s no other word for it. Seeing her makes me take pause, my eyes locked on her.

Booker leans over, whispering to me, “Close your mouth, bro.”

“Shut it.” I nudge him with my elbow.

She wears a cream-colored dress that offsets her tanned skin. Her hair falls in shining waves. The best part? She’s scanning the room, looking for one thing and one thing only.

Me.

God, that feels fucking good.

She spots me. A smile brightens her face as she crosses the room to meet me. I press a kiss to her cheek, inhaling the scent of her lavender perfume. I ordered her the whole set, I love the smell so much.

“You look amazing.”

“Thank you. You look handsome as always.” She gives me that womanly once over. The one they do when they’re about to make a “suggestion.” The suggestion being something they’re gonna want you to do something about. “But don’t you own anything that’s not black? Blue, maybe?”

“To match your eyes?” I ask.

Booker snickers at my side.

“No. But. Well. I didn’t think of that, but it would be kinda cute.” And she smiles up at me with that crinkly little sweet smile of hers and if I wasn’t such a cold-hearted bastard, I might have melted a little. “So, do you?”

“Do I what?”

“Own anything other than black?” she says.

“Nope,” River interjects. “He wore all-black workout gear when we played basketball on the same team. It was humiliating.”

“Enough about my clothing choices.” I’m seeing an entire new wardrobe in my near future. “Let’s eat.”

“Sounds good. I’m hungry.” Ashely whispers to me, “All that fresh air gave me an appetite.”

I run a discreet hand over her ass, thinking of the garden. “Yeah. Me too.”

I pull a chair out for her, the sudden gentleman that I am. It seems like a gesture a girl like Ashe would appreciate. Sure enough, she flashes me a pretty smile. “Thanks so much. I love that.”

“No problem.”

I sink into the open chair beside her, sliding an arm around the back of her shoulders. Sasha sits beside me, warily eyeing Ashely.

“Oh! Is your shepherd joining us? I haven’t met this one yet. She’s gorgeous. What’s her name?”

“Sasha.” I don’t tell Ashe that Sasha’s been avoiding her since the day she arrived. “She’s here for the steak.”

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