Page 19 of The Mafia's Vendetta

She pressed her hands together to keep them from shaking.“What do you mean?”she asked.

“Those men last night.Do you agree they weren’t innocent or just wanted to talk to you?One broke into your place, and the other hid behind a car.”

Her heartbeat thumped in her chest, and the saliva in her mouth dried up as the fear she’d felt for so many years came back.

“I agree, they’re probably bad men.”

“Why were they after you?”Drew asked.

She looked away.She didn’t know how much she should tell him.What if he used it against her somehow?

He pulled her chair over in front of his and bracketed her legs with his before cupping her chin in his hand.“Sweetheart.I might be your only chance at fixing whatever or whoever you’re running from, and I can keep you safe in the meantime.”

“Can I call Newman first?”she asked.

He nodded, pulled the phone out of his pocket, turned it on, and made the call.He handed the phone to her and sat back.

“Yes, sir,” Newman answered.

“It’s me, Scarlet.”

“Why do you have Drew’s phone?”Newman asked.

“Um, he’s sitting right here.Is he really your boss?”

“He and his family own the club.Yes.”

“What can you tell me about him?”she asked.

Newman sighed.“He has a big family, and from what I’ve heard, they’re all good people.They’ve never hurt an innocent before.”

“Hurt?”

“Honey, they’re the mafia in town.They have to be tough.”

Her eyes widened as she looked at Drew.He sat back and crossed his arms over his chest with a smirk on his face.

“I just realized you must speak well about them, or they could fire you.”

“Yes, they could.But I’m not worried about getting fired.I just want you safe, and being with Drew is probably the safest place you could be.You deserve a break after what you’ve been through and the man you’ve dealt with.”

“So, you think I should stay with him?”

“Does he frighten you?”

She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth.“No, not frighten, but he does irritate me.”

One of Drew’s eyebrows rose, and Newman laughed.

“That’s not a bad thing,” Newman said.“So, are you staying with him?”

“Yeah, I guess, but I don’t think he will let me work.”

“I figured.I’ll talk to him after we’re finished.You know you can always call me if you need anything.You’re the daughter I never had.”

She felt her eyelids burn and tears fill her eyes.“You’ve been the only one in my life who believed me and helped me.If it weren’t for you, I’m not sure where I’d be.”

“I’m glad I was in the right place at the right time.”

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