Page 7 of The Rise of an Heiress

“What?”

“I love you, baby.”

I laugh. “Fucking hell.”

“Say it back!” he yells back, feigning anger.

“Love you, too, jackass.” I hang up but not before I hear him making kissing sounds on the other end.

The bastard was so easygoing you’d forget he’d been a made man since we were both sixteen.

I pull into a parking spot across the street. Not long after, I spot the white Porsche. Dominic and said woman walk up to the restaurant.

Well,fuck. Dante wasn’t lying. She’s a fucking smoke show. She’s shorter than my usual type, maybe five feet flat, with high cheekbones, plump lips, and black hair so long I could wrap it around my fist multiple times. She’s in a short skirt, tight blouse that shows off her curves in all the right places, and heels that showcase her legs. She has a smile plastered on her face, and I can’t help but notice the dimple on the left side of her cheek. I also couldn’t help but notice how she looks at him like he’s her hero.

Poor girl.Did she know he was next in line to inherit one of the most powerful mafia syndicates in the states? Sucks when the innocent get sucked into this world.

I pull out my phone to take pictures so we can run them through my system. I’d know every dirty secret about this mystery woman in no time. I send them off to Dante.

Natalie

“I’m so excited you’re here, Dom!”

I couldn’t contain my excitement. I love my brother, though you’d never guess he was my brother.

He’s a six-foot-three Italian man. Muscular and large, not quite as buff as our Papa, who’s built like a tank, but he’s getting there. Blond hair, blue eyes, his arms covered in intricate tattoos. He’s attractive, but he’s always been just Dom to me. Women constantly check him out and ignore me or give me the death glare, assuming I’m his girlfriend. Gross. He’s never paid them any mind. He’s not into relationships. Romance was uncommon in the underworld, so he didn’t see the point in getting to know women. Typical made man. Although, I do think he secretly hopes to find love one day. He’s mentioned how my mother and Papa used to interact a few times.

“Me too, sorellina,” he replies, opening the door to Ming’s for me.

Ming greets us. You’d never guess he was a chef, since he looks more like an MMA fighter, but who am I to make assumptions? Chefs can be in great shape, too.

I’ve been coming to this restaurant with my adoptive parents, since I was seven, and he’s always here to greet me. I come here almost every Thursday, so it’s no surprise. Sometimes, I don’t even come to eat. Ming feels more like family, so sometimes, I’ll drop something off for him or talk to him. He’s more like a surrogate father. I’m closer to him than my adoptive dad.

“If it isn’t my favorite girl!” Ming grabs me into a bear hug. “Looking good, man!” he says to Dom as he pats him on the back.

The server brings our food out immediately. “I already knew Dom would be in town, so I went ahead and made your favorites, so it’d be ready when you got here. It’s your birthday, so no waiting for you.”

Touched by his gesture, my heart feels full.

“Thanks, Ming,” I say as I sit, taking a drink of water. “My birthday isn’t until next week, though, so you better keep this charade on until then!”

“Please don’t spoil her.” Dom rolls his eyes, and I try to kick him from under the table, but I miss.

“Shut up, Dom!” I throw a paper towel at him.

“I think she’s the only person on Earth who can get away with speaking to you like that.” Ming laughs. Dom and I quickly share a look of suspicion. Before we could react, Ming went on. “Besides, you and your father spoil this girl enough.”

Dom shakes his head.

We enjoy the rest of dinner with easy conversation. Dom and Ming talk about getting together to work out while he’s visiting. I tell Ming about school and Maya’s birthday plans for me.

We leave the restaurant, and I can tell something’s bothering Dom, so I ask, “Okay, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean?” he answers, acting clueless.

“Really? We’re going to do this?”

He opens the car door for me, and I slide in. When he gets into the driver’s side, he’s silent for a moment and doesn’t turn the car on.

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