Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111537 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 558(@200wpm)___ 446(@250wpm)___ 372(@300wpm)
“Sometimes,” Francisco allows.
“I should go,” I announce, getting to my feet. I’m hot under the collar, and I’m afraid I’ll do something rash if I stay. It doesn’t look like he’s going to kill me, so I figure I’m free to leave.
“No one leaves until I say they can.” Francisco locks eyes with me, and I feel a lightning bolt of anger sizzle through the air between us.
I gulp, returning to my seat. But then both Francisco and his men laugh, and I realize that they’re putting me on. All the anxiety that’s built up in my gut over the past few hours quivers. It’s not a friendly laugh, and they know that I’m scared. But at the same time, there’s an equal amount of desire to balance out the fear, so I let myself play along.
Francisco looks pleased that I’m sharing in the joke, and waves toward the door. “Go on, get outta here.”
I give him a cold glare, letting him know that I’m no kind of delicate flower. I might be outgunned, but I’ve got his number. He considers that and drops the tough guy act. We come to an understanding with no words, and I walk out of the room with my head held high.
Unibrow follows me to the door, but as soon as I step out into the late afternoon, I’m on my own. I’m relieved to see my car is waiting for me right where I left it. It’s my ticket out of this luxurious prison with its attractive warden and all his goons. I’m fighting a thousand conflicting emotions and trying to let none of them show as I fold myself into the driver’s seat.
When the iron gates finally open and I coast out onto the street, I’m relieved in more ways than one. I survived my first tutoring session.
I sigh, sliding the car into third gear. What in the world was I thinking? I replay the scene in Francisco’s office repeatedly. Did I let on that I was getting hot under the collar? Did he see the desire radiating off me? I hope not. Because if I’m going to earn my rent for next month, I need this job.
I tell myself it’s just until I can find a more permanent position. I’ll keep looking for secretarial work until I can find a place with no mafia connections. Hopefully, it won’t be long.
I cruise back to my part of town, thinking about Francisco and his gorgeous bedroom eyes.
CHAPTER 6
FRANCISCO
Ican’t help but focus on Marlena’s ass as she walks toward her car. I can see her clearly through the window, even though she doesn’t see me. I know Marcello said the girl was a looker, but I wasn’t expecting someone so feisty. She wasn’t intimidated by me, and that was a big turn-on.
Marcello sees me looking, but like a good soldier, he doesn’t say anything. She’s too young for me anyway. I’m not sure how old she is, but clearly several years younger than I am. Still, she’s not a college kid. I had expected Frankie to pick up someone his own age, but this tutor is officially all woman. She’s got the curves and the experience to boot. And I know I didn’t imagine the look in her eyes when she first saw me. The attraction is mutual.
“What do you think, boss?” Marcello asks.
“I’m not sure,” I say, watching intently as she gets in the car and drives away.
There’s something more to her story than she was letting on. I can tell when someone’s lying to me. But I also don’t think she’s working for any of the rival families. Her story is far more personal. Whatever it is she’s hiding has got nothing to do with me.
“Boss!” Edoardo says, barging into the room without permission.
Edoardo is my head of security and built like a linebacker. We go way back, and I trust him with my life. Something important must be going on, or he wouldn’t dare intrude without knocking. Marlena slips from my mind as I shift my attention to the problem coming my way. My senses heighten, and I listen closely for any sounds in the house. Nothing I hear trips my internal alarm, so the crisis must be further away.
“I just got word from Vinnie down at the casino,” Edoardo says. “Some kid is talking about taking you to the cleaners.”
“Who?” I demand.
“Vinnie didn’t know, but he’s sitting on the guy,” Edoardo announces.
“Is this related to Andretti?” I ask, trying to guess how important the tip is. It could be someone just trying to get a rise out of his friends, or it could be actionable intel.
“Pretty serious Vinnie said,” Edoardo explains. “He claims he’s been to your home.”
“All right,” I decide. “Get me Vinnie on the phone.”
“Right, boss,” Edoardo agrees, pulling out his latest burner phone. He dials and passes it over, and I listen while Vinnie tells me everything he’s managed to squeeze out of the potential rat.