I swallow heavily and force a deep breath into my lungs. I’d hoped for more than a partial match if I’m honest.
Riley and Cruz had a stupidly high compatibility, one of the highest the service has ever seen. But it figures I would find an average match to go with the rest of my average existence.
Living in my brother’s shadow, watching my father constantly belittle my mother until he took it too far and found himself on the wrong end of Cruz’s gun, has made me more afraid of relationships than I would like to admit.
It’s why I haven’t dated since my freshman year of college. Why I prefer the company of strangers on the internet who are only interested in my thirst traps.
It’s safe.
Impersonal.
Lonely.
I nibble on my lower lip as my eyes bounce over the contents of the email, my heart beating erratically in my chest.
A Las Vegas Mafia boss has returned a partial match, but his details are vague. I guess that will come later?
It’s hard to know the process, considering it will be so different from what I witnessed my brother go through, but the fact he’s out of state has my anxiety skyrocketing.
I wouldn’t call myself an anxious person, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have triggers, and one of them is leaving Mom and Cruz.
After what we went through together, what we survived at the hands of my father, it’s hard to think of a world where I wouldn’t see them every day.
But my options are limited where dating is concerned.
If I want to stay in Seattle and remain close to my family, I can’t date an outsider. It wouldn’t be safe for them, and it would be a risk to Cruz.
I sigh and shove the laptop away, burying my face in Mr. Whisker’s fur.
He lets out a soft meow and nuzzles my cheek with his cold nose.
I don’t know how my brother ever hated this little guy, even if I have seen him bully the big bad Mafia boss on more than one occasion.
Maybe I should just get a cat and be done with it.
TWO
COLTEN
Iam not cut out for running a Mafia family.
Managing all the behind-the-scenes shit that no one really thinks about? Sure.
But the people part? Absolutely not.
It doesn’t help that the De Luca family is barely finding its feet after ousting several high-ranking members of the family and everyone’s roles have changed to accommodate the loss.
Which means since Cruz and Riley left for their honeymoon a week and a half ago, I’ve been on back-to-back phone calls answering stupid questions.
Okay, they’re not actually that stupid, but they’re annoying as hell.
Between answering their incessant questions and doing my usual work, I’ve been working nonstop, which is where my true issue lies.
Because it’s been nine days since I’ve seen my wildcat, and I’m beginning to lose my fucking mind.
Now, am I aware that stalking my best friend’s sister is insane? Yes.
But hear me out.
