“Ifhe finds out.”
“You two are thick as thieves. Are you really going to keep this from him?”
“It doesn’t sit right with me, but I have no choice.”
“How do you plan to play this?”
I rub the back of my neck. “We’ll stay in Long Island.”
“You told her you’d show her a good time. She’s never been in the city, and you can’t keep her locked up the entire time.”
Watch me.
“I’ll figure something out. For now, just arrange for Zumo to meet me at my house.” I can’t keep this from my little brother. As my underboss, he needs to be fully informed.
The instant I end the call, Mimi appears, depositing herself uninvited in my lap. She moves in for the kill, and I twist my head in time so her lips land on my cheek instead of my mouth. It takes effort to be gentle as I lift her off my lap. “Stop this.”
“What’s wrong?” She reaches for me as I stand, but I grab her hands, encircling her wrists and keeping her away from me. “Why are you being like this?”
“I made it perfectly clear after I fucked you it was a one and done. You said you understood.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.” Her eyes glisten as she lowers her gaze to my crotch. “Sex with you was out of this world. I know you felt the same things I did.”
I bent her over a chair and fucked her roughly from behind. I only kissed her once, at the end, as a form of thanks. It was like every other emotionless sexual encounter I’ve had these past few years. It was a release, nothing more, and I haven’t given her a moment’s thought since.
I don’t want to hurt her, but she needs to get the message. I glance over my shoulder, checking that Valentina is still in the bedroom. Turning my head to Mimi, I stare coldly at her. “It meant nothing to me. I needed to fuck, and you were there. I haven’t thought of you once since it happened, and I have zero interest in a repeat. It was nothing special.” I’m being kind because the sex was crap, and immediately after, I wondered why I bothered.
Hurt instantly transforms to anger. “It’s because of that slut, isn’t it?”
“Watch your mouth.” Releasing her hands, I shove her up against the wall and grip her chin tight. “I have noticed the way you’re treating my guest. Try it again, and you’ll see a very different side to me, Mimi.” Her lower lip wobbles as tears well in her eyes. I release her and step back, my anger fading. “I’m sorry you thought there was more to it, but I was very direct with you. You need to forget about it and do the job I’m paying you to do. I need Valentina’s case. Get it for me now.”
“If you change your mind?—”
“Have some self-respect, Mimi. I won’t change my mind, now go.” Valentina must be out of the shower by now, and she needs clean clothes.
Mimi heads away without further protest, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Sinking back into my seat, I finish my water and silently take the case when Mimi returns and hands it to me. She disappears, looking upsetbut behaving. Maybe I won’t have to replace her after all if she can be mature about this.
My hand moves to my stomach when a sudden wave of nausea churns in my gut. My stomach cramps, and for a second, I think I might puke, but it subsides as fast as it came on. Weird.
I open Valentina’s case, frowning as I search through her messy belongings trying to find something for her to wear. These clothes are mostly old and worn and all but a couple of dresses and shoes are from a chain store—cheap and of poor quality. My hatred for Dominic Ferraro elevates another notch as I finger trashy thongs, panties, and bras. A woman like Valentina deserves to have the finest silk and lace gracing her delectable body and the most stunning designer clothes to make the most of her gorgeous figure.
My frown increases when I find a large brown envelope stuffed with cash in the middle of her case.Did he give this to her, or has she been hiding it from him?My mind is spinning theories as I put it back and close her case after extracting a light white cotton dress and a pair of tennis shoes. I grab a white bra and panties, vowing to take her entire case and burn it all when we get to my house.
Making a note of her sizes on my phone, I ponder which twin to call and press the button for Caleb. Joshua Accardi—one of the twin dons of the Accardifamigliain New York—is my partner in managing the drug supply chain for themafioso,and I normally wouldn’t hesitate to call him for help. But Joshua plays by the rules, and I can’t involve him in this. His more reckless twin thrives on rule-breaking even if Caleb is somewhat of a changed man since he got married and knocked his new bride up. Of the two, Caleb is more likely to help without it being a crisis of conscience.
“Maltese,” Caleb answers, sounding out of breath. “This better be good.”
“Bad timing?”
“You could say that. What’s up?”
“I need a favor, and I need this to be kept between us.”
“Now I’m all kinds of intrigued. Shoot.” I hear a soft female voice in thebackground. “Make it snappy. My wife needs me.” I can guess why. In the past, Caleb would have made some crude remark, but he treats his wife like a queen, and he’d never disrespect her by saying anything vulgar. I used to joke Caleb was the son I never had because he reminded me so much of myself at his age. Seeing how love has transformed him is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve never wanted that for myself.
Until Valentina.
My thought shocks the shit out of me, and I force it aside, unwilling to analyze it now.
