I joined my lips with his to further show my appreciation. It wasn’t a kiss filled with hunger or lust, but it made me feel light. Safe.
When I broke away, I looked around. “Whose office is this?”
“The manager’s.”
“So not yours.”
“Not mine.”
I grinned. “We managed to christen a place that isn’t ours.”
He tilted his head. “Hm, not the way I would have liked, but yes, there is a point there.”
“Who knew you could be this naughty?”
“It’s all you. Your effect on me. You make me insatiable.”
“That is an honor.”
He nodded. “It is, I must admit. Wear it proudly.”
I laughed. “Where’s Cassie and Angie, anyway? I didn’t see them around.”
A frown dragged his brows down. “They have been dismissed from their duties.”
I blinked at him. “You cannot dismiss your underboss or your consigliere.”
“Says who?”
“That’s like the normal etiquette code thingy of the Mafia?”
“Mafia?” He frowned. “While some people use that term, I prefer to call my family an empire. Holds more weight.”
I dismissed that. “You know it’s not their fault. You should have told them your plans—they were worried about you.”
“I would have told them before it happened. I had plans to tell them—”
“And you wouldn’t have gotten the chance to either way.”
“That is correct.”
“So why punish them for a scheme that fell apart?”
His eyes narrowed, something cunning lingering in them. “I suppose you’re right. But they still have to learn lessons from it. If I were some other boss who found out their most trusted—even though he doesn’t show it—had kept something as grievous as that from him, they would be dead,” he said. “But I know Angelo’s mother, and Casmiro’s family, and I swore to them that I would protect my own. I will not go back on my word. Therefore, they have to accept a little punishment.”
“Until when?”
“Until I am ready.”
“Ready for what?” I frowned. “To forgive them?”
He watched me but did not answer. A long minute passed until I understood what he was doing.
“Ignoring my question?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“I hate you sometimes.”
