“Can’t do what?” Liam asks, and slowly, he steps closer, coming to embrace me in a hug.
Exhaling, I allow his hug to offer support before pulling away. “Ashton wants to work for Dante, or maybe his father, I don’t know who, the mafia, forever.” I’m rambling and frustrated, and my thoughts are running together like mud.
Liam rests his hands on my shoulders, staring at me. “You always knew Ashton’s dad is Aurielo Rinaldi. He runs the Chicago Mafia.”
“Yes, but I didn’t think he would, you know, want to do that after graduating.” I’d been foolish to think he wanted a life bigger than all of that.
“Sometimes we don’t get the choices we think we deserve,” Liam says cryptically.
I raise an eyebrow, curious. “I heard you’re working for the famous Dante Ricci now, too. What’d he do, offer you a fifty thousand dollar signing bonus?” I’m joking, but he doesn’t so much as smile.
“Father’s orders. It’s that, or Sophia is forced into an arranged marriage in New York.”
I stumble backward, shocked, and bump into my dresser. “No way.”
“Unfortunately, the only way to make him reconsider was agreeing to work under Dante for a while. Sophia gains experience while I’m tasked with keeping an eye on her.”
I’m a bit perplexed at the idea that Liam has to play babysitter to his twin. “At the bar?”
Liam grabs a seat on my bed. “I think it’s more of an in general watch over her, keep her safe, make sure she’s not getting into trouble under Dante’s watch.”
“Shouldn’t that be his responsibility? Keeping his crew safe?” I still can’t believe Sophia and Liam got dragged into working for the Ricci family. It had been bad enough knowing Harper was forced into it to keep Luca’s secret as well as her own.
Liam doesn’t answer me; he knows better than to argue with me when I’m right.
“Damn it. Does everyone bow to their mafia dad around here?” I grumble, glancing at him, waiting for him to say something.
“You clearly don’t. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two,” Liam says and offers a faint smile.
“My father isn’t Don.”
Which might explain why Ashton, Liam, and Luca have all done as they’re told. They fear their fathers. I’ve never feared mine. Well, not since I was a little girl. I suppose Paige, my stepmom, made me realize that he wasn’t to be feared.
Liam tilts his head, staring at me, like I’ve just figured it all out. He stands and retreats for the door. “Don’t give Ashton too hard a time. He’s a good guy.”
He is a good guy.
It’s why I hate seeing him work for Dante, tainting him. Destroying his soul.
Liam heads out of my room, leaving the door wide open.
I take two steps forward to shut it and meet Ashton’s stare. “You still pissed at me?” Ashton asks.
“Are you still working for Dante?”
His eyes flicker and he storms across the room, practically barreling into me. He pushes me backward, his lips on mine, his hands on my hips, and he lifts me into his arms, backing me up against the wall.
My legs wrap around his waist, my arms around his neck as he shoves his tongue into my mouth, devouring me.
I should be angry with him.
I should scream at him.
Yell.
Tell him to go fuck himself.
But holy hell, the kiss is like fire and I’m burning up inside.
