Page 32 of Texting My Mafia Boss

“Oh,” she murmurs. “My father said… Have I got it wrong?”

“I’m very sorry. As far as I understood it, Ruggero wanted to meet with me. That’s all he said. He told me nothing about a date.”

She pauses. “Oh—I see.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to keep saying that,” she says with a sigh. She sounds relieved, I think. “I told my father I wasn’t ready to date yet. I just got out of a relationship just a few months ago and… Well, you don’t need my whole life story. So, we don’t have to do this?”

“No, Ambra.”

“This life, huh?”

I let out a breath through gritted teeth. “This life,” I agree.

She hangs up after a quick goodbye. I text Mark immediately.

Ettore: The meeting’s off.

If Ruggero has any sense, he’ll let this slide without ever bringing it up again. The old fool thinks he can bully me and his daughter into a relationship. But I have to be careful not to jump to conclusions. Arranging a secret date and trashing one of my stores are two very different things.

Again, my phone goes off. It’s Mara.

Mara: Do you have people following me without my permission?

My heartbeat turns into a jackhammer. I slump in my chair.

Ettore: I have security who follows my daughter at all times. I’m a high net-worth individual and I’d be a fool not to.

I stare at the photo of her and the douchebag on the screen. I hate this man and I don’t even know him. I think I’d hate any man who had his arm around her. But I can’t shake the feeling there’s fear in her eyes. Some desperate need to be somewhere else, with someone else. With me.

Mara: So, that’s a yes. You could’ve given me a heads up. I understand the need for security, but why the secrecy? And I’ve got to be honest, that guy didn’t look like he worked for a security firm.

Ettore: Oh, no? What did he look like?

Mara: I don’t think you want me to say that over text. Where are you?

Ettore: I’m working, Mara.

Mara: At home or at your office?

I grind my teeth. I’m raging with jealousy and possession I should not be experiencing. I can’t be with her right now. But I can’t discuss this in text either.

Mara: Are you going to ignore me? I deserve to know who I’m working for. So, either tell me or I quit.

I smile through the rage. She’s just as fierce as I am.

Ettore: Don’t be dramatic.

I quickly delete my message. I don’t want to tame any parts of her, to diminish her. I just wanther.

Ettore: I’m in my home office.

Mara: I’m going to leave Sylvie with Livia and come there right now.

With my hands behind my back, I shut down the computer screen, then moved towards the window.

I need to calm down. I was cold before Mara came into our lives. I kept everything locked in a box, stifled, controlled. But now—the lid has burst open. It’s good in some ways. It’s helping me to be closer to my daughter.