Page 35 of Texting My Mafia Boss

He’s being vague, but I understand what he’s trying to tell me…

He walks that line. He tries to do the right thing. I’ve got no reason to believe this. Except I do. I need to be careful with that.

“Do men like these hurt innocent people?”

He looks at me with shock. And hurt.

“Well?” I demand.

“Never,” he says.

“But we’re not talking about anyone specific.” I wave a hand. “Just in case there are secret listening devices in the bushes.”

“You’re an asset to this place, Mara. Sylvie cares about you already.”

“But it doesn’t change the fact we’re still strangers.” When he winces, I go on, “Don’t worry. I’m not some silly girl. I know one kiss and some touching doesn’t turn us into some great love story. Okay—thank you. You’ve told me what I need to know.”

“Now what?” he asks. “Are you going to quit?”

“Maybe I would if it wasn’t for Sylvie,” I say.

“Or if you weren’t so desperate for the kissing to go further next time.”

My cheeks flame red. I turn away quickly. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I feel his eyes on my ass as I walk away. I look over my shoulder, confirming my suspicions. He smirks and gestures as if to say,Why are you stopping?I flip him the bird and go on my way.

I lie in the guest bedroom that night, tired from an evening of board games with Sylvie. She dropped off to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. Now, I’m tossing and turning, replaying everything in my head. The confrontation, the confirmation of what I suspected. The kiss. The physical closeness. What he said, those hot-as-hell words, then biting his lip like he had to stop before he acted on them like a savage.

When a knock comes at my door, I sit up, breathless. Half hoping it’s him, even if I should know better.He confirmed he was a mob boss. And I still want him. I need to guard my silly heart.

“Yes?” I call.

“It’s me. Livia.”

“Come in.”

She pushes into the room, shutting the door behind her, wearing her nightgown. She looks exhausted. “Do you mind if I sit?”

“Sure,” I say, sitting up in bed.

She pulls up a chair. “Sorry to visit. I wasn’t sure if I should.”

“What’s bothering you?”

“Ettore mentioned you had a conversation earlier.”

“Yeah?” I nod. “Okay.”

“He mentioned it was of a… certain nature.”

“About his job. His role in society.”

“Hmm,” Livia mutters. “I’m curious if you’re going to stay with us.”

“Okay,” I say again, cautious not to overcommit.

“Sylvie cares about you a lot already,” she goes on. “We’ve tried nannies before, but nothing has ever stuck for this long. The poor thing needs a mother figure. God forgive me, I think I could’ve done that once. But after her mother passed… did you know I raised her mother, Vera? I was her nanny from the time she was a baby.”