Page 81 of Tempting My Mafia Monster

She smiled wider. “The bad boy type then.”

“He didn’t let the world see the real him, but he let me. He was special.”

She rested her head on my shoulder. “Did he love you too?”

A small sob escaped my lips as I nodded. “I think so.” I wiped my eyes. “Fuck. I need to sort myself out. They’ll be out of the meeting soon.”

“Raya, I don’t even know what to say. Life’s so unfair sometimes.”

“Yeah. It is. But we endure it regardless.”

I stood up and wiped down my tracksuit. I’d worn nothing but baggy hoodies or tracksuits since I’d come home, even though it was early summer and the heat was sweltering. It gutted me that none of them smelt like him, but it was what I felt most comfortable in. If this Russian prick thought I’d make an effort for him, his ego was about to take a hit.

“I’m here,” Lili said, standing up. “Whenever you want to talk, sneak a bottle of Papi’s whiskey, get drunk, or do whatever you need.”

“Grazie. I’m sure I’ll take you up on that offer after this meeting.”

I said goodbye to Mina and walked back across the lawn. I spent the next twenty minutes in the downstairs bathroom, staring at my blotchy face in the mirror, trying to summon a semblance of ‘I’m a mess, but I’m not crazy’. I didn’t think he’d buy it. I wouldn’t.

As I walked out of the bathroom, Gio was coming down the stairs. I froze, staring up at him as he gave me a concerned look. There was no Russian in sight.

“Has he left?”

“No. He went outside with Sani to look for you. Olivia said you were taking a walk with Ivano.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Ivano, who was loitering by the door. “That’s an interesting way to describe a man following me unnecessarily around my home without my permission.”

Gio sighed. “It’s only to keep you safe.”

“From myself?” I folded my arms. “I’m not suicidal, Gio. I don’t need a babysitter.”

He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and rested his hands on my shoulders. “We’ve just been worried, Raya. That’s all.”

His eyes left mine and fixed on someone approaching from behind me. I turned as Aleksandr walked through the veranda doors with Santino. He lifted his sunglasses onto his head and looked me up and down with navy-blue eyes that matched his suit. Up close, his face was even more striking. Even so, I felt nothing.

Good. I didn’t want to feel any desire for him. It was bad enough that I’d have to marry him and spend the rest of my life unhappy. The guilt and betrayal of doing it with a man I was attracted to would be even worse.

“So this is her?” He spoke in English, but his Russian accent was thick.

Charming. I folded my arms over my hoodie. He cocked his head to the side and exhaled. He seemed as happy about this union as I did.

“This is Soraya, si,” Gio said, coming up beside me and placing his hand on the small of my back. It was a protective gesture, a warning. Aleksandr didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he just didn’t care.

“Walk with me, Soraya.” He turned and walked back out through the veranda doors, not waiting for me to agree, because apparently it wasn’t a question but a demand. He was establishing himself as a controlling alphahole. Got it.

I glanced at Gio, who frowned deeply. “Sani will walk behind at a distance, with Ivano. You’ll be safe.”

I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t concerned about my safety. I stomped out after the Russian.

Aleksandr said nothing as we did the first lap around the gardens, and the silence grated on me. I glanced back at Sani, who raised his eyebrows. Aleksandr noticed me looking over my shoulder, searching for an escape route.

“I get the impression you don’t like me.”

I stared blankly at him in response. At least he was observant.

He put his sunglasses back on. “You don’t have to like me. It’s better that you don’t. I would prefer it.”

I looked up at the sky. This man had as much charm as a slug, but I was thankful for it. At least he wasn’t trying to flirt with me.