Page 6 of The Mobster’s Present

The woman hasn’t broken out of her shock yet and I take full advantage and step forward just as she whispers, “What do you mean he’s dead?”

When I grip her elbow, it’s firm but not painful. The woman jumps and spins toward me. I watch as the scream she is about to let out dies in her throat. Something flashes across her face as she takes me in with a single sweep of her eyes over me.

“If you would please come with me, I’d be more than happy to explain further.” I start to lead her away without waiting for her reply.

I don’t need one and, frankly, waiting will only give her the chance to try to refuse me. Since that’s not really an option, there’s no need to pretend otherwise.

“I’m also very curious why you’re looking for a dead man,” my words come out flat and the woman winces.

Her words come out a little scared, “Where are you taking me?”

“The office.”

She stumbles over her feet, but I’m right there and make sure she doesn’t fall. Even though she glances at me, she doesn’t say anything.

“If Romeo isn’t in the office anymore, who is?” She asks the question so softly that I almost miss it with how loud the sound of my own pounding heart is in my head.

Touching her feels like burying my hand in the sun. Everything in me is attuned to her as if every breath she takes is a prayer.

When I open the door and usher her inside, she freezes and mutters, “That is not what I was expecting at all.”

I’m sure it’s not.

Two women sitting in the office with their array of snacks and refreshments is certainly a sight for anyone. For someone looking for Romeo?

I’m sure it feels like she just walked into an alternate dimension. I get it.

I just found the woman meant to be mine and everything has changed. Now, I just need to find out why she’s looking for Romeo and then claim her. She’ll forget his name by the time I’m done with her.

CHAPTER 3

ASHLEIGH

From the moment I looked at Second Circle, I could tell something was different. Before, there was a dark aura tinged with lust that shrouded the entire building. It’s still ominous, but it’s not as oppressive as it once was.

It doesn’t look like anything has changed from the outside either.

The lights are a little brighter when I step inside, but I brush it off as my mind playing tricks on me since this is the last place I want to be. Of course, it would feel like I stepped inside an interrogation room just because I’m here.

I startle slightly when a woman approaches me with a gentle smile that looks out of place; I know what goes on within these walls. The moment I asked for Romeo while barely holding it together, I knew something was very wrong. It was in the way the woman’s face froze for a split second before it smoothed over.

“Romeo is dead.”

Those are the last works I expect to hear. I had prepared myself that I might have to get creative in getting into the back of the business, but I figured asking for him straight away without any games was worth a try.

But, apparently, he’s dead.

All the hope I have been trying to hold onto since I decided to make this trip disappears. I made the trip for nothing.

Before I can ask any more questions, before I can even form them, a man is next to me. His grip on my elbow surprises the fuck out of me, but probably not in the way most would expect.

I got used to any touch meaning pain in this place, no matter who it was coming from.

When I look up at the man leading me away, I’m momentarily stunned. He looks familiar, but I can’t place him. It doesn’t help that a buzzing is filling my ears and my vision is a little blurry.

Did I really come all this way to find out that Romeo is dead? How did I miss this? Why didn’t I check?

What the fuck am I going to do now?