Mobster

“Come in, come in,” she says. She goes to take a step back, but a big man comes up behind her. His hands go to her hips, stopping her from running into him.

“My angel. You think you’re clever?” His words are low and deep, but a smile tips his lips as he looks down at her. This is Salvatore.

She gives him a slap on the chest. “I really am hungry. You wore me out.” She pouts softly, then Salvatore’s face turns serious. He nods. His hands leave her hips, coming to her face to cup her there. He’s so gentle it’s a little shocking. This isn’t what I was expecting. I guess I wasn’t sure how he’d be with his wife, but I didn’t think he’d be like this.

“Then I will feed you.” He leans down and kisses her. She kisses him back, then pushes at his chest.

“None of that,” she tells him, hitting his chest again. He smiles as his hands drops from her face. He doesn’t care to hide the gentle affection he has for her in front of people. I guess I thought a mob boss would be cold at all times. That they might not even like each other. But now, looking at her, she isn’t what I thought she’d be either. I thought she’d be some model type. A trophy wife. Don’t get me wrong, she’s beautiful, but not what I thought she’d be.

“You’ll pay for that later,” he tells her.

He finally looks at me, and his face changes completely. Gone is the softness, and a serious expression takes its place. Now this is the face I thought I’d be seeing.

“Hi, I’m—”

Thea cuts me off. “This is Emma, as you already know.” She shakes her head like she’s annoyed. “There probably isn’t one thing you don’t know about her. You probably know what she has for breakfast.”

“She ordered room service like she has for the last week she’s been staying at the hotel. Comes every morning at eight. The eggs medium, extra-crispy bacon, with hash browns and a side of pancakes with extra butter,” he says easily.

I stare at him, a little shocked. His expression doesn’t change. He clearly doesn’t care that he admitted to his wife’s words. He’s right. I’ve been at a hotel for a week waiting for my next assignment and I did order that every morning. Then I feel my cheeks burn at the fact that everyone knows what I eat. I’m not a skinny girl. I love food. It’s one of my biggest weaknesses, besides babies.

“Oh god, that sounds good. I’ll have that,” Thea moans, clearly wanting breakfast for dinner.

“Don’t moan in front of other people,” Salvatore says to his wife. She rolls her eyes.

“You two can go.” He nods to the men silently flanking me. They barely said two words since they picked me up from the hotel. It was as if they weren’t allowed to talk to me or something. Then Salvatore fixes his gaze on me. “You can come in.”

I’m not really sure I want to. I push my glasses up my nose before tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, something I do when I’m nervous. I look back at the black SUV that brought me here. I really want to turn around and get back in it.

“Now,” he says, clearly not a very patient man.

I have no choice. I look back at the couple who have taken a step to the side to let me in. I cross over the threshold, and the door shuts and locks behind me. At the sound of the lock turning, I feel like my world is never going to be the same.

Chapter Two

Emma

“He can be bossy,” Thea tells me with a little huff. I want to mutter a “you don’t say,” but I keep those words tightly sealed behind my lips. “Come on. My grumpy man will make us some food while we talk.”

Salvatore wraps an arm around her. She mutters that he shouldn’t be grumpy after what they did moments ago.

“I wasn’t done with you, angel.” He leans down and nuzzles at her ear.

“You’re never done,” she laughs. I follow them, feeling out of place. My eyes travel around the entryway as I pretend not to listen to their exchange. This place is crazy beautiful. I follow them under an archway that leads down a hallway right into a freaking giant kitchen.

“I’ll never be done,” he says.

Salvatore takes her over to an island in the middle of the kitchen that has high-top chairs all around it. He helps her up into one, then kisses her. He goes over to the refrigerator and starts pulling things out.

“Come sit.” Thea motions to the chair next to her. I walk over, taking my bag off my shoulder and pulling out the folder inside before I take my seat. I glance around the kitchen. It looks like it’s out of a movie or something.