Model for the Mob (Steamy Standalone Instalove Romance)

I know I should be cautious, but it’s as though I physically can’t, like my body and my mind won’t let me.

“Forever,” I say, nodding.

“Which means – God willing – I will be in your life for quite some time. So you better get used to speaking your mind with me.”

I grab the rope when Toto brings it back, focusing on the movement of the rope so I don’t have to focus on what I’m saying.

“I’ve never had a mother figure before. And when we’re together, Maria, I know it sounds crazy… but I see you in that way. You’re the only person I’ve ever felt like a daughter with. And I know that probably means I’m freaking insane, completely crazy because we only just met. But lately, it’s like the phrase only just met doesn’t matter so much.”

Terror spikes into me when she doesn’t respond right away, and I know I’ve overshared. I replay the words in my mind, picking them ruthlessly apart, hating myself for the way I gushed, even if it is the truth.

“I’d love that,” she says.

I flinch, turning to her. I don’t detect any sarcasm in her voice.

“Really?”

She reaches over and touches my forearm, smiling warmly. “Really. I know it’s not how things are usually done, but you’re part of the family now.”

A smile spreads across my face. “That means so much to me. I’ve never had a family before.”

“Well, you better get used to it.” Her grin widens. “Honestly, Lucy, you needn’t be so paranoid. Those days are behind you. But I understand how difficult habits can be to break.”

“Yes, it’s that, exactly that,” I say. “I guess I’ve learned to be on the defensive.”

“Because of high school?”

“How did you know?”

She laughs lightly. “I’ve lived through high school as a teenage girl. I know how awful it can be at times.”

“Try it with social media. There’s no freaking escape. Not that I’m trying to devalue anything you went through.”

“Not at all. I can’t imagine not being able to go home and forget about that horrible place.”

I nod, fighting off tears. I’m far too emotional lately, but perhaps that’s because I’ve never allowed myself to truly feel before, not with this depth and realness.

“One of the football jocks made a Facebook page. They called it ‘The Sexiest Girl in School’ and posted a bunch of photos they’d secretly taken of me in class. The comments were horrible. I had to delete my account in the end. Leaving high school was the best thing that ever happened to me… well, until recently.”

I lean down and stroke my hands up and down Toto’s small bristly-furred body.

“People can be so cruel,” Maria hisses. “That young man should pray he never runs into you when you and Luca are on a date together. He’d regret his decision very quickly.”

“Do you think there’ll be a time when he and I can go out, on actual dates in the city?”

She nods. “I believe so. Luca will handle this business with Franco and the city will be far safer than it was before.”

“He wants to make it the safest city in the world, it sounds like.”

“Yes. It’s always been his passion.”

“He’s sort of like Batman.” I giggle. “With all his money and how muscular he is, and his secret gadgets around his house like the platform and the restaurant.”

“I’m sorry, dear, but I have no idea who… What was it? Baseball Man?”

I let out a laugh of pure hilarity, my belly getting tight with the laughter. “Are you kidding, Maria? Batman.”

She shakes her head. “No idea.”

“How can you not have heard of Batman?”

“Who is he? Does he have bat wings?”

“He’s a rich man who fights crime dressed like a bat.”

“Ah, so basically like Luca,” she says, smiling. “Without the bat costume. Unless you two have started to experiment already.”

I laugh. “You are so gross.”

“Hey.” She aims a sun-bright smile at me. “Isn’t that what mothers are for?”

I know she means it as a joke, but the heat of belonging moves through me nonetheless.

A man strides quickly across the lawn, dressed in a black suit with black sunglasses and an earpiece. He stands over us, his fingers drumming against his leg. “Ma’am.”

“Paulie, what is it?”

“An attack on the estate. We need to take you to the bunker.”

“Attack?” I yell. “Here?”

Paulie smiles tightly at Maria, seeming to silently ask her permission to speak in front of me, and Maria waves her hand. “Anything I can hear, she can hear, Paulie.”

“Franco and his men are approaching in jeeps. We caught them on the forest cameras. We need to go. Now, please, ma’am.”

I scoop Toto up and stand, feeling like my legs are going to turn to vapor and I’ll collapse at any second.

“Where’s Luca?” I ask, my heart thudding almost painfully in my chest. “He was supposed to be meeting with Franco, wasn’t he? He left me a note. How do you even know Franco’s with them if they’re in cars?”