Off the Record (With Me in Seattle Mafia 3)

“A ruthless one,” I add.

“If need be, absolutely. We can’t function in this life any other way, Rocco. But at the end of the day, family is everything. To your mother, and to me. And we’ll do whatever we need to do to make sure that ours is protected and happy.”

“I know. By any means necessary.”

“Yes.” His eyes take on that gleam I’ve always admired when it comes to his work. Carmine shares it. It’s how I know that my eldest brother will make an excellent boss someday. “By any means necessary. Now, you go get your woman and bring her back here where we can keep her safe and let her heal.”

“Yeah.” I swallow. “She needs that. Pop, you know I like living in the condo.”

“But?”

“But I don’t think it’s a long-term solution. If things with Annika work out, and I’m banking on them working out, she needs a home.”

“You’re right. What are you thinking?”

I shake my head, thinking it over. “I don’t know yet. I think it depends on her, you know?”

“You’re a smart man, my boy.” He laughs a little, his broad shoulders shaking. “Get her here and get settled. She’ll know what she wants. Or, you’ll decide together.”

I nod. “You’re right. I guess I’m just impatient after waiting so long for her.”

“I would be, too. Did you know that your mother turned me down over and over again before we finally got together?”

“No. I thought you guys fell in love and got married six weeks later.”

“That part is true, but she made me work for it for a long while. Anything worth having is worth the work and the wait.”

“Annika’s definitely worth it.”

“Let me know when you get home. Your mother will want to invite you both over for dinner.”

I grin. “Mom’s turning into an even bigger mother hen than she was when we were little.”

“She always wanted a girl,” Pop says with a laugh. “Now that she’s getting some, she’s beside herself. Humor her, will you?”

“Sure. You know I never pass up a free meal.” I tap my knuckles on his desk and stand. “Thanks, Pop.”

“Anytime. Be safe.”

I nod, leave his office, press the button for the elevator, and ride it down to my condo. It’s been cleaned from top to bottom and is ready for my girl.

I just have to fetch her.

* * *

Why am I so nervous? I feel like a kid on his first date.

I walk up to Carmine’s door and knock. She must have been watching for me because she swings the door open and throws herself into my arms.

“You’re here!”

“I said I would be.” I kiss the top of her head and breathe in her citrus scent. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, everything’s done. I just have to lock up the house for Nadia.” She pulls back, flashes me that killer smile, and then rushes away to gather her bags and make sure everything is locked up tight. While she checks the windows, I haul her bags to the car and meet her at the door as she locks up and turns to me with a wide grin. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

I open the car door for her, then jump into the driver’s seat and point us in the direction of the smaller airfield used for private use.

“It’s so funny because less than two weeks ago, I planned to stay in Denver. And now that I’ve changed that plan, I can’t wait to get out of here.”

“You’ve worked hard the last few days.”

“Yeah, I’m exhausted. But also energized. Does that make sense?”

“It does to me.”

She reaches over and pats my arm. “Thanks for this. For everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

“I do.” She grins and bounces in the seat. “I’m ready for a new adventure.”

“Well, that I can deliver.”

* * *

“I’m still living in the condo,” I inform Annika several hours later as I pull my Porsche into the parking garage under our building and park in my space. “It has a good view.”

“It’s going to be great,” she assures me. “I’ll help with the bags. They’re all on wheels anyway.”

Between the two of us, we manage to get everything upstairs in one trip. Once we muscle everything inside, Annika takes a deep breath and soaks everything in.

“Oh, Rafe, this is nice.”

She walks into the kitchen where she admires the deep sink, the gas stove, and runs her hand along the big island.

“I can cook so many great things in here.”

“You always did cook well.”

“I’m better now.” She winks and saunters over to the windows. “You’re right. This is a great view of the city. I can even see the water and watch the ferries float over the Sound.”

“The sunset is beautiful.” I shove my hands into my pockets, feeling nervous all over again. I want to touch her, but I don’t want to make her uncomfortable or move too fast.