Page 21 of Crowned By the Mafia Billionaires

Dad lets out a long breath. “This is going to be a fucking mess.”

I pop my shoulders. “We can fix it.”

I can’t stand here any longer. I’ve told him my plans, and now I just need him to accept it because it’s happening. I head toward the door, and Dad calls after me, “Bennett.”

I turn.

He points at me. “I haven't agreed to this.”

I grip the door handle. “I know.”

His eyebrows pull together, and I give him a nod. “But I'm not asking permission.”

I walk out and hear my dad bellow a curse word. I’ve never gone against his wishes before, and I know it’s going to take him a minute to get on board with it.

As I walk down the stairs, I meet my mother on the landing. She smiles at me. “How did it go?”

I shake my head and let out a breath. “About as good as you would expect.”

She smiles. “Well, you did just tell him that you’re marrying his rival's daughter.”

I grunt. I saw my mom on the way in and told her my plan. She accepted it a lot easier. “Yea, I know. I’m not sure if⁠—”

She shakes her head. “Don’t worry. I’ll go talk to him.”

I kiss her forehead. “Thanks, Mom. Have I told you how good it is to have you back home?”

She smirks. “Enough about that. What about Audrey? Did she say yes? How did you propose?”

I grab my mom’s hands. “I haven’t asked her yet.”

Her eyebrows lift. “You haven’t asked her?” She puts a hand on her hip. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

I could tell her about Audrey’s apartment and everything that’s been going on, but now that I think about it, Mom is right. What am I waiting for?

CHAPTER 9

AUDREY

I’ve spent the entire day thinking about two kisses. I’ve tried everything, and I can’t get Bennett and Knox out of my head. Which is ridiculous because I have much bigger things to worry about. My father wants me dead or dragged back home. My brother is still trapped with him or heck, he could have OD’d somewhere and been left for dead, for all I know. My apartment is destroyed. I started a new job today for the family my father hates more than anyone in the world. And somehow, all I can think about is kissing two men.

I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror and blow out a breath. This is crazy. I need answers.

By the time I walk downstairs, Bennett and Knox are both in the living room sitting down. Bennett is on the couch with his laptop open while Knox is sprawled out in the chair across from him. Both of them look up when I enter.

I point between them. “We need to talk.”

Knox grins. “That sounds serious.”

I nod and walk into the living room with my hands locked together in front of me. “It is.”

Bennett closes his laptop and sets it on the table. “Come sit down.”

I immediately shake my head. “No. I’m good standing.”

He gives me a look but doesn’t argue. I cross my arms over my chest and look between them as I suck in a breath. “What exactly is going on here?”

Bennett’s forehead creases. “With what?”