Page 11

He lounges near the window wearing his boxer briefs and his shirt again and looking like sin in physical form.

Part of me wants to stay.

But if anyone finds out that I did this—if my family hears of it⁠—

God, the consequences would be awful.

For me and for him.

And I don’t know which is worse: getting myself hurt or getting him dragged into the mess that is my life.

“Will I see you again next week?” he asks.

“I’ll be working.”

“Good.”

“But—” I pause, straightening my blouse, and realize my name tag fell off. I find it on the floor beside the table. When I stand, he’s close, and I have to take a step back and raise my hands. “But, this can’t happen again.”

“That’s exactly what someone says before they make the same mistakes over and over.”

I smother my smile. “I’m not kidding. This was good⁠—”

“It was very good.”

“—But it was a one-time thing, okay?”

A pleasant memory, but nothing more.

He doesn’t seem disappointed. If anything, he’s amused. “If that’s how you want to leave things, Mari, then I will say that I enjoyed myself with you tonight. I’m glad you wore the underwear.”

4

BASS

Wheels crunch over gravel as the Mercedes G-Wagon rolls toward the Serafino Ranch. Nico leans against the fence in his designer jeans and his designer flannel looking like a cowboy straight out of a magazine. He squints against the late afternoon sun.

“Didn’t think he’d show,” Nico admits as the G-Wagon slows to a stop outside the main house.

“He came alone, too.” I stand next to my brother and study Carmine Scavo as he climbs out of the car. The mob boss is fit, handsome, in a suit, with slightly graying hair and a sharp gaze. He’s a Philly man, straight from the city, but doesn’t seem out of place here at all. There’s an ease to him that always surprises me.

“What do you think that means? He trusts us?”

“Or he doesn’t think we’re a threat.” I walk toward Carmine and Nico falls into step.

“Beautiful property you have here, Bass.” Carmine’s smile is genuine as he shakes my hand firmly. “I should’ve gotten down here sooner.”

“It’s a long way from your side of the country.”

“True, and let me tell you, family doesn’t make it any easier.” He nods to Nico and shakes my brother’s hand. “You must be the youngest.”

“That’d be Lia, but close enough.” Nico doesn’t miss a beat. His easygoing charm is on full display now. “We appreciate you coming out here, Don Scavo.”

Carmine’s face pinches at the honorific. “No need for titles here, boys. We’re talking business, but I prefer we treat each other like partners.”

“We appreciate that, Carmine.” I begin walking away from the house. “Would you like a tour?”

Carmine keeps pace and Nico brings up the rear. “Didn’t think you actually lived on a real ranch.”