Page 23 of Mafia Manipulator


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“I know.” I shrugged. “There were two bags. One for Miceli and one for that woman.” I smacked my hand across my mouth. I hadn’t told Kyle about the leggy blonde I’d seen coming out of the garage with Miceli when we’d first moved into the cottage.

“Oh, so he is in a relationship,” Kyle murmured. “I’m sorry, sis. I know you liked him.”

“Not like I could do anything about it now. I’m lying by omission as it is.” I blew out a breath. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Benny and Antonio might be married, but there are several others who aren’t. Maybe, you know, try dating now that we’re semi-safe.”

Staring at the scar along his shoulder where the surgeons had pieced the wound closed after the extensive surgery to remove the bullet, I couldn’t bring myself to even consider going on a date, which made the whole thing with Miceli more infuriating. I hadn’t protected my brother when he needed me most. Stupid, right? How could I, Stephanie Hollis, college co-ed and sorority sister, protect my little brother when I wasn’t even there?

“I think I need to concentrate on keeping us hidden and safe.” I took a drink of my water. “It’s better that way. Maybe once everything has settled down, I’ll try again.”

“It may never be,” Kyle reminded me.

“No, it might not.” If all we ever did was hide, the looming target on our backs would remain, and we’d be forced into the shadows forever. Plus, this job with Rocca would end sooner rather than later, I suspected. Once it did, we’d be back on the streets trying to protect ourselves. “I’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

“Whatever you think is best,” Kyle muttered, turning on the television. “All of my work for the day is done.”

“Okay. I think I’m going to go shower, then order dinner for all of us.” I pushed off the couch. “For what it’s worth, I’m not angry about what I saw today or that night. Miceli is way older than me. I never even stood a chance.” Before he could reply, I started for my room. I had to stop moping. It wasn’t a good look. What I said was the truth.

I never had a chance.

When I was done with my shower and totally refreshed, I walked back out to the living room. There, laying on the couch, was a sleeping Kyle. Whoever helped him in the gym must have worn him out. I didn’t know how I felt about them going that hard, but if it worked, then I’d be grateful to them. I grabbed the house phone from the cradle and called the pizza place the guards used all the time. The food was fantastic and Miceli got a discount.

Bonus.

I think I ordered too much, though. Besides a pizza for Rocca and me, I got one for Kyle and for Robbie and the guys. Then I added the fixings. Sandwiches, salads, and dessert. Chocolate cake for Rocca and me, and tiramisu for the guys. Oh well, leftovers were a good thing, especially cold pizza and chocolate cake. I waited fifteen minutes before I went to find Robbie and let him know when the order would be ready.

I liked him well enough. He was young, maybe a couple of years older than me. Always happy. Always had a smile on his face, though it never met his eyes. Those cold, calculating steel eyes of his were constantly tracking. Continuously looking for the unseen. He was more than a bodyguard. If I had to guess, he was ex-military. Probably did a tour or two overseas. I didn’t talk to him much because, well, I only wanted Miceli. Some perverse part of my psyche believed if I showed an interest in anyone other than Miceli, he’d think I wasn’t interested in him specifically and Miceli would move on.Well, jokes on you, psyche, he doesn’t care what I do.

“Rocca,” I called out, stepping into the main house. “Foods on the way.”

Miceli chose that second to stroll down the stairs into the open area between the entertainment room and the parlor of sorts. He fiddled with the gold cufflink at his right wrist. He oozed sex and money. He’d shaved as well, affording me the first glimpse of his face. He’d been gorgeous with three-day scruff, but this man... My clit tingled in remembrance of his hands on my body. My nipples ached to be pinched and tugged on. I let out a shuddered breath. This man was every inch the predator I’d always known him to be.

“Collins,” he said, joining me. “I heard you and Rocca are having a girls’ night.”

The way he spoke to me, a purr edging on menace, made me shiver in delight. This wasn’t good. I was supposed to be forgetting about Miceli completely, so I could focus on returning to my life. Yet, standing there with him, I wanted to climb the man like a tree. “Y-Yeah. Yes, we are. Pizza and chocolate cake.”

His kind smile wormed through my fragile wall I’d built around my heart, constricting the damnable organ. “Sounds like fun. Save me a slice.”

“Of course.”

There was something to those words, what I didn’t know, nor could I explore as the clip of heels on the stairs behind him drew my attention. Yeah, so it was the leggy blonde from that night. She looked like a cat who ate the canary. All smug features and haughty personality. I guessthatwas the type of woman Miceli truly liked. Her body was dripping with diamonds, and she even sported a rather obnoxious princess cut diamond ring on her left ring finger. The thick platinum band had several smaller inlet diamonds showcasing each of the, at least, two karat diamond setting. She wore a dress that screamed power and decadence. The red, floor length Grecian gown had a slit up to her hip on the right side. A diamond choker around her neck extended downward into a single line of gems toward the peek-a-boo bodice of the dress. Her tits were perfect and expensive.

Oh.

Right.

His type.

Crestfallen, I couldn’t get away quick enough, especially when she draped herself across his body while glaring at me with a sweet yet deadly grin. Miceli was her territory, and I’d somehow impeded her. “Anyway, have a good night, boss.” I started away, going into the entertainment room, because obviously, I couldn’t retreat anywhere else. It would look like I was running away, and perhaps I should.

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I’d be the one who looked bad in the end and Ms. I-Have-the-Ring might demand, no, shewoulddemand I be fired, which put Kyle and me at risk once more. No, I needed to bury my hurt and broken heart. After that little display, the ten-year-old part of me, who’d crushed on Miceli, was dead and gone. Staring at all the books along the wall, blurring before my eyes. I held my breath waiting for them to leave while a small part cried out, “why couldn’t it be me you choose?” more hopeful he’d stride into the room and tell me I was being foolish. That the woman was some ruse he’d concocted for the night.

Instead, he laughed at something the woman said, probably about me, and exited the house to the waiting town car. The cherry on top for an already rotten day.Get it together. You’re here to hide. Not fall in love.No matter how much I told myself as much, it didn’t take the heart breaking pain away. It didn’t stop the angry or want to cry. It was as if my boyfriend of several years said he wanted to break up. Like, I’d never find anyone ever again. Like I was utterly alone. Or, like, I’d never be good enough.

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