Page 25 of Mafia Manipulator


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8

COLLINS

The movie and carbs were exactly what I needed. Suspected the same for Rocca. Once I got her off to bed with the promise to do this again sometime, I went to the basement where the wine cellar was located.Thank you, Kyle, for the information.The room wasn’t overly huge. There were enough bottles there to supply a small army with one a piece, again, not much in the grand scheme of things, but enough I had a choice of fine wines.

I went with a bottle that cost about a week’s worth of salary for me. The Burgundy was one of the sweetest I’d ever had the pleasure of tasting, even if it’d been a single time at a Christmas party two years ago. On my way back upstairs, I couldn’t help but think about Miceli and Brooke. God, even her name made me want to barf. She was trying to get a rise out of me by clinging to him. I knew her kind. I’d been around them all of my life. They didn’t care about the man. They—she—cared more about the money in the bank than anything else.

Therein lie the rub for me.

She wasn’t good enough for Miceli.

Obviously, that was the jealousy talking. I envied her position for sure. Women like her went into marrying people like Miceli, using their pussy to convince the guy they didn’t need a prenup. A few years later, they’d divorce, and they’d get half of everything rich men like Miceli had. She, in my estimates, was a serial marrier. By the time she turned sixty—if she made it that far—she’d have half a billion dollars sitting in some bank account offshore, surrounded by pool boys while sipping mojitos on some sandy-white beach.

It was disgusting and unfair.

“There you are.” Robbie’s appearance startled me, causing me to jump. “Oh shit. Sorry.”

I’d been so caught up in my distaste for Brooke, I’d zoned out. “It’s okay. Caught me day dreaming. I should be the one saying sorry.”

“Did you just steal a bottle of the boss’ wine?” A crooked grin spread across his face as he narrowed his gorgeous hazel eyes at me.

“I won’t tell if you don’t,” I whispered, leaning in close.

“Tell what?” He stepped closer. “I saw nothing.”

“Exactly.” I laughed, skirting around him to go back to where I’d been sitting on the couch.

He chuckled, trailing after me. “You’re up to no good, aren’t you, Collins? What am I really here for?”

I wondered if I said sex, what he’d do? Miceli made his decisions, right? I could make mine. Not like we were an exclusive couple or anything of the sort. We hadn’t even been on a date. I’d chalk the kiss and fondling up to pent up sexual frustration. Nothing more. Nothing less. “Depends on what you’re offering.” I turned the flat screen back on and scrolled through to a music channel.

“Collins,” he groaned. “Boss gave us instructions.”

Like a bucket of cold water being dumped over my head, all thoughts of doing anything remotely fun with Robbie disappeared. “What?”

“We’re supposed to guard the house. Protect Rocca, you, and your brother Lucas, along with Mrs. P.” He frowned. “I don’t know what you had planned in that pretty little head of yours, but I won’t risk your safety.”

I sagged a little. “Nothing. Nothing at all.” Fine. He wanted to protect us, he could. Maybe I’d go to a bar in the city and hook up with someone. I was tired of being treated with kid gloves. Disregarded like I didn’t mean a damn thing at all.Thank you, Miceli, for that complex. Not like I don’t have enough on my plate.

“Don’t be like that,” Robbie said, sitting down next to me. “You’re cute. Quiet. A bit on edge. Like you’re watching everything. Hypervigilant.” He snapped his fingers. “That’s the word. Most of all, I can see how lonely you are.”

“I’m not lonely,” I groused. “Why would I be lonely? I have my brother. This job. Rocca is a great kid. I’mnotlonely.” I hated he could figure me out without truly knowing me at all.

“Bullshit.” He grabbed a beer from a bag I hadn’t seen on the floor and twisted off the cap before taking a deep swallow of the contents. “It’s written all over your face. Look, I won’t pry. That said, I could see the way you looked at our boss. Having Brooke here...” He sneered her name. Well, good, at least I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like her. “She’s a viper. Be careful.”

“Oh, trust me, I’ve already seen her fangs.” I kicked myself for not getting a glass or a bottle opener when I came out of the basement. “Shit, give me a second.”

“You forgot the bottle opener.” Robbie laughed. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s in the second drawer on the right side of the kitchen island. That’s where I’ve seen Mrs. P put it away,” Robbie said from the other room.

“Thanks.” Opening the drawer, it was right where he said it would be. “You’re one smart cookie.”

“Or a stupid one.” His footfalls were soft on the floor as he approached. “I need to apologize. I think I overstepped my bounds with you. I said some shitty stuff. Will you forgive me?”

I snickered. “Telling me the truth isn’t over stepping bounds, Robbie. It’s the harsh dose of reality I need sometimes.”

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