AllFreeNovel
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“I’m well aware of what books my mother owned, Mia.” My tone might be overly harsh, but I have shit to do.
“Of course you are.” She laughs softly, seemingly unaffected by me snapping at her. “She was your mom.” She goes back to sorting through the books, and I open a file on my screen.
Less than a minute passes before she speaks again. “How long has it been since your mom died?”
Twenty-one years and five months.“Too long.”
“My mom died when I was twenty-two. Eleven years later, and I still miss her every single day,” she says with a sigh.
“Hmm,” I murmur, keeping my eyes focused on the screen.
“But your dad only died a couple years back, right? That’s why you sold your family home?”
Jesus fucking Christ.“Mia!” I immediately regret looking up when I see that beautiful smile of hers falter. Just for a second. But it’s enough to make me feel like a total dick.
“I’m sorry. You’re busy. Talking’s my thing. It’s always getting me into trouble.” Looking down at the books in her lap, she sighs. “I’ll leave you to your work now. Promise.” She glances back at me with an apologetic smile, one that I don’t deserve.
Feeling guilty, I return my attention to my screen and open the police report I received a few minutes ago that details the search of one of our warehouses last night. According to the report, the cops got an anonymous tip that we move weapons through there. Like we’d be stupid enough to use our legitimate businesses to move guns. That would defeat the entire purpose ofhavinglegitimate businesses.
Why did they act on this particular tip-off? We have an unwritten understanding that as long as we don’t cause mayhem on the streets of Chicago or go around hurting “innocent” civilians, the police department won’t bother us. I stare at the screen, looking for a clue. New cops trying to beef up their reputations? But no, I recognize the names of the officers listed.
The constant noise from the other side of the room makes it hard to focus, and I glance at Mia. She’s happily sorting books and mumbling a tune to herself—the same song over and over.
“What the hell are you singing?”
She gives me a puzzled look. “‘Bright Side of the Road.’”
I roll my head back and forth on my shoulders, trying to stave off the looming tension migraine. “Don’t you know any others? You’ve been singing that one for the past ten minutes, and it’s annoying.”
She presses her lips together as though she’s trying to suppress a smile. “You have any special requests?”
I twist my head from side to side. “How about silence?”
“How about I take a look at your neck for you?” Before I can refuse, she’s already on her feet, brushing the dust from her jeans.
“I’m fine,” I assure her.
Ignoring me, she draws closer. “It looks like you’re kinda stiff and sore.”
“I said it’s fine. I have work to do,” I bark, hoping my tone will scare her away. It’s usually enough to make grown men shit their pants. But not her. No, she keeps coming at me, the smile on her face as bright as her yellow tank top.What the fuck?
“I’m a fully qualified massage therapist. It’ll take me five minutes and you can go on working. I promise not to look at anything I’m not supposed to.”
Her scent of jasmine and lemon scrambles my senses. “What?” What the fuck is she not going to look at? A bead of sweat rolls down my forehead. She doesn’t expect me to remove my clothes for this massage, does she?
Laughing, she nods her head at my desk. “I won’t look at anything on your computer.”
Of course that’s what she fucking meant.For fuck’s sake, Lorenzo. Hold it together!
She walks up behind me and my entire body goes rigid. “Seems to be worse on your left side from what I’ve noticed?” Her warm, soft fingers brush the back of my neck.
I flinch at her touch.
“Is it sensitive?” Her voice is laced with concern.
“No,” I snap, annoyed with myself for reacting the way I am. She’s just a woman—no, a professional massage therapist giving me a neck massage. Nothing to get freaked out about.
“I see,” she says softly. What does she see? That she’s the first woman who’s not related to me that I’ve allowed to touch my skin in over two years?
