AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Between the lines? How optimistic."
"So now I'm your appendage until you come up with a proper solution?"
Frowning, he stared at me. "That's right. And just for the record, my appendages keep quiet and don't get on my nerves."
I snorted in amusement. "Then you made an awful choice, mafia prince."
Dario rose and examined me with a curious look. "Don't worry, I know more than one way to shut you up if necessary. The only question is whether you want anyone to see you like that."
Instead of backing down and letting him win, I stood up as well. "Don't promise me something you can't keep."
"Is that a challenge?" His dark voice captured me.
"A warning that you can't push me around like you want."
"The Frenchman could."
"You are not the Frenchman."
"So you do have claws,micina. A truly interesting development."
3
Dario
Taking a woman to my private apartment was new. I did not get visitors, nor did I bring anyone here voluntarily. But special circumstances called for special measures, and after Emilio had not objected, there were no other realistic possibilities.
I watched as Gia stepped through the wide apartment door with her shoulders hunched and at first stood rooted to the spot, taking in the entire atmosphere.
"It's nothing special," I grumbled, thinking of Emilio's villa and the immense house Vincenzo occupied.
In contrast, my apartment was modest and a tiny home.
"Sure. I guess the floor alone is more expensive than my entire apartment," she noted, closing the door behind her and shaking her head more vigorously the further she ventured into the premises.
I used my smartphone to turn on the lights. "Up ahead is the kitchen, bathroom, living room, my bedroom and over there is I don't know, the storage room."
"And who set all of this up for you?"
"An interior designer friend of mine," I replied.
"That's exactly how it looks." Whether or not that was a compliment remained to be seen.
"Just make yourself at home. I don't know how long you'll be here, but it's best if you just do your own thing and don't follow my lead."
"So I'm grounded."
I raised an eyebrow. "You can call it that, of course. Is there any employer you have to let know?"
Gia turned in my direction, her teeth clenched. After a few seconds, she shook her head. "They let me go three weeks ago."
"Well, that's a good thing."
"I guess you could take it like that." Gia had finally worked her way into the living room and was now inspecting its contents. I owned a huge sofa set and a rather enormous TV. There was also a piece of art or two, and the windows went all the way to the floor, so they offered a wonderful view of the nearby sea. "This place is swank," she muttered, spinning in circles.
Meanwhile, I had wandered over to my small side table and poured myself a sip of gin in one of the tumblers that stood there ready. I had earned it after that night.
"Do you want a drink, too?" I turned to Gia. The role of host didn't suit me, but I still wanted to make an effort and at least try. Out of some stupid reflex. I had saved her life, so I didn't have to make it unnecessarily difficult for her afterwards.
