Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 237(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“The resort manager told me it was Rocco. That’s why I asked you to send your man to guard her, Mr. Mafia.”
He frowns at the new nickname. “Rocco,” he growls, his eyes calculating as though he’s remembering certain key moments. “Rocco,” he repeats, nodding. “Fuck.”
I almost tell him about the Rocco-Veronica connection, but what if I get Veronica in trouble? What if I risk her business, my job, our future?
I need to play this carefully.
“Are we done?” I snap.
“We’ll never be done,” he says, full of certainty.
“I’m not sure you’re right about that.”
“I’m sure,” he snaps.
“Can I go then, Mr. Mafia? Do I have your permission? Or are you going to whack me?”
He flinches at my words. I ignore the tightness in my gut telling me that was mean. “You don’t need my permission. But Nico will be going with you.”
“Do I have a say in the matter?”
“Until I know where Rocco is and I confirm he will not try anything more drastic, no. This is for your own good.”
I walk away before he can stop me. Or before I can stop myself from this need to be close to him. Nico trails after me, keeping a distance. I ignore him and walk back toward the hotel huts, my breath loud in my ears, the sand more of an irritant as it climbs into my shoes and wedges between my toes.
Knocking on Veronica’s door, I raise my voice. “It’s me. I’m coming in.”
“Siena?”
I try to push the door open, but it’s locked.
“You can’t be here.”
“You need to open the door right now, or I’m going to kick it down. I’m not joking. I know about Rocco. I know who he really is.”
“Please.”
“Last chance, Veronica.”
No response. I take a step back and kick the door. A sharp jolt moves up my leg, and the door barely moves. I don’t care. I kick it again. My short heels aren’t built for this, but I’m not built for flings with mafia men who make my head spin and turn my world upside down, so screw it.
Veronica opens the door with another kick.
I fly into her bedroom, falling down.
“Siena,” Veronica says, taking my arm and lifting me up.
“Is he here?” I demand, standing up, ignoring the aches and pains in my body.
“No,” she says, but her answer lacks conviction.
Instead of taking her word for it, I walk into the en-suite, then check her large closet. I go onto her balcony and check that too. I even look under the bed. Unless he’s got his hands on an invisibility cloak, he’s not here.
I turn to Veronica. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you know he’s behind the sabotage, Veronica? Did you know he’s the reason everything’s been going wrong?”
She shakes her head, but I’m not sure I believe her. She looks shifty.
“Are you sure?” I demand.
“I know nothing about any of this,” she snaps.
“You know Rocco is in the mob–that all these people are.”
She clenches her lips shut and offers a brief nod.
“You knew this had been a mess from the start, and you didn’t tell me.”
Another self-pitying nod.
“You could’ve warned me!” I snap. “Is he threatening you? Has he hurt you?”
“No,” she whispers. “But when I discovered who he was, I won’t lie, I was scared.”
“It seems he wants the… the Don position or whatever the hell it’s called. He wants to be the big boss, the man in charge. That’s the only explanation I can think of. It’s the only thing that makes this make sense.”
“I just want to sleep.”
Sleep isn’t going to help anything, but I’m cautious about pushing her too hard. After all, she’s still my boss. Once this is over, I’ll still need a job.
I take her by the shoulders. Before this trip, she would’ve stolen control back if I’d gone this far. Now, she just looks at me sadly. Like a beaten dog.
“I don’t want to leave you here alone.”
“That’s not your decision to make,” she huffs.
“I can ask Dario to put someone on your hut to make sure you’re safe.”
“You’re working with them now?” She asks in disgust.
“No… It’s not like that.”
She brushes my hand away. “I get it. You’re with him now.”
“How are you going to take that tone when you’re doing the same thing, when your relationship with Rocco is the whole reason we’re here?”
“I’m tired, Siena. Just go. Let me sleep. That’s not a request.”
What can I do? If I go against her wishes and tell Dario to put a guard on her room, she’ll know, and. Then she might punish me. Bye-bye, job. Bye-bye, any chance of helping Mom.
“You need to call or text me if he comes back. Okay? That’s the only way I’m going to agree to this.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“No, you need to swear. You need to swear on your daughter that you’ll do as I say.”