The Mafia King's Obsession.

P

ing, glasses clinking, the crowd's noise growing thicker by the minute. As kickoff time nears, the line sta

ueezes my shoulder and grins at me.

omma cat," I reply

ing what happened to the jerk who

g. Joe never kicks o

's been giving you those dark, smoldering eyes all night came over, picked that gu

her. "You'r

to flirt with him, but he just ignored her,

did Jo

ger. Just stood there watching." Jammie sighs dreamily. "Shame that gorgeo

my head. "Aren'

eds more than one ho

e's juggling enough lovers for a football team, and I can't ima

as in here. Guess he's more into the bookish type than the... well, me type." She l

rt's already racing again, pounding

ding a drink to someone before turning

" I say, ha

eases. "At least he got a full v

remin

rry, you've got a be

er - then her face lights

d my breat

s h

lo R

houlders back, head high, the kind of confidence that makes everyone move out of hi

" Jammie whispers. "

" I hiss back.

's already gone - vanished do

ove. He's still coming closer, that same steady

aces both hands on the counter

t all that comes ou

ugh that I have to tilt my chin to meet his

voice barely a whisper

ith a faint Italian edge. The sound rumbles thro

?" I

tares at

my breath as I turn to pour

tomach is twisting. When I turn back, his eyes ar

guy," I say, sliding

pulls out a sleek black wall

fore I can stop myself. "For tossing

ed you. I desp

dollar bill and holds i

hand it back, but he closes my hand a

ugh me. My knees weaken, my chest tighte

the glass and drains it in one s

," I w

t na

rga

small Italian flag. He rolls up his cuff, re

e," I say with

er been

eamed of going. Wandering through Rome at sunset, eating pizza and gelato. Maybe even livin

he words, past the nerves. "When you want something b

mile, my heart thudding

taliano?

ys it feels l

up two fingers an inch ap

g class

es flicking to the bowling

ain. "I knock down a

self. There's a shadow in his voice - go

k at me. "Take ca

h... what's

es - like he's fighting an inner war.

mth of his breath. My pulse is wild. He smells like musk, sandal

o Rome one da

arely b

his fingers brushing my skin. "Take tomorrow ni

t? W

time blows, and the bar explodes into no

ling like something vital

er the noise. "Did you get h

I say

April! You've got to be a big momma cat li

arely h

nce over the crowd

s t

s booth. W

ot smiling -

oment, I real

mmie tells me to be t

toni

I don't feel like a huntress. I feel like prey - trembling in

aze burning into my back. My che

ng?" Jammie calls

m. Be ri

she shouts. "

e!" I yell, already pu

e, I know

nning from

the way his eyes make me feel li