The Mafia's Favourite Toy

s expression stoic in the rearview mirror, but the tension in the air was palpable. She stared out the window as the c

oman, struggling to make ends meet and keep her brother out of trouble. Now, she was

looked up at the modest brick building, the sight of it almost foreign after the luxury she'd just left behind

couch, a video game controller in his hands, his attention g

, his tone casual, as

er, leaning against it for sup

ght his attention because he paused th

f the coffee table, directly in his line o

"I don't know what y

arp. "You stole from Dante Moretti. Do you h

is eyes. "I didn't think it was a big

h a mixture of anger and fear. "What could possib

ys... they said I owed them. I didn't have

her heart sinking. "Y

e muttered. "But they're conn

artellis. The same rival

ou realize what you've done? You didn't just put

looding his features. "What

. He came to me last night, and now... now I'm working for him. He sa

ing for him? Are you out of your min

any idea what he threatened to do to you? To me? I'm trying to keep us both

ll over his face. "I didn't mean for any o

sness. "Desperation doesn't justify this, Jamie. You can't

e whispered, h

n't enough this time. You need to stay out of trouble.

on earnest. "I swear, E

f hope. But as she lay in bed later, staring at the cracked c

d to come with a price-a price she

de to the top floor felt no less daunting than it had the day before, and when sh

g on his phone. When he looked up, his sharp eyes immedi

" he said, gesturing f

r nerves prickli

nte began, setting his phone do

htened. "What k

The Martelli family has been making moves on my territory.

're bringing me to a meet

said simply. "You're a new variable, and people sho

what she'd signed up for-not that

?" she asked, her voice

ing with dangerous confidence. "They

n her lap, forcing herself

o prepare for the night ahea

to protect his empire-and how fa