Chapter 1 #2
“That’s a stupid name,” she replies, reaching for the door handle and exiting the car with a huff.
“It’s a great name,” I counter as I round the vehicle and join her on the footpath.
“Has he ever killed anyone?”
“No, but given half the chance, he would. He’s very protective, and I spent a small fortune having him professionally trained.”
That gives her pause as she takes a step closer to me. “I might just wait out here by the car,” she says.
“Nice try, but I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“You may be Dante’s underboss and best friend, but if anything bad happens to me, you know he’ll have your balls for breakfast.”
“I’m well aware,” I grumble. “Nothing is going to happen to you on my watch. Sit, Killer,” I command, punching in the code for the front gate.
Like the obedient dog he is, he does as I ask. Lucia could take a lesson from him … knowing when to follow orders without question.
“Hi, Ki-Ki,” she says in that sweet voice of hers that I’m beginning to despise.
“His name is Killer,” I snap when I see the dog’s tail wag with genuine excitement. That’s something he’s only ever done for me. Usually, he’ll growl at strangers while sizing them up.
I can only pray this woman is not going to work her magic on him and distract him from his job.
“And like I said earlier, it’s a stupid name. It’s cruel and degrading.”
“It’s a fucking name, Lucia. Get over it.”
“You are labelling him to be something he’s not.”
“It’s not labelling when he’d willingly commit to his namesake.”
“You said yourself he’s never killed anyone before.”
“That’s because he’s never had the opportunity to. Would you like me to test that theory by throwing you over the fence?”
When she gasps, I roll my lips to hide my grin. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“You’re right, I wouldn’t. But trust me when I say he’d rip you to shreds if push came to shove. He identifies as a killer. His pronouns are ‘Try’ and ‘Me’.”
I find myself smirking when she takes a wide berth as we enter my property, moving to the side that’s furthest away from my dog. And I’m glad she’s finally beginning to take me seriously.
“Nice place,” she says, once we step inside. I watch her eyes moving around the main room as we pause by the front door.
My house doesn’t even compare to the kind of luxury she’s used to. It’s not a mansion, just a humble three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, but over the last ten years, I’ve spent all my spare time renovating it and making it my own. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished here.
“Thanks,” I reply, running my fingers through my thick, dark hair.
This is the first real home I’ve ever had. Growing up, my mum moved us around constantly, and there were plenty of nights when I wasn’t sure if we’d even have a place to sleep. That kind of instability leaves a mark on a kid. As soon as I could afford it, I bought this place.
Joining the Cosa Nostra was one of the best things I could’ve done.
It made me see that my struggles didn’t define me.
I always believed I had the power to change my mother …
to get her on the right track eventually, but I was wrong.
I’d soon learnt I had the ability to change myself and my circumstances, though. I haven’t looked back since.
Becoming part of the Mancini Famiglia gave me purpose, and a family that cared about me just as much as I did them.
For the first time in my life, I had somewhere safe. A place where people had my back. I was surrounded by a group of men who understood the weight of survival and the rules that come with it. In the streets, no one cares about you unless you’re useful.
The Mafia gave me the kind of stability I never knew as a kid, and maybe that’s why I clung to it so tightly. It wasn’t just about power or money; it was the only constant I’d ever known.
In a world full of chaos and broken promises, it was the one thing that never wavered, never walked away or let me down. It wasn’t love, but it was loyalty, and for someone like me, that was everything.
Lucia follows me into my bedroom so I can pack some clothes. When I exit my wardrobe with a suitcase in hand a few minutes later, I find her lying on top of the covers on my bed, her arms and legs spread wide, like a starfish.
It’s an image I don’t want or need in my head.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I bark with way more venom than I intended.
“Your bed is so comfortable,” she says, scissoring her arms and legs back and forth like she’s making an impression of a snow angel in my doona.
In all fairness, I don’t know if it’s an innocent move or part of a calculated plan, but the fact that my cock seems to be enjoying the sight of her on my bed means I need to shut this shit down immediately.
I drop the suitcase in my hand and stalk in her direction. “Get off,” I grumble, reaching for her arm and lightly tugging on it.
“Hey,” she replies, abruptly sitting up and shrugging out of my grip. “What’s your problem?”
“Get off my bed; I don’t want you on there.”
Her face rears back in shock as she stares up at me. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
Her eyes narrow to slits as she shuffles to the edge of the mattress. “You don’t have to be such a stronzo about it. It’s not like I’m contaminated.”
“Go and wait for me in the main room, and stay the fuck away from my dog.”
I stand there, waiting for her to give me more lip, but this time she doesn’t. When her face drops, and she starts moving towards the door, I feel like the biggest bastard alive.
As soon as I’m alone, I reach down and snag the pillow her head was just lying on. When I bring it to my nose and inhale deeply, the sweet coconut scent of her shampoo overwhelms my senses.
The slight thrill I feel from being able to smell her on my pillow infuriates me so much that I hurl it across the room in anger.
“Fuck,” I mumble under my breath as I sink down onto the side of the bed and bury my face in my hands. I’ve had to endure some pretty tough times in my life, but this is one task I’m not sure I’ll get through unscathed.
Dante has warned me to stay away from Lucia, and the consequences that come with breaking his trust will be dire.
If I lived in a different world, one where time and circumstances didn’t have such a tight grip on me, I’d be all over a woman like Lucia Rossi. She’s got a fire and resilience that draws me in like nothing else. But she’s young, too innocent, and untarnished by the darkness I carry.
I’ve never known what it’s like to be loved by someone without them expecting something in return. There’s a part of me deep inside that’s fractured and broken beyond repair.
Lucia has this sparkle and light that someone like me will only tarnish over time. She deserves a love that’s pure, untainted … something real. She deserves more than I could ever give, and that’s the hardest part to accept.