Conquered by the Mafia Boss

“How do I even know you have access to that kind of money?”

I hurl him an ugly look. “Tommy is holding it for me. I have over a hundred grand American.”

His eyebrows lift at that, and he takes the glass of wine, taking a huge gulp. “It’s still a bad idea.”

“I don’t have any alternative! Do you think I want to marry some guy I just met?”

“People know me, sweetheart. They know I’d never get hitched.”

My head perks up. “Does this mean you’re interested?”

“It’s a lot of fucking money, of course I’m interested. But that’s a lot of-” A lump moves up his throat. “My mom-it would fucking kill her. She’d never forgive me.”

I lean forward and take his hand, expecting him to rip it away from me, but he lets me smooth my thumb over his knuckles. “I’m sure she’d be proud of you for helping someone whose life was in danger.”

His eyes cut me. “You don’t know her, and you don’t know me. What makes you think I’m the right guy for this? You think that just because we had a good time, I won’t just rob you and throw you into the streets?”

My hands twist in my lap as he stares at me with that intense glare, daring me to contradict him.

“I have to have faith in something. I don’t know you, but I don’t think you’ll hurt me.”

He crosses his arms and a scowl burns on his face.

He’s right. This is stupid. I don’t know him, and he doesn’t know me. There’s no way he’ll agree to do this for me. My best bet is to just run. Run far away, and keep running until Raf gets tired of chasing me.

“I’m really sorry.”

I take my purse and stand up from the table, eyes blinking away tears as I walk to the closet and grab my coat roughly, sending the hanger flying.

Honestly, what did I expect?

I ignore the hostess as I barge outside and walk swiftly down the freezing streets. Fuck, it’s so much colder here than New York, and it’s the kind of cold that seeps through every layer. I hug myself in the middle of the sidewalk, blinking furiously and feeling utterly alone in this foreign place.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I can’t even speak the language.

Nowhere to go.

My back slides against a brick wall and I huddle in the snow, hands wrapped around my knees. Part of me hopes I’ll freeze-maybe it’s cold enough to freeze my heart into place.

A man in a long wool coat walks past me, his gaze flicking to me sharply before he walks on. Then he stops in his tracks and doubles back.

“Elena?”

Tony. He came after me. The way he says my name fills me with hope. I know that it’s dangerous to hope, but I can’t help but lift my head to look at him.

“What?”

Tony frowns at me as he walks close enough so that his boots touch mine.

“I need assurances.” He gives me a shrewd look. “I don’t trust you.”

“I’ll pay you half up front. Tommy’s in on it, and he trusts me.”

That was not entirely true, but close enough.

“That’s not good enough.”

He bends down and takes my freezing hands, and I stand up with him. It makes my heart pound to be so close to him.

“I-I don’t know what else to do, then.”

His hand curls around my neck and my pulse beats into his thumb. Gray eyes search my face, which grows more and more hot. “How am I supposed to trust you and let you in my home?”

“Why would I do anything to piss you off? I already have one pissed-off mobster after me.”

Deep dimples carve into his smile.

“What if we don’t get along? Three months is a long time.”

“We don’t have to get along. We just have to tolerate one another.”

“This is crazy, Elena. It’s fucking nuts.”

“But it’ll work, and you’ll be fifty thousand dollars richer. In a few months, we’ll divorce. It won’t mean anything, I just need to have a fucking ring on my finger for a while.”

He considers it, lifting his head as he stares into the brick wall. I can see the cogs working in his head, weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

“If you were my ex-wife, I could probably get a sit-down with Johnny if that asshole tried anything.”

“Perfect.”

He smiles at me. “There’s still no way you’re going to get people to believe this.”

I think hard, staring into his honest eyes, and then a rush of adrenaline runs through my veins. “I’m pregnant.”

A stunned silence follows my words, which Tony eventually breaks with a laugh.

“That might work,” he says in an impressed voice. “Fuck, I’m going to hell.”

A sigh of relief runs through my body as he shuts his eyes.

“Why me?”

Why did I choose him? Well, that’s simple.

“You looked strong and-and I thought you were-well, you’re my type.”

Mischief shines through his eyes. “Am I?”