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“Not as expensive as you might think. The sellers had a timeline, the husband offered a job in Germany. It was now or never and they decided to move. The house comes completely furnished. That doesn’t mean we can’t toss everything inside if you don’t like the pieces. Whatever you want.”

“Hold on. Where are the owners? Are they already gone?”

“They are.” He turned slightly toward me, searching my eyes with his.

“You’re not telling me the full truth. They were forced to leave. Weren’t they?”

He lifted his eyebrows. “Maybe in a manner of speaking.”

“Is there some mob real estate site I’m not aware of? You know, if it gets too hot and a family flees for their lives, the price drops?”

His laughter tickled my skin. “There isn’t, but that sounds like a good idea.”

“Uh-huh. You didn’t just drop a down payment. Did you? You already purchased the house.”

He acted more than a bit sheepish, slowly grinning a few seconds later. “I had to make an offer quickly, so I did. Being all cash, I just have some paperwork to sign, but the house is effectively ours. If you want it.”

“And if I don’t, we just sell the place and hope the loss isn’t too significant?” I turned toward him, trying to figure out why I wasn’t angry with him. If any other man had done something like this, first I would have punched him in the face. I didn’t want to think about part two.

“Something like that.”

“Where did you get the money? No offense, but up until recently you were a Capo. Now, I’m aware that my father pays his men well, but not this well. How did you do it?”

He shrugged and glanced toward the pool. “I had money saved up from before. I’m a saver, not a spender. At least for the majority of my life. I also invest wisely and have since I was a teenager. That’s something my father taught me.”

“Huh. I’d love to meet your father. Any family member.”

The man was obviously a control freak including with his emotions, at least around his men, but he appeared uncomfortable. Maybe his family was considered off limits. “I don’t have any family. Maybe some distant cousins, but I’m certainly not close to them.”

“That’s why you care about Don Santorelli so much.”

“It sounds odd to some people, but he made me feel like family. Maybe not at first, but after I proved my worth.”

I placed my hand on his arm and the jolt of current was immediate. He sucked in his breath.

“I’m sorry, Alejandro. Family is important. They can ground you. Or they can make you want to disown them.” I tried to laugh it off even though it was the truth.

“Yes, even a found family can abate the loneliness.”

Maybe I understood him just a little bit better than before. Or maybe it was wishful thinking. “I guess you’re right. I feel that way about the men and women who work at the clinic. All family as far as I’m concerned.”

He nodded, but said nothing.

“I should find Gabriel before he destroys the place.”

“I thought we’d stay the night. Maybe order a pizza. At least I hope there’s a decent delivery place.” He laughed, but the look in his eyes had changed.

“Is that allowed?”

“Of course. This is our house now.”

Our house.

I was taken aback as a shiver drifted down my spine. Everything was far too surreal. “Fully furnished.”

“Fully furnished.”

“What about the men outside?”