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First, I was going to have some fun with it.

8

ZARINA

It turnsout that having someone follow you everywhere you go isn’t exactly something that you get used to very easily.

For a whole week, Theo had stood in my shop like a fucking statue, twitching and reacting with every man that dared walk past.

He was on guard and overly excited.

“Down, boy,” I had rolled my eyes once when he nearly snapped his neck to turn towards the sound of a motorcycle going past.

Even now, it was the weekend, and my little shadow was still right behind me.

“Theo,” Larissa slowed her pace to fall in line with him while he trailed behind us in the shopping centre. “Don’t you have somewhere better to be on a Saturday morning?”

“Not really,” he shrugged, flashing a smile as I glared back at them from over my shoulder.

He was dressed down a little this morning, a change from his usually more formal attire. Today, it was simple dark wash jeans and a tight black shirt paired with a bright red snapback that he wore backwards.

He looked far from his usual mafia rookie self and just looked like any other Italian-Australian fuckboy.

“Your girlfriend doesn’t mind that you’re hanging out with us?” Larissa nudged.

I sighed, falling back in line with them so I could better direct my glare at her.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” Theo adjusted his hat, a shy little smirk ghosting his lips as he looked down at me.

“Probably because you spend so much time stalking us,” I teased, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

I knew logically that it wasn’t his fault, that he was just doing his job. Hanging around Lawefield Shopping Centre on a Saturday morning was probably torture for him.

In general, it was hell.

It was busy and there were people everywhere, but it was the only time I really had to go anywhere. Eventually, it just become a tradition for me and Larissa.

Of course, it was much more fun when Larissa was beingLarissa, instead of whatever persona it was that she seemed to put on whenever there was a male of interest around.

Sure, I made up identities and personas when it came to men too, but it was more for protection and hiding myself from them. I had no interest in getting to know them, just as they had no interest in getting to know me.

So why bother?

Once they found out who I was related to, they either fled or started begging me to get them a job with The Family anyway.

It was easier my way.

“Let’s go get breakfast,” Larissa rolled her shoulders.

Though I kept my eyes trained straight ahead, a flash of black leather caught in my peripherals, and I bit my lip to stop myself from smirking.

Amateur.

“I’m going to get my nails done,” I said. “Theo, can you go with Larissa to the food court? Riss, bring me back a coffee? Thanks.”

“But—” Larissa started.

“Thank you!”