Page 21 of Deadly Obsession

Not Johnny Goode, club owner.

Wait. Johnny Goode? LikeJohnny B. Goode, the Chuck Berry song?

Seriously, Elias?

It’s as if I’ve been dropped into the plot of a mafia movie.

Or a sexy mafia romance book.

Okay, wow. I am clearly going insane.

How the hell do I always end up in these situations? First, I divorce Chase for turning to a life of crime. Now I’ve managed to fuck a mafia boss and become best friends with the daughter of another mafia boss?

I should go. I should be terrified and run away from this man.

But I’m not, especially with the way he pushes my hair away from my face and uses his thumbs to wipe my tears. Which only makes me want to cry more because it’s been too long since a man has treated me so gently.

I won’t let them. Chase went from loving to controlling. Now I push men away.I’mthe one who needs to be controlling.

At least, I was until I met this infuriating man.

I bat Elias’s hand to wipe my own damn cheeks and huff out a frustrated breath, which only makes him smile.

He’s less intimidating when he smiles.

“I mean, I guess I always suspected Noah was hiding something. Some of the things she told me about her father...”

I chew on my lip, wondering if I’m officially done panicking. I’m sure reality will all come crashing back tomorrow when I remember I went to a Christmas party hosted by a mafia boss.

Wait... do all these people here know who Noah’s father is?

We’re at a freaking upscale hotel for fuck’s sake.

“Are you sure we need to leave? I mean... certainly a mafia war isn’t going to break out at this high-class party at a fancy hotel in the middle of Manhattan? And Noah just announced her engagement. I didn’t even congratulate her... or Del... and I want to celebrate with her and—”

My rambling is interrupted by the door to the ballroom opening, causing me to jump. Sounds of music, conversation, and laughter spill out.

Guess the party has resumed.

Elias palms my cheek before dropping his hand to grab mine.

“We’ll talk when there’s fewer people around.”

I breathe in and out slowly, trying to calm my racing heart as he leads us to the lobby.

How can a man who heads a fucking mafia be so sweet?

The way my stomach fluttered at his comforting touches while I had my short-lived breakdown…

Yeah, I can’t let myself fall for this man—or fall any further than I already have.What if he’s just like Chase?I shake the thought out of my head. Elias isnothinglike Chase.

Still... I need to get away. But how? He’s yet to let me out of his sight since our reunion.

I spot the restrooms to my right. Perfect. Maybe there’s a window or extra door or… I could slip out when he’s not paying attention.

“I need to pee,” I say, attempting to veer us to the right. “I had a lot of champagne, and I’m not wearing underwear so if I piss myself, it’s going down my leg.”

It’s a lie. I only had one glass of champagne, and I don’t have to pee.