Page 45 of Ho Ho Mafioso

“I’m going to college. I’ll make more money in the end.”

I smirked. “We’ll see.”

“Okay,” she said, spinning the little wheel with way too much enthusiasm. “Please be anything but a one.”

The wheel clicked around and landed on a one.

She groaned and dropped her head back dramatically. “The universe hates me.”

I chuckled. “Just move your car, princess.”

She shoved the tiny plastic car forward one space, muttering under her breath about injustice. Her hair had come loose from whatever braid she’d attempted earlier, and the auburn strands fell into her face, brushing her cheek as she leaned over the board.

I forced myself to look at the game, not her. I mostly succeeded.

“My turn.” I flicked the wheel with two fingers. It landed on a nine.

“Ugh,” she groaned, throwing one of the tiny cars at me. “Stop winning.”

“It’s not my fault I’ve got good hands.”

Gianina froze, her cheeks turning pink. Then slowly, deliberately, she looked up at me with a heat in her eyes that nearly knocked the breath out of my chest. “Fair point.”

I focused back on the game to avoid thinking about all the things we did earlier; things I wanted to do to her again soon.

Clearing my throat, I moved my car. “Your turn.”

The game moved fast. The fake job cards were ridiculous; the taxes even worse. She laughed every time I groaned at landing on something else I had to pay.

Then she hit Buy a House.

“I want the cozy cottage,” she said with no hesitation.

“You would,” I teased.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You like things that feel safe.”

She went quiet. Not offended, but I could tell I hit somewhere deep.

“And you don’t?” she asked

I lifted a shoulder. “Not really an option in my line of work; either of them. I need practical.”

She stared at me for a long pause, like she was trying to read the parts of me I kept locked away.

Each day she got closer.

Neither of us said anything. We kept playing; fake adulthood continued—career changes, bills, taxes. I pulled a speeding ticket and Gianina laughed so hard she snorted, which made her laugh even harder.

God, she’s… too much. Too alive. Watching her made something pull in my chest..

Damn it. I was in trouble.

When she pulled Have Twins, she gasped dramatically, her face lighting up.

“No,” I snapped immediately.