Page 12 of Malicious Marriage (Mafia Lords of Sin #9)

CLOVER

“ W hy didn’t you wake me up before you left?” Despite the gentle way Bobby applies aloe to the bruise beneath my eye, his words are sharp and bitter.

“It was a spur of the moment thing,” I groan softly with my eyes closed. “How was I to know I’d run into Ryan?”

“You have a death wish, Clover, I swear. Don’t you stop and think about these things? Recklessness gets you into shit like this and I’m the one who has to pick up the pieces!”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

“Sure,” Bobby mutters and the stool creaks as he leans away. “You always are.”

“Bobby.” My eyes snap open. “I am sorry. I thought it was just going to be a quick trip and I wanted you to rest because you need it and you already do so much for me for free ? —”

“You think this is about money?” Bobby’s head snaps up. “Clover, you’re my friend . I care about you and I don’t want you to get hurt. I want you to get your sister back. None of why I am here has anything to do with my job or my pay.”

“But your husband and your baby?—”

“Two things I would not have if you hadn’t gone out of your way to help me get this job in the first place.

All the contacts I have? The skills? The savings?

I have my life because you took a chance on me, so I don’t care if you never pay me again.

I’m your friend. And going out at fucking four in the morning, alone with that rat Ryan running around?

” He shakes his head and resumes applying the balm below my eye. “Never again.”

It’s hard to keep the tears at bay, but I do my best not to wash away the balm Bobby’s carefully applying to my bruise.

“I’ll tell you one good thing that came out of it, though,” I murmur. “I’m not shaky about Dean anymore.”

Bobby frowns. “How so?”

“Well, Uncle will be back in a few weeks and when he gets back, Dean will learn the truth. He’ll find out I’ve been disowned and he’ll call off our engagement because there’s no way he can take a chance marrying someone disowned like me.

The damage to his reputation, never mind the superiors in his family?

The way he spoke about how much pressure they’re putting on him to get married made it clear that he’s chosen me out of desperation, and someone like me, who will damage his reputation, will not be allowed.

So… we need to get married before Uncle gets back.

Once that’s secure, I can pay off Ryan, I can pay you, and we can look for Hailey. ”

“So you’re set on Dean?” Bobby tilts his head. “I’m not at all grateful that you got hurt by Ryan, but I am glad you’ve come to a firm decision.”

Is it the right one? I have no idea. But it’s the only one I have based around what I can control. Everything else will just have to hopefully slot into place. “I just need to find a way to handle the guilt. This would be easier if Dean weren’t so nice.”

“I’m sure he’s got a deep, dark secret somewhere. Something so terribly evil that you won’t have to feel guilty about lying to him.”

“But what secret? He’s open about his child with that other woman. And he claims the rumors about his siblings are just that, rumors.”

“What if they’re not?” Bobby dabs at my cheek and smirks. “Maybe it’s all true and you’re marrying a man who has no moral restraints about killing women and children. Learned from his older brother who did the same.”

“Stop!” I nudge his shoulder as guilt worms around my stomach. “Even joking about it feels wrong.”

“Just think about it. Then the guilt will fade.”

“Maybe.” Sighing softly, I adjust my seating and squint my eyes to test how sore my face is. “Are you still mad at me?”

“Oh, yeah,” Bobby mutters. “But I can be mad and help you. That’s what friends do.”

“Thank you.”

“Mmhmm.” He pouts slightly, but the warmth remains in his eyes. “So, this professor. What do you think the connection is to him and your sister?”

“Honestly? I have no clue,” I say as my phone buzzes in my pocket and I shift to grab it. “Maybe they knew each other? Or he—shit.”

“What?” Bobby freezes while I turn my phone to face him. “He’s coming here?”

“Yup!”

“Shit. Dean really can’t stay away, can he?”

“I’m not complaining.” However, my pulse begins to race.

“Alright, we have to cover up your face. Don’t want him asking too many questions.”

I wince and tenderly touch my cheek. “Do you think we can cover this?”

Bobby squints and then nods. “Easy. You’ll just have to put up with a little pain.”

Dean arrives an hour later, and for the first time, I’m actually at the door to greet him. He looks somewhat surprised and chuckles as he touches his chest.

“I half-expected you to come through the gate again,” he says in that warm, pleasant voice that sends tingles all over me. “Texting ahead is clearly the way forward.”

“It definitely gives me time to make sure I’m not in the bath. Or out shopping. Please, come in.”

“Thank you.” Dean ducks his head slightly as he passes me. Tiredness clings around his eyes and his brow seems slightly strained despite the pleasant smile on his face. “I hope I haven’t interrupted anything.”

“Not at all,” I assure him. “It’s been a slow day. I was up late last night so this has definitely been a gentle day.”

“Not because of me, I hope?” He turns in the hall to face me and looks genuinely concerned for a moment.

“No, not at all,” I assure him quickly. “I just had some things to tend to, so don’t worry. Although, speaking of, are you alright? You left here in such a rush, I was worried.”

“I’m sorry.” Dean follows me through to the kitchen. “I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

“I know we don’t know each other that well, but if there’s anything I can do to help, I’m willing to try.”

“Hopefully, that will change soon,” Dean says, catching my eye while I pick up two glasses of pink lemonade.

“Needing help?”

“No. How well we know one another.” His voice drops a few tones, and suddenly, his gaze grows intense.

Maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear he hasn’t taken his eyes off me since the hallway.

I turn away from him, eager to hide the thick layer of makeup masking the bruise on my face.

As much as I’d adore him to stare at me like that, I don’t need him to see anything and ask questions.

“Let’s sit out on the patio. The weather’s far too nice to stay inside.”

“How lovely.” Dean sheds his suit jacket and sets it down on the counter, then he follows me out onto the patio.

Does he never wear something relaxed like a T-shirt and jeans? So far, all he seems to wear is suits and nothing else. Maybe it’s a rich man thing.

“Here.” I pass him a glass of lemonade and head toward the small table and cluster of chairs at the far end of the patio. “So, what brings you around?”

“I wanted to apologize for how abruptly I left yesterday.”

“You don’t have to. Anything to do with your baby is surely incredibly important and I’d never hold that against you.” It’s alarming that he even feels the need to apologize, and the quiet guilt simmering in my gut swells slightly. He really is a decent man.

“True, yes. But it was rude of me to—” Dean suddenly falls deathly silent as a gust of wind dances through the patio. It catches on my hair and lifts a few strands, but as I lift my arm to catch them and tuck them behind my sore ear, the sleeve of my dress slips.

Dean’s footsteps halt behind me at the same moment.

“Clover.”

“Hmm?” Turning, I immediately realize my mistake with how Dean’s gaze has grown as dark as thunder and his eyes are fixated upon my injured arm. I immediately drop my arm, but he moves lightning fast to gently but firmly catch my elbow and prevent me from hiding.

My heart punches up into my throat as he speaks.

“Clover, who hurt you?”