Page 22 of Malicious Marriage (Mafia Lords of Sin #9)

CLOVER

“ W hy are you shaking?” Bobby takes his eyes off the road to give me his usual stop it look so I press my knees together to try and combat the urge to release the nervous energy building inside me.

“I’m not.”

“Dude.”

“Sorry, reflex. I just…” I shake my head and drum my fingers against the door while Bobby weaves us through the city. “I’m just thinking.”

“About?”

“Dean.”

“Are you thinking about him or his dick?”

“Bobby!”

“What? You’re the one who’s been sad for the past couple of days ever since you laid down the law with him. No blurring business and pleasure, remember?”

“I know, it’s not that.”

“Then what is it?”

“He agreed for us to get married before the end of the month.”

“And?”

“I’m just… I feel like I’m waiting for him to pop up and tell me that it’s all a trick and he’s not really going to help me at all.”

“You know what might make you feel better?” Bobby’s eyes dart about the road as he turns us onto his street.

“What?”

“Telling him the truth.”

“Bobby…”

“No, listen. I get that you’re wanting to be married because then his money will be your money and you’ll have all the resources to find Hailey.

I support that. I also understand why you told him the loan shark money was to find Hailey.

I think that’s a good step. But this is getting messy.

He clearly likes you, so why not think about telling him the whole truth? ”

“You know why.”

“Do I?”

“You didn’t see what I saw at the gala or hear about how he talked about his ex lying to him. As soon as he finds out I’ve lied, nothing else will matter. He’ll drop me like hot coal and I’ll be back to square one, only without a rich guy to help me get my family back.”

“Do you really think he wouldn’t understand?” Bobby pulls up outside his house and turns off the engine. “He seems… decent for a rich criminal.”

“Honestly?” Unbuckling my seatbelt, I watch it slide back into place and sigh.

“I think the social pressure, his family pressure, the shit with his ex and how highly they hold reputation will mean he won’t understand.

He’s balancing on this very fragile plate surrounded by rumors and facing down doing what he wants versus what his family needs.

And I’m helping him gain breathing room.

But I know what I saw at the gala. He’d become a carcass for those vultures the moment people learned he made a mistake and got involved with someone who isn’t just a nobody but was disowned from their family. ”

“And when your uncle comes back?” Bobby asks softly.

“By then… by then, we will be married and as you said, I’ll have all the money and the power to find my sister and with her, we can take my family back. And we’re already planning an amicable divorce so it won’t matter. He’ll be busy with his baby and I’ll have Hailey back.”

Bobby nods slowly. “I’m not against you, just to be clear. I just wanted to know what you’re thinking.”

“But you don’t agree with me.” My eyes narrow. “I can tell.”

Bobby shrugs. “It doesn’t matter if I do or I don’t. I’m in this with you and I support you. If this is how you want to play it, then that’s what we’ll do.”

His words of comfort don’t do much to make me feel better but he doesn’t understand Dean like I do. He’s made it clear how much he values trust, and I don’t want to be someone else who lied to him. Because Bobby is right. I care about Dean a lot and in such a short time, it’s almost overwhelming.

And deep down, I don’t want to lose him. He makes me feel lighter every time he smiles at me. I can’t risk his finding out the truth until a ring is on my finger and his money is mine.

Hailey is my goal.

Nothing else matters. Or so I tell myself.

As Bobby climbs out of the car and heads inside, I follow at a slower pace while dialing Ryan’s number.

“Hey, bitch, it’s about time you called.”

“I’m calling to tell you that I wired what I owe you directly to your boss. So we’re done, you understand? You don’t contact me again, you don’t come near me. You don’t even think about me.”

“Powerful words for someone in your position.” Ryan snorts. “Aye, I heard the money arrived. How’d you manage that?”

“None of your business.”

“Was it your rich little boy toy? Did he pay you before or after you spread that foul cunt?”

“Goodbye, Ryan.”

“You’ll be back,” he growls. “Men like Dean? They don’t stay with fat fucks like you for long. He’ll want someone thin and pretty, more so when he finds out you don’t even have a good family name to prop him up. You’re nothing, Clover. You hear me? You’re just a fucking stain on everyone you?—”

I hang up before I can hear any more and stand at the bottom of the steps with my heart pounding.

Fuck that guy. I hate him. What did I ever see in him?

“You coming?” Bobby reappears at the door. “Frankie’s making burgers.”

“Yeah.” I force a smile and hurry up the steps while putting Ryan out of my mind. “I’m starving.”

Dinner with Bobby, Frankie, and their adorable son Thomas is as exciting as it always is. Frankie’s cooking is delicious and while he doesn’t know all the details, he voices a similar opinion as Bobby regarding telling Dean the truth. I know they mean well, but they don’t know him like I do.

They don’t fully understand what my bad reputation—or lack of—could really do to a family like the Savoys.

Too many are hungering for their downfall due to jealousy or worse.

We eat burgers, share stories, and I spend a good forty minutes helping Thomas paint the animals he saw at the zoo today.

My elephants could definitely use some work.

Before long, Frankie kisses my cheek and invites me to stay over, but I decline. Frankie carries Thomas off to bed, and Bobby offers to drive me home, which I accept, although we both know there’s no other way I can afford to get home.

Halfway back to the manor, he gets a call that diverts our destination.

“You don’t mind, do you?” Bobby asks as he quickly does a U-turn and heads deeper into the city.

“Not at all. Who is it we’re picking up?”

“Conor. He’s a friend of a friend, technically.”

“Technically?”

“Well, everyone in the security racket sort of runs in the same circles, y’know? I knew of Jack before I met him but had never met him in person. You sort of keep those contacts in case you’re ever looking for work, and guard or protection of Mafia heirs is a specific set of skills.”

“I understand. That’s kind of sweet.”

“It is until one family falls out with another and then your friend becomes an enemy purely because of work.” Bobby scoffs softly. “Such is the way of the world.”

“And this guy, Conor? Who does he work for?”

“I’m not entirely sure, if I’m honest, but he’s friends with Jack to a degree, so it must be a family thing.”

“Fair.”

Bobby eventually pulls up outside a sports bar and hops out of the car with a promise to be back soon.

I turn on the radio and sink into late-night jazz while waiting and try not think about what Dean might be doing right now.

It would be a bad idea to call him, but the thought of hearing his voice makes my stomach flip.

I’m so distracted that I jump out of my skin as the back door opens and Bobby pours a drunken man into the back seat. He flops across the seat only to be hauled back upright and buckled in.

“There ya go, buddy,” Bobby says, patting his cheek. “You’re lucky Jack knows where you live.”

“Whatever, man,” Conor whines. “Ain’t no fuckin’ point anyway.”

My brow lifts. Tears glitter in his eyes, and while the stink of vodka seems to radiate off him, he seems sad. “Hey, Conor, I’m Clover.”

“Sup,” he mumbles, then burps.

Bobby climbs into the driver’s seat with a sigh. “Not long, Conor, just don’t puke in my car, alright?”

“I won’t,” Conor mumbles. “Unless it’s puke of tears!”

“Wow.” I chuckle. “Bad night?”

“Don’t—” Bobby warns, but it’s too late.

Conor surges forward and clutches at the back of my seat. “What’s wrong with me?”

I shrink back slightly. “Huh?”

“I’m a decent guy. A good guy. I’m a good guy. I bought her flowers. I took her to dinner. I loved her. I cared for her. I paid for everything but she just decides I’m not good enough?”

Ah. I know a broken heart when I see one. “I’m sorry,” I say. “Sometimes these things don’t work out.”

“That’s what she said!” He slumps back into the back seat and groans. “I did everything right. I just don’t understand. When you… when you love someone, why isn’t that enough? Why isn’t it enough, man?”

“I don’t know, dude,” Bobby replies. “But sleep will help.”

“I don’t wanna sleep, I wanna see her.”

“Who’s her?” I whisper to Bobby, but he shrugs.

“No clue.”

“I’ve been trying to get her back but she won’t listen, man. She just won’t listen.”

“I think that’s a sign,” I say softly. “She’s not worth it if she won’t listen, and you can’t make her. Maybe it’s just not meant to be.”

“Make her,” Conor mumbles. “I’ll make her.”

“Huh?”

I turn in time to see him drag his phone from his pocket and blearily hit a few keys, then he presses it to his ear. “Hey, babe, it’s me.”

“Oh, God,” I whisper. “Maybe drive faster, Bobby.”

“As the limit allows,” he replies.

“I tried to forget about you tonight,” Conor drones on. “I tried but no one is as pretty as you. No one understands me like you do. We had so much fun together and I didn’t even care about the other guy!”

Other guy? Now I’m intrigued.

“I undersaaaand,” Conor groans. “Sacrifices and stuff, but what if we didn’t have to? What if we just told the truth and told everyone about our love? I’d be there, y’know. I’d be there when your family disowns you. I’d care for you and our little one. I’d be such a good man for you, I would.”

Disown? Bobby and I exchange a curious look.

“Please, Trisha, just talk to me. I love you, okay? I love you so much!”

Wait a second, Trisha?

I turn back around to Conor as he hangs up the phone and eye the device. As it starts to slip from his limp fingers, I reach around and catch it.

There’s no way… right?

“Conor, did you say Trisha?” Luckily, his phone is still unlocked as I take it and scroll through to his recent calls.

“Mhmmmmm, love of my damn life.” He hiccups sharply.

“Trisha as in Trisha Wilcox?” The number he called is saved only as Trisha with a bunch of heart emojis.

“That’s her, that’s my girl,” Conor slurs. “I love her so much and I was gonna be such a great dad until she fucked off. I know I was. I’d be a good man for her and a good dad for… our baby…”

He slumps forward, passed out, as a stunned silence fills the car.

His baby?