Page 70 of Married into the Mob

“Of course.” I was taken back that he would ask. “We respect our elders.”

“And do you give money to victims of natural disasters like floods and fires?”

“Yes. No matter what, we donate.”

“And would you help an old lady with a walking stick across the road?”

Oh, I got a hint of where he was going. “Without question.”

“Hmmm, so if we add a trace of danger and a dash of guns and bullets, you’re not so different from the good guy you mentioned.”

That was a stretch. A huge one, but I’d run with his idea.

“Neither of us is perfect.” I stroked his mating mark and noted the bruises from when I’d grabbed him the day we met.

No more bruises, my wolf insisted.

Never!

“Says you.” His lopsided grin made my body tingle. “I’m close to it.”

I chuckled, longing to have him in my arms and my home.

“You brought Aunt Louisa flowers. Don’t I get a present?” He winked.

“Me. I’m the gift, one that keeps on giving.”

He tweaked my ear. “You are so full of yourself.”

“Not today, nor for the last week. But I’m hoping to be back to being full of myself very soon.”

“Good.” He rubbed his nose on mine.

“But I do have a little surprise.” I dangled a key in front of him.

“Is that what I think it is? For the Red Beast?” He didn’t wait for me to reply but threw himself into my arms. “I love you.”

“Should have given you the car sooner,” I grumbled.

Odell’s aunt stood behind the huge glass sliding doors, glowering at me.

“Louisa, I hope I can call you that.” She didn’t reply, and I added, “I understand your life is in flux, and my family and I want to offer you security.” I handed her a large envelope.

“What’s this?”

“The deed to this apartment. It’s in your name. You can live here, sell it, sublet it, whatever. It’s yours.”

She tore open the envelope and flipped through the pages.

“I didn’t sign this, but it is my signature. In the dealings I had with City Hall, my signature always had to be witnessed.”

A tiny oops. “No need to worry about that small detail.” It was ironic that that was how I’d met Odell. Damned paperwork.

I’d offered bribes to so many city officials, snitches, mafia guys spying on other packs, plus workers and managers in factories and businesses across the state.

But I’d never given what was essentially a bribe to provide my mate’s aunt with security and my mate some peace so he would worry less.

“I don’t know what to say.” Louisa’s hands were trembling, and Odell had his arms around her as they read the deed. “This place must be worth a lot.”