Page 132 of The Devil's Heir

"How the hell was I supposed to know that, huh?"

"You should know better than to think I could ever hurt you," I reply.

It's been a full week since the whole incident with the gun and me taking a life. Jackson has barely said two words to me unless it had to do with work. I knew the consequences of my actions, but I didn't think it would take this long for Jackson to forgive me. I miss my friend.

Fran and Heidi are still talking to me, but there's tension all around us. I need to find a way to make it right again. I'm sorry that it came down to that, but I'll do it again if I have to. Hopefully, it will never come to that again. I think Jarek knows better than to leave me out of business that pertains to me.

I cannot and will not allow others to take care of my problems. I don't care if they are the Mafia Boss; it's still my problem, and I need to be included in making the decisions. Of course, I don't like how Jarek handles things, but I was telling the truth that day. I love Jarek, and I'll stand by him for better or for worse.

My life will forever be in danger now that people know who I am and that I'm carrying his heir, so I can either stay where I can be protected and be able to be with the man I love, or I will forever be in hiding. I choose the former.

I pull two tickets out of my back pocket for the most anticipated baseball game of the season and hold them up in front of Jackson's face.

"So, I guess I should find someone else to take these tickets?" I ask with a raised brow.

Jackson does a double take when he sees what I'm holding and tries to snatch them from my fingers. I'm faster, though. I shake my head, grinning.

Jackson rolls his eyes. "You know damn well that I'm going to forgive you, Lily. I just needed to make you sweat. You made me piss my pants, for fuck's sake."

I giggle even though I do feel bad about that. I never thought I'd make a grown man pee his pants.

"Well, why do you think I got you two tickets?AndI made sure you and Seth both have the night off."

"Me and Seth? So, you're not going?" he asks, confused.

"God, no, I'm not a sports fan."

Jackson then shows me his pearly whites and hugs me. "You are forgiven, and thank you for the tickets."

"Well, that was easy enough," I say softly, then chuckle. "Now I know how to win you over each time I hold you at gunpoint."

Jackson releases me quickly and glares down at me. "Don't ever do that again, Lily. Otherwise, it's going to take you more than two baseball tickets to win me back."

I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to hide my amusement. "Then I guess it's a good thing that I have Jarek's credit card," I say.

Jackson scoffs before turning and walking away, leaving me smiling after his retreating form. I have a feeling I'm going to be apologizing a lot to my friend and spending a lot of Jarek's money to make up for whatever fuck up I'm apologizing for.

SIXTY

Jarek

"Rossi has arrived at his home back in Italy," Lonzo informs me over lunch.

My underboss called, asking me to meet him because he had news about our little friend. Joseph Lonzo Sr. may not have had a beef with the Rossi Boss before, but now that he almost took Lonzo's son from him, he wants Rossi to pay dearly.

"Does he know we have his daughter?" I ask, lifting my glass of whiskey and taking a healthy sip.

The restaurant where we meet for these particular meetings is private for the Elite in the city. Anywhere from doctors, lawyers, and corrupt businessmen dine here when they don't want to be bothered. I have a special table at the back so we can see who enters at all times.

There are only a handful of diners here at the moment, so it's pretty quiet. That's how I like it. It makes no difference how corrupt or upstanding the person is; I don't trust anyone. My top-tier men are the only ones I trust with my life.

The smile on my underboss's face is all I need to know that he's up to something. I set my glass down and give Lonzo my full attention.

"Rossi should be getting my little gift any moment now." He lifts his glass of scotch and takes a drink.

"What gift is this?" I raise my eyebrow, finding it interesting that I knew nothing of this delivery beforehand.

"I may have sent the Rossi Crest ring that Zita was wearing, along with the bullet that hit my son." He smiles maniacally.