Page 14 of The Mafia Marriage Contract

How the hell could he have just disappeared into thin air, like a goddamn ghost?

Livvie presses herself against the door, as far away from me as she can get. Her feet are up on the seat and she hugs her arms around the beaded white gown, staring out the window. I can’t help but stare at her profile, the line of her jaw, her slender neck.

I remember how good she smelled, how much better she tasted…

I rake a hand through my hair and grit my teeth.

That’s not all I remember, either.

That fucking prick Roman whatever the hell his last name is swooped down on her like an obsessed puppy when he ran onto the terrace after the shot was fired. The look on his face, his hand protectively wrapped around her arm.

An annoying fucking inkling tells me there’s something lurking behind the duty of it all. I saw the look on his face, in his eyes. He’s definitely got a hard-on for my wife. And he’s gonna stay far fucking away from her or else I will destroy him. I don’t give a good goddamn that O’Callaghan believes he’s the best. But I definitely do give a fuck that he sent Roman in the truck heading toward my penthouse.

Livvie doesn’t need a fucking babysitter.

I can protect my wife without his help.

And anyway, if he was such a great security guard, why the hell didn’t he pick out the sniper in the first place? How’d the guy even get to us?

“These guys are supposed to protect us,” Livvie mutters. “But where were they when the shooter found us? How’d he slip past them all, for Christ’s sake?”

Great minds…

Fuck my life.

She turns to look at me, her green eyes glittering with anger. “And how is it possible that he could disappear without a trace? I mean, really? Was it the blind leading the blind in there or what?”

I narrow my eyes. “If that was an accusation directed to my side, then I’d ask the same questions of yours. Your father sang the praises of your fucking puppy Roman, so where the hell was he?”

Livvie’s lips snap shut but before she can turn away, hercheeks flood with color.

I see it. And I don’t like it.

“What’s his deal, Livvie?” I ask, not really wanting to hear her answer but needing to.

A sigh shudders her shoulders. “He’s assigned to my father. So I don’t know, I guess he took it personally that someone got through the ranks, close enough to do real damage.”

If that isn’t the biggest load of bullshit I’ve ever heard.

“Your father’s personal guy comes straight to you, instead of ushering him out the door?”

She shrugs. “I’m an O’Callaghan, Kingston. He works for me, too.”

“You’re a Viacava, and he’s not needed anymore. I protect what’s mine and I don’t need your father’s men in my face. Or jerking off to thoughts of you. Understood?”

She gasps and flips around to face me. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Your best guy fucking failed tonight,” I grunt, ignoring her question as we pull up to my building. “And he won’t get another chance to crash and burn. My guys are taking over your security, got it?”

“You can’t make that decision for me.”

I lean close and grab her by the wrist. “I’m your husband. Like it or not. And we will live here together with my men protecting us. Tell your father to send Roman back to Mafia Security 101 since he obviously couldn’t make the grade the first time.”

“You’re such an arrogant asshole,” she seethes, trying to flick her wrist out of my grip. But my fingers wrap too tightly around it. “Everyone failed tonight. Even your security team.”

“And they’ll be dealt with by me. Your father needs to deal with his own men.”

The driver pulls the Escalade into the underground garage. I own the entire building and have my own section of the garage and a private elevator that leads to my penthouse. The units are all empty since the building was just remodeled, and everything is locked so there is no risk of anyone getting inside. And if that somehow happened, I’d be the first to know and slit their throat.