Page 143 of The Spare

"Hi," I say shyly, taking in how tall he is, his olive skin, striking features, dark brown hair and sharp eyes. He looks like a mafia boss, indeed. Broad.

And where he can't physically fill up a room, his energy does. It's a bit scary.

I peek at Dad before shifting my weight on my feet.

Lucien tugs his suit, smoothing one hand down his abdomen before casting a curious look at Mason, who just gets this wicked grin on his face and then scrubs his hand across his jaw, trying to hide the mischievous glint in his eyes. I warm because I know that look.

I just know they were talking about something inappropriate.

Hopefullynotthe marathon night of lovemaking he made me endure the night before.

Just for that, I'm taking his ass on a long early morning run tomorrow. Lucien comes up to me and places his hands on my shoulders, giving me a light squeeze before bending down to kiss both of my cheeks.

"Bellisima!" he says loudly, chucking me under the chin and then standing back a couple feet, giving me a thorough look up and down. He tsks. "Do you know how close we were to getting married?"

"U-Uh…" I stammer, frowning and throwing Dad and Mason a look."No."

He chuckles, grinning at me as he walks past and sits back down in his seat. "Would have been incredibly fucked up finding out we were cousins after the fact." He makes a face. "Jesus, that would have been a mess."

Making my way to the seat next to Mason, I sit down gingerly, looking around his office while he picks up a pen and starts flipping it. My eyes clock a ugly as hell looking rabbit on his mantle, and it makes me think of Charayl because of the rabbit necklace she wears.

He waits a few heartbeats before clearing his throat softly, bringing my attention back to him. "How're you finding California, Mel?"

"Oh, it's beautiful. I'd wanted to go to college here, but I was forced to stay in New York."

He smiles. "What a shame. You look like a Californian. New York is so…" He flicks a look to Mason before bringing his eyes back to me."Nasty."

I tighten my lips and nod. Not exactly sure how to make small talk with a mafia Don.

"So, why has it taken you so long to come see your big cousin?" He gives me a blinding smile with his perfectteeth and I grin, looking at Dad.

Maximus chuckles. "That's my fault, Luca. I just wanted to have her to myself for a while. Thanks for indulging me."

"Well," he scoffs, looking to the side and tossing his pen down on the table. "That's what family is for, am I right?"

The men trade a look and I twist my lips, feeling nervous and eager to say something,anything."Do you like sweets?" I blurt out.

He arches an amused brow. "I do, why?"

"Well, Mr. Scognamiglio, I'd thought about bringing you a desert, but wasn't sure which one you'd like."

Lucien smiles. "Oh please, Mel. We're cousins, call me Luca. And I love,lovea good brownie."

I give him a small smile back. "Okay, Luca. I'll remember for next time."

"She's quite the baker!" Dad boasts, looking down at me with pride. "I've already gained four pounds since she's come to stay."

Lucien's smile broadens. "I love sweets. They're my guilty pleasure." He leans forward and lowers his voice to a whisper. "Especially peaches and cream cheesecake. Bring that next time, will ya?"

"We can still hear you," Mason drawls in a bored voice, rolling his eyes.

Luca smiles and sits back in his seat, adopting a sudden, stoic look. "Anyways, I thought it'd be best to inform you two together that I will be having to place you under our security detail-"

"Uhm, why?" I half laugh, throwing a 'back me the hell up' look at Mason. "There's no need. We have our own, and Dad's place is crawling with security guards."

Helets me finish my sentence, even giving me a second or two after speaking just to see if I've said all I needed to say. And that's nice to see, honestly.

"Because you're the cousin to the head of a very powerful family, and the wife to a member of another very powerful family, and the daughter of a man who many want dead." He makes a cutting motion with his hand. "Three strikes,you're out."