Page 42 of Vows of a Mobster

“Yes, he signed over all his bank accounts and assets,” she replied sarcastically. “Super joyous affair.”

“What the fuck is wrong with you, Marcus?” Daphne glared at him. I couldn’t agree with her more. He was lucky the girl didn’t slap him.

“I was just curious,” he mumbled. “So how did you support yourself after that?”

My brother was an idiot; there was nothing else to say in his defense. There was nothing more to say for him. He shouldn’t be even handling the mail department in my company and organization. It was the main reason I refused to bring him into our business. Blood or no blood, I refused to have men die because my brother had no common sense at all. Our kind of life was not for everyone, and definitely not for him.

“Fuck, Marcus,” Marissa hissed at him. “Would you shut the fuck up?”

“You don’t have to answer that, bambina,” Antonio chimed in glaring at my brother. “No gentleman pries like that into a lady’s life.”

Brianna actually chuckled, smiling at Antonio gratefully. “Thank you! Although I don’t know if I qualify for a lady,” she commented softly. She turned to my brother and continued, “Marcus, if you were hoping I’d say I joined a strip joint or something extravagant like that, you’ll be sadly disappointed. My grandmother couldn’t stand my mother and took me in. I finished my last year of college and wrote some... hmm, how should I say it delicately, literature that sold well enough to help pay the bills. And I taught ballet classes to children.”

Marcus went to open his mouth again, she cut him off. “And you won’t ask me any more questions because you are starting to get on my nerves.” Brianna shook her head. A song came on, and she quickly stood up. “Anyone up for a dance? I love this song.”

“I regularly would,” Daphne said, “but Marissa and I will take a moment to drag Marcus behind the house and beat the crap out of him.”

Brianna’s eyes lit up. “Perfect, make it hurt. That leaves you two gentlemen.” Her eyes traveled over me and Antonio. If Antonio took her onto the dancefloor, I’d have to shoot him.

“I would but my knees hurt,” he gave her a bullshit excuse. He liked her too. Who in their right mind wouldn’t?

“Only if you tell me one of your long stories,” I told her, smiling.

“You got it,” she took my hand without reservation and pulled me onto my feet. Antonio’s and Marissa’s surprised looks didn’t escape my notice.

Her small hand felt good in my grip, even though it was her that took my hand first. I couldn’t remember the last time a woman initiated a touch so effortlessly and naturally. It was usually me that initiated contact. The song was unfamiliar but smooth enough. I couldn’t stand today’s loud and senseless music that younger generations preferred. I guess it showed how old I was.

The song was of a slightly faster tempo, but she just wrapped her arms around my shoulder and our bodies moved slowly.

“Hope this is okay,” she murmured. “I figured you probably don’t appreciate fast songs.”

I laughed at the undertone of her light insult of my age. “You are right.”

“Although I am sure you would master it in no time,” she teased, as our bodies moved in sync. She didn’t press her body against mine, but my body still brushed against her soft curves. She wasn’t trying to be sexy nor seductive and that made her even more desirable.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” I retorted slightly dryly but she just smiled. “You are quite the dancer.”

“Thanks.”

“You like this song?” I asked her, urging her to keep talking.

“It’s good,” she murmured softly. “Kind of repetitive.”

“What’s the name of it?”

“Well, you’d think it was called watermelon sugaras many times as he repeats it,” her voice was light and she was smiling. It didn’t escape me there were quite a bit of glances thrown our way. “But it’s actually called “Fine Lines”by Harry Styles.”

“It’s not bad,” I murmured against her hair. She smelled good. No perfume, just clean fresh lemon smell. Was it lemon or lime?

Gently, I pulled her closer to me, although it was a risk. I wasn’t sure if she felt this sizzling attraction as well. She didn’t flirt with me or gave any signs she’d welcome my advances. There was no resistance as she pressed her small body against mine.

Sixteen

Brianna

Iwasn’t sure what possessed me to grab Mateo and drag him onto the dancefloor. When I first suggested it, it was meant for Marissa and Daphne. I wanted to get away from Marcus and his questions.

But here I was, dancing with Mateo Agosti. His body felt good against mine, hard and warm. And he smelled good, like expensive scotch and a woodsy cologne mix. His beard stubble pricked my scalp since he was a whole head taller than me. Every time he spoke, his chin brushed against my hair.