The Mafia Contract Series

I’m so worried about Flynn. When he told me about Rosemary, I was broken. I tried so hard to be strong but imagining his life and what he had to witness explains everything. It’s almost certain we will have a fight on our hands to be together, but if I lose everything but him, I will consider myself richer for it.

After his story ended, we made love again. This time it was with a firm resolve attached. As lovers, partners and forging a bond that nothing will ever break. Out of tragedy, a fierce, protective love has formed and understanding his past will help our future.

“I don’t want to go home.” I groan as we pack our bags and wait for the cab to take us to the airfield.

“We must, baby. We have much to do before we can move on from this.”

Flynn kisses me gently and I’m fearful of what lies ahead.

I know that he asked a friend of his to trace Massimo’s daughter. He sent the text after our meeting with Iris Young, and I’m curious about that.

“What will you do if you find Massimo’s daughter?”

Flynn laughs softly. “I will do nothing, my angel. It’s out of my hands now.”

“Then whose hands is it in?”

Flynn merely grins, and I watch the excitement flare in his eyes.

“Someone who will know exactly what to do.”

The phone rings announcing our cab has arrived and as we bid farewell to the penthouse, I’m sad that our cozy bubble is about to burst.

“What will we tell my father?”

I’m nervous about that and as Flynn rests his arms around my shoulder, he says reassuringly, “We will tell him everything. He has a right to that, at least.”

“Everything!” The blood drains from my face and Flynn laughs. “Well, maybe not absolutely everything, just what we need him to know.”

He drops a light kiss on the top of my head and sighs. “I’m guessing he won’t be happy about us. I wouldn’t be if you were my daughter.”

“Why not? He couldn’t have found a more suitable, well, um, suitor if he tried.”

I giggle and he twists his fingers in mine and raises them to his lips. “Well, obviously we know that, but well, he will be afraid for you. My world is dark and extreme and there is no place in it for a woman like you.”

Now I’m fearful and my voice shakes. “What do you mean?”

“It means I will do everything to keep you safe.”

I’m uneasy because there is so much against us and now that I’ve found Flynn, I’m waiting for fate to whisk him away again as quickly.

We reach the airfield and my heart sinks. In a few hours’ time, we will be home and things may change. Flynn has business to attend to and so do I. Just thinking about going back to work with all this happening around me makes my head hurt. I want to remain by Flynn’s side and guide him through it but understand it will help him more if I stay out of his business.

“What are you thinking?”

He drops a light kiss on my lips, and I smile brightly. “That I don’t want to go back to work.”

He looks into my eyes and smiles. “It may be what you need to distract you from this madness.”

“Or add to it.”

I groan out loud. “Why did my father partner me up with that creep? I was loving life before that and now I’m dreading going to the office.”

“Then prove you’re better than him. You already are, so it won’t be difficult.”

I smile at him with so much love, my heart aches under the strain. “You make me feel better about myself, Flynn. That’s some gift you have there.”

“It’s easy when it concerns you.”

As we make the journey home, it’s the sweetest yet the most desperate. When we land, it will signify a new beginning, at least I’m hopeful for that and not the ending I fear when my father learns exactly how close I’ve got to his stepson.

VIVIAN’S SMILING face is the first thing that greets us when we head through the door, and I don’t miss the hunger in her gaze as she looks at her son. He is happy to see her. It’s obvious from the softening of his eyes and the smile he directs her way as she pulls him into her arms.Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

After learning what a terrible life he has had up until now, it makes my heart glow and I wonder how I’ll feel if I’m made to walk away so that Vivian can have a relationship with her son. On the one hand, I think my father will understand, but on the other, he may be angry and tell us it’s one or the other. I’m not sure how things will pan out and I’m nervous about that.

“Where’s dad?” I interrupt their homecoming, and Vivian looks up and smiles. “He won’t be long;

he’s taking a call in the den.”

Almost on cue, we hear a deep voice, “Sorry guys, business never goes away.”

I turn and a wave of love hits me for my father. The pleasure in his eyes as he holds out his arms has me running into them as if I am ten years old again. As they wrap around me, I squeeze my eyes tightly against the tears and love how secure he always makes me feel.

“How did it go?” He’s referring to the business I pretended I was there for, and I’m a little guilty about that and with a sinking heart I decide he deserves the truth, so I say softly, “Daddy, we have something to tell you.”

The tension increases in the room as I watch my father exchange a look with Vivian, who appears anxious and I nod reassuringly to Flynn and say, “Perhaps we should all go into the living room and grab a drink. I’m guessing we’ll need one when Flynn finishes his story.”

We share a smile, and it doesn’t go unnoticed as the realization dawns in Vivian’s eyes. I hate the anxious expression that replaces the happy one and hope they can move past our family connection and understand we aren’t related by blood and there is nothing wrong with this.

Flynn smiles at his mother and I see a softening in her features and if anyone can persuade them, he can, so as we all head to the living room for the showdown I always knew was coming, I wonder what state our relationships will be in when we walk out of there.