The Mafia Contract Series

This is an interesting situation I never saw coming. Alone with what could be my cousin and yet somehow, I wish things were very different.

Not because I don’t like Flynn, hell I don’t even know him, but what I’ve seen so far is favorable.

No, it’s the feeling deep inside when he looks at me with those sexy, dangerous eyes. No man has ever looked at me like that and it’s just my luck that I’m related to the first one who does.

Vivian and my father leave the room and it’s a little awkward for all of a second.

I’m surprised when Flynn flashes me a blinding smile that puts me at ease immediately.

“Sorry you’ve got to babysit. I’ll try to make it a painless experience.”

“It’s fine, really.”

I regard him with interest, but not enough to make it obvious and laugh a little awkwardly.

“So, the guided tour. I’m guessing you’re here to stay for a while, so you’ll need the extended one.”

He looks a little sad and I wonder if I’ve said anything wrong and he sighs. “I hope I can stay, but well, I have a life in LA that’s calling me back.”

He holds up his phone and shows me the number of notifications on the screen, and he sighs. “I can ignore them to a point before it gets more difficult.”All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Tell me about your life, Flynn.” I say impulsively and he replies wearily, “You wouldn’t want to know.”

“You’re wrong.”

He raises his eyes and I smile shyly. “I would. I mean, what do you do for a job? Have you a family now, a girl perhaps?”

I color up as I say it and hate how transparent I am, and he smiles with amusement. “I have no one, Louisa. Just a group of friends who care, but nobody else.”

“That’s…” “Sad.” He sighs. “It’s not good, but I have never known any different.”

I smile nervously and nod toward the door.

“Shall we start our tour?”

“After you.”

He stands to the side, and my heart flutters at the look in his eye. I’m guessing it’s because I’m inexperienced in these things and read more into it than there is, but I could swear he is flirting with me. It’s the lazy way he drags his eyes across my body, looking as if he approves of what he sees.

I’ve never had that. Nobody ever gazes at me with interest, merely disbelief that I’m Sienna’s sister.

Wishing like crazy I had worn something different, part of me is shouting at me, no screaming at me that this is one forbidden obsession because he is my cousin, for Christ’s sake.

Quickly, I remind us both and say a little hesitantly, “Do you know Massimo Delauren?”

“Not personally. Do you?”

“No, but I’ve heard of him.”

“He’s your uncle. I’m sure that you have.”

“It’s not good, I’m afraid.”

“It never is when his name is mentioned.”

“How does it feel knowing he’s…” I hesitate because I’m not sure we should be having this conversation and Flynn appears angry as he says sharply, “Like someone has ripped out my heart and burned it with acid.”

“I see.” I’m a little taken aback by the anger in his voice and he sighs, before placing his hand on my arm to stop me.

“I’m sorry, Louisa. Today has been a learning curve I never expected. I should concentrate on the good that came out of it and focus on Vivian. Tell me about her.”

Just his hand on me has distracted me a little and for a moment I hesitate and say awkwardly, “Um, she’s great. I love her like a mother and have nothing bad to say about her.”

“That’s good to hear.”

He smiles and I can’t stop staring because I have never seen a man who blinds me as much as he does. It’s like staring into the sun and being momentarily dazzled by the intensity of its rays. I am experiencing an attraction I can’t reason with, and like a lovesick puppy, I have placed him high on a pedestal and already idolize him. I must be delirious because he is paying me attention and so I drag my eyes away and say in a higher voice than usual, “This is the games room.”

I lead him into a place my father adores. A typical men’s retreat with a pool table, a mahogany bar, and a huge television, around which are comfortable chairs and low-slung tables.

“Impressive.” Flynn appears fascinated as he gazes around the room, and I say quickly. “What’s your home like, Flynn?”

I wonder if he lives in a similar house, and he laughs with an edge of derision. “It’s big, bold, and distasteful. Filled with antiques and dusty tapestries, hidden doors and secretive passageways, all leading to the most uncomfortable rooms anyone would hate to explore. It’s guarded like a fortress and hides many sins. It’s hell on earth and I pray you never witness it first-hand.”

“Oh.”

I don’t know what else to say, and he laughs darkly. “This is a home, Louisa. Mine is a prison. I was brought up there by my uncle, who made it his mission in life to make mine hell on earth. The only person who ever showed me affection was my nanny, Rosemary.”

He breaks off and looks away, and I can tell the memory is not a pleasant one.

“What happened? To Rosemary, I mean.”

I wish I hadn’t asked, because it’s as if the shutters open for the briefest moment and I witness a festering wound behind his eyes. Rage, grief and hatred flash in a cocktail of misery and I almost think it will bring him down, but he closes his eyes and when he opens them, the fire has gone.

He says coldly, “She died.”

I open my mouth with more questions that are immediately forgotten as he fixes his attention on me and says huskily, “What about you? Tell me about Louisa.”

“Me?”

Nobody ever asks me about me and for good reason. There is absolutely nothing to say and so I laugh nervously.

“I’m not interesting enough to have a story to tell, Flynn. I have no friends; my sister doesn’t understand me, and I spend all my time studying and trying to be as good at business as my father.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“What?”

“That you have no friends and I find you very interesting as it happens.”

“You do.”

I must appear shocked at that, and he surprises me by moving behind the bar and grabbing two glasses.

“Do you think your father would mind if we had a couple of drinks and shot some pool?”

“I guess not.” I’m surprised and a little nervous, saying, “To be honest, I don’t drink, and I’ve never played pool.”

He must wonder what planet I’m from and yet all he does is smile sweetly. “OK, two firsts coming up. Let me educate you.”

I perch on a bar stool and watch him make two drinks.

“What are they?”

I’m interested to find out, and he grins. “V odka Martinis.”

“V odka, I’m not sure…” “Trust me, you’ll love them.”

He slides one across and leans on the bar, raising his own glass to mind and I swallow hard because this man is doing something to me inside that I never saw coming.

“To family and new beginnings.”

“To family.” I’m sure my voice must be dressed in disappointment because he winks and sips the drink, watching me through those dark, disturbing eyes the entire time.

As I hold the glass to my lips, I must wince as the bitter liquid coats my tongue and he whispers, “You’ll get used to it.”

Trying so hard not to be a complete buzz kill, I take a swig and almost choke on the fumes.

“People like that.” I stare at him in shock, and he laughs softly. “As I said, you’ll get used to it.

There are many things in life that start off disgusting, but you soon develop an urgent need for.”

Once again, he winks and fuck me, I’m flooding with heat right now and without thinking, I almost down the drink in one, loving the burn as it douses the fire inside with even more gasoline.

Flynn turns to the pool table and removes two cues from the rack on the wall and hands one to me.

“Let me teach you.”

“OK.”

I stand awkwardly as he sets it up and explains what he’s doing every step of the way. Perhaps it’s the drink, or it’s probably him, but I can’t rip my eyes from his body as he shrugs off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. I stare at the intricate ink on his forearms and am strangely turned on by that.

In fact, I’m a raging mass of hormones right now and once again, wish like crazy I had never thought a sweater was a good outfit choice for dinner.

As he calls me forward to take my turn, I almost hyperventilate when he stands behind me and positions his arms around my shoulders and demonstrates how to hold the cue properly. My mind is buzzing, my lady parts are throbbing, and I don’t think I have long before my heart gives out on me.

Yet throughout my embarrassing body meltdown, Flynn speaks huskily in my ear as he explains the game, and I swear I am in heaven.