My Mafia Mystery The Barefoot Princess

Kat POV

I pressed my ear to the door of the suite on the third floor of the Palazzo Hotel, hearing the steady breathing of the occupant inside. He must be fast asleep - just how I wanted him.

“This should be easy,” I whispered to myself as I pulled the lock picks from where I had hidden them in my hair.

The hotel had been deserted as I had made my way through the foyer and hallways, as it should be at 3am. Only a sleepy looking desk clerk had possibly seen me, but I think the man was too busy scrolling through reels on his phone to even realise that I had snuck in.

Not exactly the kind of service you would expect to find at a five star hotel, but I was glad for it. 

Within a few seconds, I had the door unlocked. With a slightly proud smile, I slipped off my shoes and pushed the door  quietly open before I snuck inside. The room was lavishly decorated and my bare feet sunk into the thick carpet. Exquisite paintings hung on almost every wall and I had to stop myself from pulling one off the wall and cutting it from its frame. 

One of those would earn me a bonus for sure, but I had to find the necklace first. 

I moved slowly and quietly, grateful for the dim moonlight streaming in through the open windows and my ability to see well in the darkness. 

“If I had a diamond necklace, where would I put it?” I mouthed, not daring to whisper in case I woke up the sleeping Castello man. 

The man in question snored loudly and rolled over, facing the bedside table - and the large, velvet box which sat there. 

“It had to be next to his bed, didn’t it?” I thought to myself as I padded closer. 

My eyes fell on the Castello, his sleeping face making him seem peaceful - well, almost peaceful. The scar which ran across his eye belied the peacefulness of his expression, making him seem like a Viking from the olden days. I could imagine him leading a group of fellow Vikings on a raid, the wind blowing in his dark hair which was slightly longer than the length I usually liked, but it suited him more than short hair would have. 

My eyes trailed down his muscular torso, barely covered by the duvet and I bit my lower lip. “A sexy Viking at that,” I thought. 

It was a damned shame that the Castellos were the enemy. They had been at war with the Milano family for years, and I guess that meant he was supposed to be my rival too. It should be a crime to lust after a man who would probably smile as he slit your throat - but there I was, imagining what it would be like to feel his naked body against mine. 

I may have still been a virgin, but I knew enough about the birds and the bees from Giulia. She was extremely open about her work as a prostitute. I just had no desire to launch myself at the Milano men who hung around the house, but that didn’t stop me from imagining what sort of man I would like to be with. And the Viking was damned close.

I tore my eyes from the sexy Viking and edged closer to the velvet box. I picked it up and opened it carefully, my eyes watching the man’s face for any signs that my close presence had awoken him, but he was still fast asleep.