IN THE CLAWS OF THE MAFIA

PTE

e to find out why they still haven't fixed the AC yet, it's blowing out tropical heat, rather than cold air and baking us all. My face is flaming, and my pulse is beating so fa

return. She was wavering in the heat as much as me, but I

hero, Emma

t and cope alone during a very busy schedule. It's been three days since Jake returned and I feel l

cond skin. I'm obsessively clock watching for her to return, to relieve me for an hour, from this damned inferna

exy. I get the now familiar tingle in my stomach at the

." This is not what I need when I'm melting in

Crap.

without success. I pick up my notebook and pen, and glide past Margo's open office door at s

Mr. Ca

normally spiked style, as though he's been running his hands through it, and his sleeves rolled up, revealing one of the tattoos on his inner left arm. A reminder of his rebel teen years. I know fro

ands behind his head in a very "guy" manner. Stretching out and showcasing that beautiful physique, his biceps incre

es

pparently on it." I keep my eyes averted, m

ver me; I'm already conscious that I must look disheveled. I feel it. But the passing out has more to do with the way he

mma? He's

returns, sir." I blink at him and resist th

oblivious to the riot of hormones raging t

e to go on her return." I sound polite and factual. Trying not to

Maybe you'll feel cooler in here, I have the air vents open." He gestures at the wall of windows and I note the blinds moving a little

again?

ar and kill my train of thought. He turns his chair so he's fac

Compton. You'll find his details on the system." He is

scribble dow

ing tone clicks my a

s voice, sure I've done something h

line of vision. It's why he turned his chair. I blush and come around to sit in front of him abruptly. I hate that sinc

im alarmed, and see the humor veiled thinly. I give a short- embarrassed smile, to cover my re

things so

-phased, despite irregular heart pounding and cra

me, Emma." He relaxes back in his chair, d

of his hands. A mild irritation fluttering within that succes

y about my

ing." He looks amused, but annoyance churns down low inside of me. I came to do

all have the ability to sway people with a smile, have c

ond tightly, training my exp

Mr. Carrero, seeing as I'm paid

an eyebrow at me and breaks into an unguarded smile

kes women drop their panties in a blink, but he also has this annoying male "know it all" cheekiness. Arro

with a tight tone. I disapprove of his overfamiliarity. As much as I've seen him this way with Margo, I'm adamant that

I ignore him, looking down at my paper expectantly; relieved