A Deal With The Italian Mafia

ave eaten

ation? But now, seconds from walking down the ai

nds clammy. And my stomach

st walk. One foot in front

eked from behind the massi

a fainting spell. What the hell was I thinking, pro

, I nodded weakly. Sur

d. A sea of eye

sea, but definit

st marble-loud, too loud. Each clic

ich felt... wrong. This wasn't lov

e, I made the fatal m

xpression unreadable, like he

riat

ed to chuck it at his smug fa

nful step, toward the man who had k

speak, just took my hands and turned us to face t

l,

fted my chin, ignoring the way

t love, commitment, devotion-I w

ual expression? He looked like he wanted

ly-"It's time to e

nk

slipped from my fingers like

the drea

kiss yo

h.

ss. With my

ino slid an arm around my waist and pulled me cl

. And just like t

ack like not

stood there-m

ust bla

ured as he turned

followed his lead, f

was some fairytale romance inste

ace unreadable, though I caught a

utiful up there

p," I m

"Nice save wi

Meanwhile, I was still replaying The Kiss on an endless loop-no

t maybe... I was

of his lips. The way his hand had

t of it

Unfortunately, that's whe

o pass out back there," he said.

ked o

away, opened the car door, and sli

frozen

ke the thir

to sleep standing

amble

s smiles-mafia dons, their wives, political

champagne. "To t

loyalty," ano

y. Sure. Try fe

asses, taking a sip. Th

mist

-

ino's

at nothing. Her cheeks flushed, smile lazy,

pagne," she declared

" I muttered, catching

poking my chest. "I

and tossed her o

she yelled, k

happe

kidnappin

n't I just leave

till mumbling nonsense. I dro

le

huffed, rolling aro

had only a few drinks, b

grabbed

t enough before I

into my shirt. Lips

a," I

kiss

've pull

idn

lips, body arching int

ng her closer. The kiss turned hungr

way. I tore it off.

ed my name, everythi

-

ia's

the sinking realization that

want to think about, and worst of

rtl

hat si

d myself

vivid detail. The kiss.

thinking a

shut. Maybe this

finitely

ll asleep, still looking sinfu

. O

I could escape. No gu

he soreness. I crept to the door,

ou think yo

fr