Entangled With A Mafia Boss

"Does it hurt?" Tessa stared at Vincenzo’s wounds.

"I had two gunshot wounds and a sprained hand but none of that hurt as much as the wok you handled."

Tessa caught the hint of some flirtation but she knew better than to be entangled with the Mafia. No matter how handsome one was. She remembered what he said was the best case scenario if she got caught by one.

"Here's your wristwatch. I want money." She threw the watch at him.

He caught it and held it up in the light, then turned it to check the back before he passed it to Matteo. "Straight to the point. I like her already."

"I want 200 thousand and I need it now."

"What for?"

Discomfort crept on Tessa. The Mancini men were rumored to be capable gun handlers. He could end her to avoid giving her money.

"I didn't ask you why you were running from those men."

"The Mafia's business is the Mafia's business." Vincenzo took the check book from the guard. "I'm disappointed that you rate my life as low as two hundred thousand."

"Five hundred then."

He also owed her for the destruction of the restaurant. She hadn't considered taking it as part of the money.

"Still low—"

Matteo nudged Vincenzo's side again and Vincenzo glared at him.

"But five hundred it is."

She stared down at the check he presented to her. "I want a bank transfer."

"Are you saying Vincenzo does not honour his words?"

"You might but I don't trust others." She made sure to glare at the guard that tripped her.

"Felix means no harm."

She called her bank account number, still shooting bad looks at Felix.

Vincenzo nodded at Matteo to transfer the money to her. Tessa felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she froze, unable to believe she had actually collected money from the Mafia.

"How about I make a deal with you? Two hundred every month as my secretary. Your boarding and feeding will be taken care of and I'll add in a shopping allowance for months that I'm impressed." He limped forward.

Tessa shook her head. "The Mafia's business is not my business."

"It would be a shame to let you go. There's very little I find redeeming in people, loyalty is one of such."

"Did I meet Vincenzo, no? Do I know if he's a man or myth? A mere rumour, I suppose." Tessa zipped her lips and made a show of throwing the key away before she turned to leave.

Vincenzo turned to Matteo as soon as his savior crossed the gate. "Are we sure about Rossi's involvement with those killers?"

"Not yet."

"Do you want to wait till I'm dead?" Vincenzo eyed him, then stared at his savior's retreating figure, feeling the loss of what could be. He pushed the feeling away. "I want you to find out everything you can about her."

Vincenzo busied himself with things about his territory to keep his mind off a certain woman with wavy chestnut hair, a smallish waist and legs that seemed to go for days with a feisty mouth that matched.

Since he learned her name. He hadn't been able to get it out of his head. He imagined that she was here with him in this room filled with dark wooden furniture quipping as he let drop a nugget or two about the business. If Tessa was his—

The door opened and he sat up, not wanting to be caught in a vulnerable moment. Since he was the Mancini leader now, it was important to keep his command of authority high. But when he saw that it was Matteo, he dropped his guard.

"Any news?"

"Good news."

Vincenzo sat up, hoping Matteo would say something about Tessa accepting his offer.

"We've caught the killers."

"Oh." Vincenzo blinked.

"I thought you would be excited."

Vincenzo sighed. Of course, he ought to be. It was just that news about soon-to-be dead men was less exciting than a certain woman.

"Who sent them?"

He already suspected a certain crazy leader of one of the faction that struggled for control of this city, Federico Rossi. Federico had set a trap for Vincenzo’s father and killed him. He had been outside the city in a place that was well controlled by Federico because he was sure they wouldn't dare to attack him and start a rival war. But, Federico sent some scum bags to do the dirty work.

"You were right. We whipped the fools in the cellar. I'm surprised Federico sent such low-level idiots, willing to spill in exchange for money."

"I'm not surprised. He's a master of under-handed ways."

"Apparently, he also had plans to attack the South Quarter." Matteo explained.

Vincenzo nodded. "It's not that easy to pull the city from my control. He probably thinks I'm just stepping into my father's footing and I'm unsure of what's going on."

"So, what do we do?"

"We have several options. Just not a direct attack to—"

The door flew open and Vincenzo stopped speaking. As much as the rivalry between him and Rossi was public knowledge. He did not want to set oil to a little flame. His men were loyal enough to stop breathing just so he could have the last breath. If one of them misheard something, the situation could spiral out of control.

It wasn't a man who stepped in though, it was a beautiful woman with thick dark hair, clear skin and a little beauty mark below her left cheek. She was dressed in a black shirt and black trousers with a face cap on her head.

"Silene?" Matteo turned to her with a smile. "Back so soon, darling?"

"Yes, papa. And I have news."

Silene threw some pictures on the table. "Stole it from men at the East Track. Your girl's in trouble."

Vincenzo stared at the pictures on the table. There were pictures of Tessa in the hospital with an elderly woman. Her face seemed brighter and whatever worry had plagued her seemed to have vanished. She also seemed to be oblivious of the red circle around her face in one of the pictures.

"Who?" Vincenzo looked to Silene for clarity.

"Who else?"

"I have to go to her, now."