Page 140 of Mafia Obsession

He shrugs out of his jacket and tosses it over the back of a chair before disappearing into his closet.

I look at the jacket, tempted to bury my face in it and smell him. His cologne drives me insane.

I don’t. I step into his closet and watch him loosen his cufflinks, then drop them onto a tray.

Clink. Clink.

“That’s it?” I ask, my voice tighter now. “It’s handled?”

He doesn’t look at me at first. He moves with deliberate calm, sliding open drawers, selecting a new tie, then unknotting the one around his neck with steady fingers. “Yes.”

“Just like that?” I step further into his domain. “Kirill Volkov killed your guards, you ambushed him at an auction, and all you have to tell me isit’s handled? I’ve been worried sick!”

His gaze lifts immediately.

“Kirill understands it’s pointless to go against me,” he says evenly. “As well as the consequences of doing so.”

“And you think that he’s just going to walk away?” I demand, my voice rising despite myself.

Ares faces me fully, a new shirt hanging open, the planes of his abs on display. “You’re safe. And Sandrine is too. I called her detail myself once when I left Kirill and again before I got here. There’s no sign of him.”

“And what about me?” I splay my hands out. “I’ve been locked up here. Sending emails to all the people you elevated me to. Declining invites and making excuses to them.”

Tone measured and controlled again, he says, “You can resume your schedule. With your guards.”

I let out a breath that’s almost a laugh, though there’s no humor in it. “So, nothing really changes.”

“I gave you guards before we knew of the Volkov threat. You need protection because of me.Not him!” His sharp tone is the only warning I get before he sweeps his arm across his dresser, and everything goes flying.

Triggered, I step back, knocking into the back of the door. “Ouch.”

Ares looks up and sees me rubbing my head. Immediately, he knows what happened.

“Lourdes, little storm. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice.”

I try so hard to see all of this from his side. He didn’t ask for this. I come with this complication. Sandrine isn’t just a disabled sister who needs care. She’s Kirill Volkov’s missing fiancée.

“I’m fine,” I say quietly and then move toward him.

He stands still, his arms pinned to his side.

I slip my arms around his waist and hug him. “Thank you,” I whisper.

“You’re welcome.” He releases me and bends to pick up the mess he made.

I want to help him, but that’s not how Ares operates. And I’m too tired to argue with the God of War. This is my life now. Decisions made around me. For me.

The tension in his shoulders eases slightly, and he adjusts a new cufflink. “You should go see your sister tomorrow.”

The change of subject catches me off guard. “Really, I can?”

“It’s safe,” he says. “Kirill doesn’t know where she is. And I made it clear I won’t give her up to him.” His gaze holds mine. “You can visit her.”

The breath leaves me in a rush. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place. You stubborn man.” I grab a belt and snap it across his backside.

Fire burns in his eyes. “Woman, that will get you pushed up against the wall and fucked.”

I squeeze the belt, the leather warm in my hand as he watches me for a second longer.