Page 30 of Mafia Obsession

“That’s very poor security.”

David never mentioned putting a key on the door frame. Are strangers coming into this apartment when I’m not home? How fucking creepy.

“By the way, will dinners with you be a regular thing, Mr. Zervas?” I stick the key into my purse, wondering how I’ll explain all of this to David.

“I asked you to call me Ares. And it depends.” He smooths out the front of his waist-length wool jacket. He’s dressed down, casual. Or what passes as casual for him. Dark jeans and a burgundy sweater that make his tawny skin look warmer, softer. He looks almost approachable. “If I need you, I expect you to be available.”

“David won’t like me going out at night without him.”

“You aremyassistant.” The possession in his voice makes my pulse jump. “Business dinners are part of the job. And if he has a problem with that, you tell him to come see me. I’ll make sure he leaves…agreeable.”

That makes my head spin. Like all the other secrets I’ve been keeping from David, this will be one more. It won’t be forever. Just a couple of months until I have enough money to escape to Chicago.

“Okay. Can you wait in the hall? My place is…” I’m appalled at how small my apartment suddenly feels. “And I’m…”

His eyes take me in, settling on my shoulder. “Turn around.”

“What?”

“Your dress. It needs to be zipped.” He gets close enough that I feel buzzing in his veins.

I turn, and notch by notch, feel the zipper teeth connect. Suddenly, I have an intense need to feel his hands on my skin.

“Thank you.” I turn back around, my cheeks warm with my dangerous thoughts.

“There is no need to be embarrassed.” He brushes his cool hand against my face.

I wince, still sore from the backhand a few days ago.

“If you can believe it, back in the early days, my family lived like this for a short time,” he says non-descrip, glancing past me. “When my father nearly bankrupted us.”

I wasn’t expecting him to open up like that. “I never would have guessed that. How did you get it all back?”

“Fighting.” His gaze returns to mine, steady and penetrating. “I fought for the things I wanted. I still do.”

“I expect there’s not much fighting to do now when you can just write a check.”

“Not everyone can be bought. And money doesn’t solve every problem.” He puts his hands behind his back, really not looking around anymore. There’s just not much to take in.

I motion to my plain black dress to change the subject. “Is this appropriate?”

“Not quite.” From his jacket, he takes out a leather box. “You’re pretending to be my date.”

I try not to gasp when he opens it to reveal a floral-shaped necklace of violet-blue sapphires.

“That’s not necessary.” I squeeze my hands behind my back.

“It is for tonight.” He drapes the necklace on my chest while standing over me.

Even without seeing the clasp, he manages to secure it. The heat of his skin and the smell of his cologne twist me inside out.

“Let me look at you,” he says.

I step back and touch the stones. “It’s heavy.”

He steps closer. “It’s perfect.”

Warmth spreads through my chest before I can stop it. “Thank you.”