Page 48 of Silent Snowfall

My voice came out as a hollow rasp. “Where did you go?”

He chuckled. “Ah, so you do miss me.”

“I don’t,” I huffed. “And don’t brush me off, either. I hate that.”

“Rose.” His voice hardened. “I’m not. But for your safety, I can’t tell you, carina.”

That was reasonable. I knew what I was doing, but the scars inside made me lash out. It was how things used to be.

But they didn’t have to be. Not with him.

“Okay, but only because of—of that?”

“Why else wouldn’t I tell you?” he growled.

I squeezed my eyes closed. “Because a woman doesn’t belong in the mob.”

There was a heavy beat of silence. When he spoke, he sounded like he wanted to laugh…or worse.

“Fucking hell, Rose. That is so far from the truth.”

“Okay,” I whispered.

“What kind of neanderthal logic—” he stopped abruptly. A ragged breath sounded through the phone. “I’ll tell you, but only to prove I’m not an ape.”

My stupid heart skipped a beat.

“But you have to swear to me that you won’t tell another soul. Not even your grandmother. Word can’t get out.”

I nodded.

“Promise me, Rose,” he demanded, voice gruff. Stern. The way I wanted it against my bare flesh.

“I promise,” I said quickly, realizing he hadn’t seen my nonverbal response from a second ago.

“I’m in Trenton, putting the finishing touches on a negotiation.”

He’d done it. He trusted me enough to know his business. I wasn’t brushed off; I wasn’t put aside.

Dio buono, I’m falling for him.

“There, that’s better,” he said, seeming to know the relief I felt.

“It is,” I gulped. “Thank you for telling me.”

“Also, I would like to point out that your grandmother was in the mob,” he added with a chuckle. “Still is, in many ways. Or did you not witness what happened at our gambling lounge.”

“Oh, dio! Don’t bring that up!” I wheezed.

He laughed again. “Surprised you, didn’t she.”

I quickly changed the subject. “Look, I didn’t need to know. I just…I just want to make sure whatever monkey business you’re up to means you’re safe.”

“I’m safe, carina.”

Those words did a lot to ease the knot in my chest.

A shadow moved across the window.