Falling For The Mafia

Nicola

I was acutely aware that I was about to go too far. The instant her wonderful blue eyes caught mine, I knew I shouldn't touch this barely legal, innocent angel.

Emily. She was completely removed from my gloomy underworld. It was selfish and risky for me to allow myself to grow close to her.

But as she swung toward me, it was almost difficult to refuse, as if she were lured by the same magnetic pull that had been tantalizing and torturing me for weeks.

I should have just left. Maybe I should have just disregarded her, dismissed her. She may be able to avoid scarring her flawless complexion with permanent bruises if she allows her pride to be bruised now.

As the horrible mental picture of her in agony flashed before my eyes, my hands tightened. My being in any kind of relationship with her may be dangerous. She would be the one to be used as bait if someone from my past ever found me. In an effort to humiliate me.

Since the moment the lovely, curvaceous brunette caught my eye from across the dark bar where I worked, I had been dying to make her mine. Dive bar, but college kids didn't come here for fancy drinks; owner didn't mind serving alcohol to minors; paid me in cash, beneath the table. I liked that I could hide my true identity in this position. There was no paper trail indicating my occupation, and no digital footprints to indicate my whereabouts. I was safe from discovery in this place. Neither my merciless buddies nor my merciless opponents.

Someone with Emily's gorgeous, charmed existence would never comprehend the dirt and grime of my world, and if I were a decent guy, I would protect her from it.

I thought I had left that life behind me, but you never know when the past will come up with you. I had to go away, maybe from my fake relatives.

They weren't even a concern of mine. My loved ones' lives would be at jeopardy if my family's adversaries tracked me down.

And I certainly didn't want that for Emily. However, my desire for her increased each time I saw her at the bar. She was beautiful, but that wasn't the only thing that captivated me about her. Her long lashes were down to conceal the longing that clouded her eyes, and her cheeks were the palest pink throughout our short rendezvous.

Soft, charming, and bashful, she embodied all the feminine attributes that appealed to the darkest corners of my personality.

I had become used to getting my way back home. Women were lining up to get into my bed, and my family had more money than we could ever spend. All eyes were on me because of my prosperity and authority.

That was never a problem for me previously. To be honest, I'd never given it much consideration before.

Not until Emily's eyes met mine with want. No filthy wealthy