Page 10 of The Mafia’s Girlfriend

I snorted. Now what did he want?

As if on cue, a text popped up.

Jmmy: I’ll see you at the fight tonight.

Yeah, yeah. I know. Today was a double, no, triple shift. First, a security shift for the hotel. Then I’d be a bouncer at the resort’s club for a partial shift later. And I’d end the night with a fight. All three jobs.

I didn’t have time to be delayed by this haughty woman in this condo.

I didn’t have time for any woman, and I never would if I kept this pace up.

Chapter 4

Emma

“What was that all about?” Krista set her towel on a chair and narrowed her eyes.

I sighed, wishing I could have another chance to put that damn guy in his place. He’d helped himself in here, then didn’t even back down? Where were his manners? Didn’t they train them? Not only that, but he had the gall to talk back to me!

“The maintenance staff.” I gestured at the doorway to the room where the rear sliding door opened to the balcony. She had her own unit next to mine, but it was only my condo that had a trespasser.

“A janitor?” She huffed. “No, he looked like a hot cop.”

I slanted her a disproving smirk. “Cop?” We knew what the cops looked like, and they were every mafia member’s enemy. That man—

“Dammit!” I slapped my fist against my thigh.

“What?”

“I didn’t get his name.”

“Um...” She raised her brows. “Why would you?”

So I can have a name to the face. The face of one of the hottest men who’d ever walked the earth. While I wanted another chance to put him in his place, I was also grateful for the reprieve. His absence made the room feel lighter. It was easier to breathe without him here. I didn’t know how to explain it, but that cocky jerk had one of those vibes. Larger than life. Commanding. His masculinity was unmissable, from his lean facial features, the wise eyes, and that sharp attitude.

Whoever he was, he made an impression. A bad one, of course. He didn’t seem at all sorry for walking in when I didn’t hear him because I had my earbuds in. His apology felt more like a trite procedure to spew by rote. And the nerve of him, checking me out like that... I caught his expression in the reflection of a low pane of glass from another door leading to the kitchen. Thank goodness I wasn’t facing the door, because if I’d flashed him, I—

“Em?”

I flinched, jarred back to the moment. “I need his name to report him to management.” Crossing my arms over the towel, I tried to look defiant and poised.

She groaned. “Are you even dressed for the pool yet?”

“No. I was in the process of changing when I was interrupted.”

A sly smile crossed her face. “Ohhh...”

“No. There’s no ohhh there. He’s to blame for my lock not working. I may as well set a damn welcome mat out there for anyone walking by.” I slumped to the sofa, spent on too many emotions.

Anger at that worker not even caring about invading my privacy. Nervousness that I’d stayed here without a decent lock. The smidge of awareness that I felt toward that guy wasn’t helpful. It’d been a long time since a man caught my eye, but him? Some crude worker who thought he had any right to check me out like that? Or talk back to me?

Lurking the deepest, though, was the worry.

Did one of Antonio’s men come in here last night? I hated to bear the idea that I had been vulnerable to be spied on. Ever since the marriage was arranged, Antonio liked to dabble with stalking me. He’d send creepy gifts and notes. Anytime our paths crossed at parties and dinners, he’d stare after me the entire time.

When I saw the sliding glass door open, my first thought was that Antonio had followed me and Krista to the Tropican. That he was on my tail, eager to force me into this marriage sooner rather than later.

His possessive nature terrified me. Considering it could’ve been him or one of his men, I sank into a spiral of dread.