Dangerous Flames (Mafia Hearts) Read Online Free Page A

shrink.
    He
looked over at Enrico who took his designated place at the head of
the table. “I’m sorry, Enrico. What did you say?”
    Enrico
glared down the table at Mikolas. “I asked where Stefano is.
Have you heard from him?”
    “ No.”
Mikolas shook his head. To smooth things over with his boss, he said.
“Want me to call him?”
    “ It’s
not necessary. Maura out did herself tonight, eh?” Enrico waved
his hand toward the table, eyeing all of the guests.
    A
chorus of ‘thank yous’ floated across the table to Maura.
She smiled graciously and turned back to her food. Maura rarely
talked at the dinner table, tonight being no exception.
    “ Stefano
called me a little while ago,” Clayton offered.
    Mikolas
glanced to the guy next to him.
    “ Where
is he?” Enrico boomed from the head of the table.
    “ He
isn’t coming tonight. He’s out doing a side job you
wouldn’t approve of.” Clayton took a large fork full of
spaghetti.
    “ Let’s
discuss this later,” said Enrico, lowering his volume to a tone
more accepting to the people around him. Not that any of their
opinions matter though. Enrico did everything he desired.
    “ Are
we still on for a swim?” Gabrielle asked softly, drawing
Mikolas’ attention to the glint in her eye.
    “ Sure,
unless your father needs me for something.” He glanced over to
Enrico hoping for a job to do. Mikolas needed something, anything to
prevent going for a swim with her.
    “ Eat
and enjoy the pool,” Enrico said.
    “ Thanks,”
Mikolas croaked, earning a giant grin from Gabi.
    Enjoy
himself? He could barely handle sitting across from her at the crowded dinner
table. Why had he agreed to a swim? Because he wanted her so bad and
couldn’t have her. She was off limits, first set by Mikolas’
boss and then by distance. Alone with her in a bikini? Oh man, he was
in for it now. Too late to back out though.
    It
would be in his best interest to make up an excuse, to tell her no,
or even pretend to be sick since there would be no way he’d
keep his hands to himself. He took a sip of wine to stall time and
let his gaze lock with hers. She leaned back, expecting an answer to
her invitation.
    “ I
guess we’ll be swimming,” he said, letting the words out
of his mouth with a rush of air.
    “ Great.
I’ll meet you at the pool in an hour?” she asked as she
eased her chair away from the table and stood up.
    He
nodded, keeping his gaze on her as she walked around the table to
place a kiss on her father’s forehead then turned toward the
door. Her hips shook slightly as if to tease the growing tension in
his lap. Boy, she had the nicest ass he’d ever seen, falling
between the categories of too-thin and too-plump. Each of her cheeks
would probably fit against each of his palms. He watched her black
skirt ride up her long legs until she disappeared through the door,
her perfume staying for an extended visit. Pure torture .
    To
distract himself, he swirled the fork in the center of his plate and
took a big bite of the spaghetti.
    Enrico’s
fist slammed onto the table, causing the dishes to rattle over the
hardwood top and Mikolas reaching for his Glock. “Damn it. He
knows we don’t deal with the drug trade.” Enrico’s
icy glare moved from one man’s face to the next. “Does
anyone here not understand?”
    “ We
all know, Enrico. Stefano isn’t planning on being around too
much longer.” Mikolas’ father took a sip of his wine,
acting as though Enrico’s outrage didn’t bother him a
bit.
    Mikolas
caught the glances exchanged between Enrico and his father. I’ll
be visiting Stefano soon, and it won’t be friendly. Might even
be the final hit that’ll make me a permanent fixture of this
Family.
    Conversation
buzzed around the table, but since he hadn’t been made into the
Family yet, they kept him generally out of anything significant. As
the table talk leaned more toward various tasks within the family,
Mikolas continued to eat his spaghetti and garlic