Mafia Queen (The Manning Sisters #1) Read Online Free

sister. “Rach, I’m pretty sure Mike’s father ordered the hit on mom and dad, and it was his men who tried to take you from school. They are still here and they are looking for you.”
    “Mike’s father? Your fiancé’s father is the one who had mom and dad murdered?”
    “Ex fiancé,” Lis told her, then explained what happened three nights ago. “I’ve been thinking and I think what Dakota told me that night was true. I was a pawn and if Mike and I had gotten married everything would have continued as usual. When I walked out of the restaurant that night they all knew that their plans weren’t going to happen. I think you and I are both on their radar, but I’m not sure if we are meant to be killed, or just used in their game to control more territories.”
    “Elisabeth, would you mind explaining what you meant about you not stepping up being the best option at the moment?” James asked and looked between her and Dakota impatiently.
    “When we were at your apartment, Dakota said something that made a lot of sense. He said that if I step up as head then not only will I be a target for the Morrison’s, but I’ll also be a target for the other families as well. We all know this is true, so why risk it? I’ve been thinking while waiting for you to show up and I decided I’d run the organization, but I’ll do it from the shadows.”
    “Who will be doing the public work?” Rachel asked and Lis looked at Dakota.
    “I think Mr. Jackson here would be perfect for the job. He’s been with the family for a decade, which is longer than anyone except for Martin, who was probably killed with mom and dad. Dakota is the obvious choice.”
    “I agree,” James said before Rachel could say anything.
    “Wait a minute,” Dakota said as he shook his head. “I don’t want to be head of the family. I wasn’t even supposed to still be working for your family. I was supposed to be living on a beach in Costa Rica by now.”
    “Then why are you still here?” Lis asked as anger filled her eyes. “Why didn’t you leave as soon as your contract was up?”
    “That isn’t important at the moment. What’s important is that I don’t want to be the head of the family. I don’t want to be the leader of the organization,” Dakota told them all and Lis just looked at him.
    “Dakota, I’m going to ask again, why are you still here?”
    Dakota looked at her and shook his head as he sighed deeply. “I’m still here because of you, Elisabeth. My contract with your father ended and I stayed because I couldn’t leave you.”
    Lis looked at him for a moment as a small smile formed on her lips. “Why?” She asked softly, causing him to lock eyes with her.
    “Elisabeth, I have always wanted to protect you and keep you safe. Even when you were fifteen and running around with your hair in pigtails, I was drawn to you and I knew I couldn’t leave without knowing you’d remain safe. Your father knew this and that’s why he assigned me to head up your security. He knew I’d do everything to keep you protected,” Dakota abruptly stood from the table and walked over to where the rest of Lis’ security was sitting and sat down.
    Lis watched him in frustration for a moment as he talked to the rest of her security before she turned back to Rachel and James. “Well, that was enlightening.”
    “You seriously didn’t know that?” James asked and looked at Lis in astonishment.
    “I seriously didn’t know that,” Lis confirmed and looked at Rachel. “Did you know that?”
    “Yes,” Rachel answered honestly and glanced over at Dakota, who was still talking to his men. “Lis, he has been in love with you forever. I have no idea when it happened, but it did happen.”
    “Wait, what about all those women I’ve seen him with throughout the years?” Lis asked in confusion.
    “Distractions,” James said and Rachel nodded. “He always saw you as off limits, the boss’ daughter, and never once thought he could act on his