Ruthless: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance Read Online Free
Author: Lauren Landish
work—that's what I am happy with, and of course, Dan's personality."
"He is different from Tomasso," I agreed. "Still, both of them are remarkable men. You two are lucky."
"They're lucky to have remarkable wives," Adriana said with a smile. "And you know what? There's a guy out there for you too."
We got back to the studio, and Adriana parked in front. She walked into the studio with me, taking a look around. "You want me to fill out some paperwork for Johnny?"
"Nah," I said. "I know your contact info, and that one isn't going on the expense account anyway."
"Like hell it isn't," Adriana said, her green eyes flashing. I knew that look. It was when Adriana got stubborn, from which side of her family, the Italian of her maiden name or the Irish that lent her her features, I didn't know. "And don't tell me otherwise, or else you don't get your sandwich."
"What?" I said, confused. Adriana pulled up the plastic bag, which had the wrapped-up second sandwich from her order, along with the side of fried clams, and set it on the counter. “Ade . . .”
"No arguments, Carmen. You're losing weight, and when we were at lunch, I could actually see your jaw muscles working against your skin. What are you now, ninety pounds?"
"Ninety-four," I said, knowing the number exactly from that morning's stepping on the scale. "But—"
Adriana grabbed my arm and pulled me into a comforting hug. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I care about you, and I love you like a sister. You're as close, if not closer to me, than Luisa is, and we're technically the same family. You saved my life, and you saved my husband's life. I can never repay that. But I’m going to make sure you're not starving, even if you are a fellow artist in your own right."
I couldn't help it any longer. I hugged my friend back and felt tears come to my eyes. "Thanks, Ade. I promise you that someday, I'll pay you back for this."
"You’d better," Adriana said with a chuckle. "Remember, the Mafia interest rates are nothing you want to let get away from you. I'm charging you half a sandwich a year interest, compounded. You let it get away from you, and you're going to be buying me a party platter with a six-foot-long sub before you know it."
Chapter 3
Dante
I checked my suit for the third time that day, making sure that my shoes were buffed as best I could and that my tie was knotted perfectly. I was determined to make a good impression, and I took a deep breath, calming my nerves.
I'd taken the bus to the Bertoli mansion, figuring that with enough cars coming, I didn't need to take up another space for whoever was dealing with that mess. Besides, my battery was still giving me fits, and I wouldn't have enough cash to pay for a recycled battery for at least another few weeks.
I went around to the side gate, where I knew from childhood memories associates and workers were supposed to go, and rang the bell. "Yeah?"
"Dante Degrassi. I'm supposed to be helping at the party tonight?"
There was a moment that drew out into a millennium as I waited for whoever was on gate control to check my name. Inside, the gnawing little animal that had sat in my stomach since I was seven dug around, telling me that I'd be dismissed with a laugh and told to get the hell off the property, and that everything Julius had told me was nothing more than another prank.
The intercom clicked back on, and I felt my heart stop in my chest. "Yeah, you're good," the voice said, unleashing a massive rush of relief in my chest. "Head up to the main house, side door. You'll be met in the kitchen area."
The gate buzzed and I pulled, almost trembling as I stepped foot onto the Bertoli mansion grounds for the first time in nineteen years. I had to remind myself to keep going after I was all the way through the gate, and I headed up the driveway toward the main house. I was impressed again by the house, which was a massive structure. I don't know if it was Victorian or Gothic or what, but it just oozed
"He is different from Tomasso," I agreed. "Still, both of them are remarkable men. You two are lucky."
"They're lucky to have remarkable wives," Adriana said with a smile. "And you know what? There's a guy out there for you too."
We got back to the studio, and Adriana parked in front. She walked into the studio with me, taking a look around. "You want me to fill out some paperwork for Johnny?"
"Nah," I said. "I know your contact info, and that one isn't going on the expense account anyway."
"Like hell it isn't," Adriana said, her green eyes flashing. I knew that look. It was when Adriana got stubborn, from which side of her family, the Italian of her maiden name or the Irish that lent her her features, I didn't know. "And don't tell me otherwise, or else you don't get your sandwich."
"What?" I said, confused. Adriana pulled up the plastic bag, which had the wrapped-up second sandwich from her order, along with the side of fried clams, and set it on the counter. “Ade . . .”
"No arguments, Carmen. You're losing weight, and when we were at lunch, I could actually see your jaw muscles working against your skin. What are you now, ninety pounds?"
"Ninety-four," I said, knowing the number exactly from that morning's stepping on the scale. "But—"
Adriana grabbed my arm and pulled me into a comforting hug. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I care about you, and I love you like a sister. You're as close, if not closer to me, than Luisa is, and we're technically the same family. You saved my life, and you saved my husband's life. I can never repay that. But I’m going to make sure you're not starving, even if you are a fellow artist in your own right."
I couldn't help it any longer. I hugged my friend back and felt tears come to my eyes. "Thanks, Ade. I promise you that someday, I'll pay you back for this."
"You’d better," Adriana said with a chuckle. "Remember, the Mafia interest rates are nothing you want to let get away from you. I'm charging you half a sandwich a year interest, compounded. You let it get away from you, and you're going to be buying me a party platter with a six-foot-long sub before you know it."
Chapter 3
Dante
I checked my suit for the third time that day, making sure that my shoes were buffed as best I could and that my tie was knotted perfectly. I was determined to make a good impression, and I took a deep breath, calming my nerves.
I'd taken the bus to the Bertoli mansion, figuring that with enough cars coming, I didn't need to take up another space for whoever was dealing with that mess. Besides, my battery was still giving me fits, and I wouldn't have enough cash to pay for a recycled battery for at least another few weeks.
I went around to the side gate, where I knew from childhood memories associates and workers were supposed to go, and rang the bell. "Yeah?"
"Dante Degrassi. I'm supposed to be helping at the party tonight?"
There was a moment that drew out into a millennium as I waited for whoever was on gate control to check my name. Inside, the gnawing little animal that had sat in my stomach since I was seven dug around, telling me that I'd be dismissed with a laugh and told to get the hell off the property, and that everything Julius had told me was nothing more than another prank.
The intercom clicked back on, and I felt my heart stop in my chest. "Yeah, you're good," the voice said, unleashing a massive rush of relief in my chest. "Head up to the main house, side door. You'll be met in the kitchen area."
The gate buzzed and I pulled, almost trembling as I stepped foot onto the Bertoli mansion grounds for the first time in nineteen years. I had to remind myself to keep going after I was all the way through the gate, and I headed up the driveway toward the main house. I was impressed again by the house, which was a massive structure. I don't know if it was Victorian or Gothic or what, but it just oozed
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