Patrick: A Mafia Love Story Read Online Free Page B

have a lot of experience in the sex trade, especially with trafficked workers, but it always seemed obvious which ones were there because they’d made the choice to be, and which ones were being held captive. Of course, the ones who were prisoners and slaves usually didn’t work the strip clubs. That was too much public contact. From what he knew, they would be secreted away in dark houses and brothels that looked as nondescript as a typical suburban neighborhood, but were dens of iniquity inside.
    “You’re a beautiful woman, honey, but…” He shrugged.
    She grinned, displaying a dimple in her chin. The girl was absolutely adorable, but she wasn’t Lauren. “Oh, I see.”
    He arched a russet-colored brow. “What do you see?”
    “You have someone else on your mind. Another woman. I’d venture to guess you haven’t had her yet, or maybe you wouldn’t be obsessing about her so hard.” Tonya giggled, reaching out to squeeze his upper bicep in a sign of support. “I don’t think it’ll be long before you get her. What girl could resist your charms?”
    “I’m not good enough for her.” There it was. The bald admission of truth hung in the air, and he couldn’t believe he was making it to some strange dancer he didn’t even know. At least he hadn’t spilled the whole story.
    Tonya shrugged. “Maybe you should let her decide for herself?” She winked at him as she turned toward the curtain that she had drawn behind them when they’d first entered. “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Murphy. If you ever change your mind, feel free to come back for that lap dance.” She winked at him as she exited the private room.
    Patrick sat there a moment longer, processing what had occurred. Was he making the right choice and just deciding there couldn’t be a relationship between himself and Lauren Welsh, or was this more of the same over-protectiveness she had called him on at dinner? Was she truly free to make her own decisions and old enough to know what she wanted?
    With a sigh, he stood up from the recliner and left the strip club. Even if she chose him, she didn’t know all the facts. She had no idea he was a mafia boss, and she sure as fuck didn’t know he had been the one to put a bullet between her father’s eyes as the other man had called on Patrick to protect his daughter when he’d realized his friend was going to do it.
    He was the one who would always be haunted by Howie’s face. If he told her the truth, or she learned of it herself, she would hate him. It always came back to that, and that was the only reason he needed to know he couldn’t have what he wanted. He would never have Lauren, but that was for the best.

Chapter Three
    She had been home for a week now, and Patrick had maintained the distance between them. It seemed obvious he was going to hold out as long as possible, and she was about to enact Plan B. Today was her last chance to get his attention before she escalated. As it was, only a case of nerves keeping her from going forward with the next step. She had no idea how he was going to react if she had to resort to such methods, but she was getting to the point where she would try anything.
    It was a Saturday afternoon, and she figured he’d be home. Patrick usually took weekends off, except for whatever emergencies might arise. She didn’t know what emergencies cropped up for the mafia, but imagined they had something to do with guns, drugs, or money. She didn’t approve of what he did, but she had resigned herself to accepting it. It was either take Patrick as he was or not have him at all. When those two choices were distilled to the purest form, her option was obvious. She’d rather be a mafia moll than deny herself Patrick.
    Unfortunately, he was quite adept at denying her himself. With a sigh, she left her room and padded down to the pool on bare feet, hoping to find him stretched out on a chaise lounge there. He used to swim on Saturday afternoons, and she hoped his routine