Undressed By The Mafia God novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22: I Wasn’t Suicidal

Cassidy chuckled. "True that."

Her head snapped toward him. "You admitted to that way too easily. Okay, now I need details. What did you do? Get high? Glue your teacher’s ass to a chair? Play hooky?"

He laughed harder now, shaking his head. "I didn’t mess with my teachers. I wasn’t suicidal. But yeah... I was what you’d call a party boy."

She stared at him. "You? No. I don’t buy it."

"That was a long time ago," Cassidy continued. "It gets boring pretty fast. Same music, same drinks, same conversations that go nowhere. You wake up the next day feeling empty and smelling like regret."

"I wish I had partied," she said softly, the humor fading from her voice. "I spent my life being careful. Being responsible. Looking after everyone else."

"It’s not too late," he said. "But I should tell you... Netflix and chill is not the party direction at all."

She laughed again. "Wow. So I planned this evening all wrong."

"Tragically," he agreed. "Just my couch and questionable taste in movies."

Vee laughed again. "I just wanted to spend some quality time with you."

Cassidy glanced at her, one brow lifting. "Does watching The Ranch count as quality time?"

"I’ve never seen it," she said, shrugging. "So maybe we binge it tonight."

He slowed at a stop sign, eyes flicking to her again. "You’re staying all night?"

"Hmmm hmm." Vee nodded, lips pressed together to keep the tremor out of her smile.

Cassidy swallowed. Veronica Scalese had never stayed the night. She always left before midnight, always with some excuse about her father or early work shifts or Valentina needing her. Tonight she was sitting there in a short bodycon dress telling him she planned to stay. His brain lit up while his heart beat a little too fast.

This was normal, Vee told herself. This was what normal girls did. They went to their boyfriend’s house, watched stupid shows, laughed, kissed, have sex. They did not belong to men who bought people at auctions. They did not barter their bodies for their sister’s freedom.

*****

Luca was just stepping through the doors of his mansion when Nonnina tackled him with the enthusiasm of someone half his size and twice his authority, already helping him shrug out of his jacket. "Your brother is here," she whispered quickly, conspiratorial as always.

Luca closed his eyes for a beat and exhaled. Of course he was.

"Is Nonnina snitching on me again?" Julian’s voice drifted down the hallway.

Luca opened his eyes and fixed his brother with a flat look. Julian leaned against the archway, dark hair perfectly styled.

Luca bent and pressed a kiss into Nonnina’s silver hair. "What’s for dinner?"

"Beef minestrone soup."

"Delish. I’ll be right there."

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