I smirk and nod. “I will. I start tomorrow. You should see the house—it’s insane.”
“Who are you working for?”
My throat closes. I don’t want her to know because what if she recognizes the name and knows they’re mafia somehow? She used to be quite connected when she was younger.
“It’s a couple. Mr. and Mrs. O’Dell. They are older and can’t manage the upkeep of the house on their own.”
“That’s nice. At least you aren’t working for some rich asshole who is going to take advantage of you. A beautiful girl like yourself. You have to be careful of those things.”
“Mom.” I huff, shaking my head. “The world isn’tfilledwith bad people. There are some good people out there.”
She looks up at me with her beautiful green eyes. “I’m really happy for you, Misha. But you have to stay in touch on your phone, ok? And try to behave.”
“I will.” I smile and promise her.
CHAPTER SIX
Vincent
My luck is like the eye of a storm. Silent, surrounded by chaos, and perfectly timed. I can’t believe she was just sitting there at the laundromat. And I happen to have agreed to meet my son here today. What are the chances? I never come here. I usually make them come to me. But today I felt like a drive and wanted to get out. See something different. And I found her.
Was it luck - or was it fate then?
The universe dropped her into my lap. My dark little raven.
Masaccio and Tuomo are talking but I’m not listening, sitting in their office thinking about her and her indescribable beauty. And tomorrow she is moving in with me.
Unless - I sit up suddenly, angry with myself for not having someone follow her home - what if she only agreed to everything to get rid of me? I should expect the unexpected with her in order to stay one step ahead of her. That was fucking stupid of me - to assume I had the upper hand simply because of the amount of money I’ve offered her.
But it is a shit load of money. I made sure it was too good to resist because I have to have her.
Shecan’tsay no to it.
“Dad?” Tuomo asks, his brows knotted. “Is everything ok?”
Masaccio and Tuomo are both looking at me in confusion.
“Fine.” I snap. “Hurry up, I have things to do.” I settle back into the chair, rolling my neck to ease the tension building.
Tuomo pulls his mouth tight and shifts, glancing down at the document in front of him before he drones on again about the laundered profits.
She’ll be there at ten. I am confident. Nervously confident, but confident, nonetheless. I really fucking should have had one of my men follow her home though - just in case.
My watch is taunting me as the minute hand seems to not move at all. It’s been nine thirty for an hour already.
I can’t help the fact that I’m pacing my penthouse. Up and down, going crazy as I wait for her.
What if she doesn’t come? What if she really tricked me and I never see her again? I know nothing about her, and it was complete luck that I saw her at the laundromat yesterday.
“Fuck.” I mumble, getting more and more worked up as the seconds don’t seem to move by.
My doorbell chimes, letting me know that security downstairs is trying to reach me.
I bolt towards the intercom system.
“Yes?” I snap, coming across angry and abrupt.
I clear my throat and close my eyes for a moment, retrying. “Yes?” I say more calmly.
