The Mafia Contract Series

We eat as a family, but this time Emma is missing. Winter told me she’s eating with friends at the library, and I wonder if that has anything to do with Flynn, who doesn’t look as if he gives a fuck as he stares at his food with an odd expression.

“What’s up?” Alessandro nudges him. “You’re looking as if someone poisoned your food. You finally catching feelings or something?” He nods toward Emma’s empty chair and Flynn stares at him with his usual dead expression. “As if that will ever happen.”

“What then?”

My senses are on high alert because Flynn is the monster under most people’s beds, mine included, and it’s not unheard of to wake up and find him sitting in the corner of the room in the dark shadows watching us sleep.

We’ve all had that particular pleasure, and it scares the shit out of us.

“Just thinking about graduation.”

The atmosphere in the room thickens with a sense of damnation as he refers to the storm approaching for every last one of us and I say sharply, “Remain focused.”

We’ve spoken about that day almost as long as we’ve been living in this house and the fact it’s almost upon us is creating a sense of urgency because we’re still searching for the magic ingredient to set us all free.

Ivan yawns. “Same. I’m not even getting my usual pleasure from beating the fuck out of the beast here?”

Alessandro laughs darkly. “In your dreams, you fucking pussy, a senior would cause more damage than you.”

“Fancy talking about that in the ring?”

“If you like. There’s nothing else to do.”

His words sound empty and cold, and I don’t miss the way he completely refuses to look at Winter, who is chewing her food with a thoughtful expression.

“What about you, sis? What’s your plan tonight?”

I need to know because my own involves being buried balls deep in Miss.

English, and she shrugs. “Claudia invited me and Emma to the house next door. There’s a party.”

The tense silence reveals we’re of the same mind and I flick my eyes at Malik, who leans back and only his gleaming eyes tell me he’s excited about that. We share a look and whereas I would ordinarily forbid her from attending, especially with a masked stalker out there, I know this could be an opportunity too good to miss.

I nod to him, and he grins as he picks up his fork and starts shoveling his food down, seemingly in a better mood because of it.

“Be careful and enjoy yourself.”

Alessandro looks at me sharply and I can tell I’ve surprised, if not angered him and Ivan laughs as he nudges his friend. “I’d better watch myself tonight. Someone’s feeling pissed.”

“Fuck you, Ivan. I’ll pound your ass and walk away, still hungry for a proper fight.”

Flynn yawns. “I’m heading out.”

Malik looks as concerned as I do because this is not unusual. Once Flynn has finished with his latest project, he goes rogue for a few days, usually in town. It’s almost as if he needs the solitude to get his head back in the right space. I instructed Malik to follow him a few times to check on him, but Flynn is a clever bastard and managed to give him the slip every time and rocked up a few days later with none of the murderous rage in his eyes that he left with. This is a problem I don’t want tonight because I need all eyes on that party and this house because I’m guessing whoever is watching us and taking an interest in my sister could use this opportunity to cause more trouble.

Winter pushes back her chair and grabs her plate, heading to the sink, and I say evenly, “Leave it. We’ll clean up tonight.”

Her blinding smile pains me more than she knows because the thought of not seeing her smile in her future reminds me the sand timer is almost out.

“Thanks. I’ll head to my room and finish my assignment. Emma’s back soon, and we’ll head next door for a couple of hours.”

We watch her leave and only when we hear the door slam upstairs do I say darkly, “We need to make sure she’s safe.”

Alessandro nods. “I thought the same. Why are you letting her go to one of Max’s parties? You know every fucker on campus will want a piece of her.

She’s fresh meat and probably the best-looking girl here.”

I look at him sharply and to his credit, he just stares me down and I say tightly, “Because we need this person to make another move and if we have eyes on her, we’re more likely to catch them.”

I look at Flynn. “You up for that?”

The dark rage swirling in his eyes makes me wonder if he’s in the right head space for this because Flynn is one breath from madness most days and I know it has everything to do with his upbringing. He never speaks of it, but he’s been damaged more than the rest of us put together and really should see a shrink about that.

“I’ll watch.”

I breathe a sigh of relief because if I can focus his mind on something, it may give him a place to hide until the storm in his head passes and I look across at Malik. “What about you?”

“I’ll stay here and observe another way.”

He looks excited about that and I’m guessing he’s referring to the surveillance he has set up around the place, which means we have eyes on the house in case anyone decides to visit without asking.

Ivan cracks his knuckles. “I’ll act as security. Baron mentioned the party, so I may as well take advantage of that.”

Alessandro rolls his eyes. “The only thing you’ll see is the fucking wall as you hammer some fucking cheerleader to it.”

Ivan grins and shrugs. “It passes the time.”

Of all of us, I think Ivan is cut out for this life the most. He appears to thrive on conflict, pain and retribution and the fact he’s been trained in every martial art ever invented has made him a killing machine of the most dangerous kind. Only Alessandro can match him, and he struggles sometimes, but Ivan is using the time to teach his friend everything he knows, because Alessandro wants to fight his way out of the mafia if needed. His own father distanced himself from his true birth right in Sicily, and Alessandro’s grandfather is one of the most feared and respected mafia Dons in the world. I know it worries him a lot because word is, his father bargained his own place at the head of the family for his son and Alessandro could be shipped off to Sicily as soon as the graduation ceremony is done and there is nothing he can do about that.

“I’ll keep watch outside.” He sighs. “I could use the thinking time.”

I look at him sharply because I know he’s struggling, and not just with his feelings for my sister. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife when they’re in the same room and I know this is a pressurized situation that I should be concerned about. If anything, I’m surprised that he caught feelings so quickly. He’s not one for looking at a girl twice, let alone longing after them like a lovesick fool. Then there’s my sister, asking him to kiss her when she knows the consequences of that. I’m not sure she can be trusted now, which is why I need her always watched, to protect her from herself.

Malik says suddenly, “What about you, Angelo?”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Thinking of Miss. English, I wonder if my visit should be postponed.

“I’ve had an invitation to study history at the teacher’s house.”

The guys laugh out loud, and it pricks the bubble of tension that’s hanging in the air. Ivan growls, “Fuck me, I’d love a night like that.” Malik grins. “Wouldn’t we all, you lucky bastard.”

Thinking of our accommodating teacher, I grin because a night of sex with her is like being given a hall pass to do anything I like. No boundaries and no repercussions and I’m guessing she could teach me a few things I’ve never even heard of.

“I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“The fuck it is.” Ivan laughs out loud. “Maybe you could pump her for information.”

Malik rolls his eyes. “Savage.”

Ivan grins and his eyes flash with a wickedness that almost makes me laugh. Savage is the perfect way to describe our Russian friend because his fists enjoy a full workout most nights. When he’s not practicing on Alessandro, he’s heading to the underground fight club in town to fight for money and always comes back richer for it.

Now we all have our jobs to do, I feel bad that I’m the one who gets a night off for once and say with a sigh. “Well, I’m not going. It’s not a good time.”

Malik shakes his head. “It’s the perfect time.”

“Why?”

“Because if someone is watching, they’ll see you leave, and it may make them bolder. If it’s you they’re after, and we’re not certain of that, this could be their chance to make a move. We have eyes on Winter, and you will have your eyes on our decidedly immoral teacher and the rest of us will be watching. It’s perfect.”

I can see the sense in that and feel like the luckiest one here as I smile with a smugness that doesn’t go unnoticed. “Lucky bastard.” Alessandro growls and I laugh out loud. “What’s the matter beast man, you thinking of sharing again?”

The look of distaste on his face makes the others laugh out loud and, as the atmosphere lightens, I take a deep breath of relief. Tonight could throw up some answers we need to make our plan and I hope whoever is out there comes in with all guns blazing because knowing my friends, they will take great delight in bringing them down.