Conquered by the Mafia Boss

I’ve heard it a thousand times before, of course. My ex-wives loved to hurl it at me, and each time they did I never felt anything but cool indifference. This time there’s a tiny pinprick of pain, like a splinter in my heart.

“You have the emotional range of a teaspoon.”

Don’t get angry.

She’s just plain wrong about that. I used to feel joy, instead of a numb detachment. It’s hard when you don’t even remember what it was like.

“I’m not a hearts-and-flowers guy, Maya.”

But my heart rips in half when her eyes suddenly bead with tears. “This is never going to work.”

“I’m not calling this off.”

“Then maybe I’ll have to.”

“I don’t think so.”

“I’ll want a divorce!”

A knife twists in my heart. “Good luck finding a lawyer who will represent you against me.”

Her eyes widen as I take her arms and gently pin her against the wall.

“I’m not letting you go, sweetheart. You were mine the moment I laid eyes on you.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“It’s supposed to make you stop fighting against me.”

A gust of air leaves her mouth. “Fat chance.”

Fucking hell.

I grab her chin, anger flaring up inside me again. “I might not be what you want, but I’ll treat you better than any man ever has in your life. I promise. You can have anything you want. Just ask, and I’ll give it to you.”

Maya stares at me for a long time, as though judging whether she can trust what I say. Then she walks away from me.

Goddamn it.

I stalk her, heat rising in my chest when she ignores my footsteps. She spins around when I grab her elbow.

“What?”

“Did you not hear what I fucking said?”

My chest caves in when her eyes swim with tears. She turns away from me and wipes her face, a sob shaking from her throat. I’ve seen a lot of women cry in my time. God, the screaming fights with my ex-wives, and the wailing at funerals. The sound made me inwardly cringe, but the noise coming from Maya-that desperate intake of breath-is like a knife to my chest.

“Please don’t-I’m sorry.”

I’ll do anything to make her stop crying.

“Don’t!”

She pushes my attempts to hold her-to stop her from making that awful sound. I hold her against my chest even though she shoves me, because it’s the only thing that I can think of that’ll make her stop.

“I don’t want to live like this.”

“Like what?”

Then her tears stop and her reddened face snarls at me. “If I’m going to be your wife, you need to start treating me like one.”

What the fuck is she talking about?

“I am treating you like my wife.” My fingers spread over her back. “Anything that’s mine is yours, Maya-”

“I don’t want your fucking things! I want you.”

A grin spreads across my face. “Not fifteen minutes ago, I was balls deep inside you. I don’t know what to tell you.”

“I want intimacy. I want to know you-”

She wants to go on fucking dates. To hold hands and walk down the street and hear sweet nothings whispered in her ear.

“All you had to do was ask.”

Her eyes flutter when I run my fingers over her flushed cheek.

“I didn’t think I had to.”

Snarky little spitfire.

She leans into my hand and lets out a sigh. It’s one of those painful sounds. Every instinct tells her to hate me, but she wants me-feels hurt at the idea that she’s only a piece of ass for me.

I bend down and suddenly pick her up. She throws her arms around my neck as I lift her into my arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you to the living room.”

“For what?”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

For a fucking date, that’s what.

“To watch a movie with me.”

Deep down I know that I’ve been an asshole to her. It’s the stress of so many things going on. I’ve had no time to make sure she was happy. She’s having my kid. The least I can do is make sure her needs are met.

She smiles when I sink down into the couch with her in my arms. Maya nestles in my chest as I turn the TV on.