Falling for the Killer: A Dark Possessive Mafia Romance, B.B Hamel [good story books to read .TXT] 📗

tell her about my business. She’d gone through enough to be here and I figured I should walk her into this world as slowly as I could. Ash didn’t know the first thing about organized crime, and I had the feeling that she wouldn’t be happy to know that I made my money murdering, stealing, selling drugs, and extorting people. There were also more modern schemes, like buying and selling stocks and crypto coins, but the young guys ran that shit.

I stuck to the old-school activities. Mostly, we ran drugs on my territory, and took a cut of all the little local crews and gangs that wanted to operate on my blocks. We had a typical protection racket where businesses paid me a flat fee monthly, and I’d take care of any general problems they had with customers or anyone else. It was good money, and it flowed in like rainwater.

But she was a rich girl. She grew up in the Main Line, went to preppy private schools, and probably didn’t know a damn thing about living on the street. She’d learn if she stayed with me, but I didn’t think she had to learn all at once.

“That’s not all we do,” I said softly and pulled into a spot a block away from Filthy Frank’s. “But it’s a dangerous business. People get hurt sometimes.”

“That’s an interesting way of putting it,” she said.

I got out of the truck and she followed, hurrying to keep up. I liked the way she walked close to my arm, like she was afraid to be too far away from me. I wanted to tell her that she was as safe as she could possibly be, deep in my own territory, but I decided not to say anything.

Filthy Frank’s was a shithole. She was right about that. I could’ve made it nicer, but didn’t bother. The guys like it with sticky floors, wood-paneled walls, that cheap, tacky green carpeting that looks like fake grass toward the back, a couple ripped-up pool tables, and a jukebox that still played actual records. The bar was right in the middle of the place, and guys were lined up on either side. Some people sat at the tables along the sides, and big mirrors lined the walls, making the place look bigger than it was.

I spotted Stefano, sitting toward the back near the pool tables with a few of the guys. I walked over there with Ash next to my elbow. She stood out in this crowd, and I could tell she noticed. All eyes were on her, on her short skirt, on her nice clothes, on her good manners. She could’ve been wearing paint-stained sweats and she still would’ve been like a shining beacon in this dark pit.

“There’s the boss,” Stefano said, standing a bit. He grinned at me, then nodded to Ash. “This your new girl?”

Ash stiffened a bit, but didn’t correct him.

“Boys, this is Ash,” I said. “She’s staying with me for a while.”

“Good for you, boss,” Tomaso said, grinning at her. “She’s a step up from your usual fare.”

“Easy,” I said.

“Good to meet you,” Stefano said, coming around the table to shake her hand. “The boss don’t bring girls around much. He normally knows better.”

“I think he’s showing me off,” she said, grinning slightly. “Anyway, he can’t really hide me, since I’m staying at his place.”

Stefano’s eyes lit up and I grimaced slightly. I planned on keeping that from them as long as possible.

“Well, shit,” Stefano said. “Look at that, boss. You got a live-in girlfriend. Are you marrying her next?”

“Fuck off,” I said. “Don’t be a dick.”

“Ah, come on,” Stefano said, laughing. “She seems nice. Enjoy it while you can. She’ll realize what sort of trouble you are and get the hell outta there soon.”

“Don’t listen to him, boss,” Tomaso said. “He’s just jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.” Stefano took his seat and slammed back a beer. “I brought home three chicks last week. Count them, three fucking chicks. And I fuck them all.”

“I saw at least one,” Tomaso said, making a face. “And I wouldn’t brag about that if I were you.”

The guys laughed and I held up my hands. “Easy boys,” I said. “I’m getting a table with Ash over there. Stefano, get me a fucking whiskey and come chat.”

“All right, boss,” Stefano said, standing again. “Though I don’t recall becoming your drink bitch.”

“I’ll buy the next round if you stop complaining,” I said.

That got another cheer and Stefano gave me a cocky salute before walking off. I hustled Ash over to a table nearby and got her seated.

“That went well,” she said. “I think. I actually don’t know.”

“They’re just busting my balls,” I said. “Don’t worry, they do it whenever a guy brings a lady around.”

She leaned forward, chin on her hands, and raised her eyebrows. “Do you bring a lot of ladies around, Gian? I have a feeling your type isn’t exactly ladylike.”

I smirked a little and leaned forward her. “I suppose that makes you unladylike yourself, then.”

“Ouch. I guess I walked into that.” She laughed softly as Stefano walked over with a glass for me and some wine for Ash. She thanked him, but didn’t drink it.

“So is this the reason you’ve been missing?” Stefano asked, glancing toward Ash. “No offense, by the way. We were just messing around back there.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not offended,” Ash said. “Although you really shouldn’t let that young guy back there talk to you like that.”

Stefano laughed and gave me a look. I could tell he liked her already. “Tomaso’s okay,” Stefano said. “He’s full of shit, but he’s okay.”

“All right, Stefano,” I said, putting my elbows on the table. “I wanted you to meet Ash for a reason.”

Stefano’s smile slowly faded. “I heard some rumors,” he said. “About you and a girl.”

“Seems like the rumors have some truth,” Ash said, turning her wineglass around.

“So she’s staying with you for a while,” Stefano said, nodding to himself. “And her family’s loaded.”

I nodded and glanced at