The Mafia Boss's Only Assistant

Chapter 4

If I was gonna put on an act, I'd do it right. I forced out a disappointed look.

"You're not taking me with you?"

Elio rubbed his thumb over my fingers. "This meeting's too risky. You can't come."

He was in a good mood right now, so he added, "Want anything while I'm gone?"

I blinked, caught off guard. "Huh?"

"A trip souvenir. Name it."

I gave him a soft, obedient smile. "I just want you back home safe and soon."

The next morning, I watched Elio drive off the turf. Barely had his car vanished from sight when Selena showed up with her goons hot on her heels.

She sauntered right up to me, looking down her nose with a sharp, smug grin.

She waved the official appointment letter in her hand with a cocky flourish.

"David signed off on it. From now on, I'm the one handling the Don's business. It got approved that fast? Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks you're a useless deadbeat who gets paid to do absolutely nothing."

Tears of pure joy burned my eyes and spilled down my cheeks.

She'd actually taken over my position. Finally. Freedom was so close I could almost taste it.

I fumbled in my pocket, pulled out a bank card, and pressed it into her hand. "Please pass this to the Don. It's enough to cover all the gambling debt my dad owed him."

I was this close to saying it, with this paid off, I'd be completely cut free from the Golden Mane, no strings attached.

But she just stared at my red, puffy eyes for a beat, then slapped me hard across the face.

"You think pulling this little stunt will make the Don miss you?" she snarled, "you're nothing but debt collateral, not even good enough to be a toy. You really think you can trick me? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Her face was stretched into a triumphant sneer, like she'd just taken down her biggest rival.

But I didn't feel an ounce of anger. Not even a little. She'd just freed me from the jail.

Selena misread my calm demeanor entirely, though.

She stepped closer, her voice cold as ice as she snapped, "You got a problem with this?"

She ripped the pink diamond crest off my chest hard, then pinned it right to her own shirt.

"As the Don's new assistant, I'm not letting you walk off with any Golden Mane property."

Her cold, snakelike gaze locked onto my pearl ear clips.

She snatched them off in one violent yank. A sharp c***k rang out, searing pain tore through my ear, and I cried out, warm liquid trickling down my cheek.

Only then did Selena let out a long, satisfied huff.

"If I ever catch you on Golden Mane turf again, you'll end up with a lot worse than a little bloodshed. Get lost."

One of her goons deliberately kicked me hard enough to send me sprawling into the flower bed.

I didn't give a damn about the mud caked all over my clothes. I scrambled to my feet and bolted straight for the neighborhood exit.

Sunlight spilled over my face. My ear throbbed like hell, but I'd never felt so light, so free in my entire life.

Finally. I didn't have to bust my ass working for Elio anymore.

No more walking on eggshells around his unpredictable mood swings.

No more staring down those icy, dangerous blue eyes of his.

I ached to smile from the bottom of my heart, but tears spilled down my cheeks first.

Three whole years. I was finally free.

Just then, Selena's face suddenly went slack.

It felt like someone had hit the pause button on the whole world.

Every single person there held their breath, staring at the stretched Lincoln parked in front of them.

That was Elio's car.

David was the first to step out, his face grim.

"Boss is back."