Darkest Sins: An Age Gap Mafia Romance

“Because, there are no lies between us. Only secrets.”

A small smile pulls at my lips. She liked the parsley. It’s planted in a matching set of three gray pots, sitting just by the balcony door where she likes to study, not by the window where the rest of her weeds are. My parsley’s living in the best spot.

“Who did this to you?” she asks, her voice barely audible.

I don’t care how much better than me the
motherfucker is, or if he’s more worthy of you. I will fucking gut any man who comes within fifteen feet of what is mine.”

Every time he lets me see him, each

I’m halfway to them, on the dance floor, before I even realize I’ve moved. Seeing them this close-up, I come to a sudden halt. I can’t dismiss how they seem to fit together. Both young. Blond.
The guy’s clothes appear to be of good quality, pricey. He might be a student, like her, on a path to becoming something great in life. A lawyer. Or maybe a doctor.

Not a man who kills people for money because it’s the only thing he knows how to do.

Like me.

My eyes remain glued to them as I take a step back.

I don’t fit. Not me.

Not a low-life scumbag who can barely read at grade school level.

Another step, then a few more, until I’m back at my spot in the corner, watching my tiger cub in the arms of another man. The fire inside me is still burning, right there in my chest, scorching everything in its way. And I let it. I let it incinerate the silly hope that took root there, that grew each time I came to see my cub, feeding me lies that I might have a chance at something good in my life. I guess I forgot that hope is a luxury doomed souls like me are not entitled to.

The music carries on, and I keep watching, imagining myself in the blond guy’s place.

Once I have her surrounded with my body, it’s easier to breathe.

She starts pulling her other hand from mine. Not happening. I squeeze it, keeping my fingers tightly wrapped around hers.

“Um. I need that hand,” she mumbles, looking down at our hands.

“No, you don’t.”

Her perfect eyebrows rise in question. “Because?”

“Because you have two,” I growl.

This hand is mine. She offered it to me freely, and I’m not releasing it unless it’s absolutely necessary. One day, maybe she’ll allow me to touch more than just her hand, but for now, this has to be enough.

“It means nothing is black and white, cub. There are just shades of gray.” He looks up and our gazes lock. “Except you.”

It’s becoming impossible to keep my breathing under control while he looks at me like this. As if I’m the only person in the world. “And what am I?”

“You, my tiger cub, are a ray of light in the absolute darkness my life has become and has been for a very long time.”

“All right,” he mumbles into my mouth. “But we’re still doing an actual legal wedding next week.”

“Third time’s the charm?” I laugh.

“Yes. That asshole downstairs married his wife again, using our priests and the judge. There’s no way I’m letting fucking Belov have more weddings than us, tiger cub.”