Mafia Kings: Adriano: Chapter 69

Adriano wasn’t my father, and he didn’t go down without a fight.

“This is a very bad idea,” he said angrily.

“Actually, it’s a pretty good idea.”

“Putting you in danger is NOT a ‘good idea.’”

“Okay, then – it’s the least bad idea in a sea of crappy options. How about that?”

He gave a short, bitter laugh and shook his head. “How can you be so blasé about this?”

“I’m not blasé. I’m scared to death.” I put my hands on his chest and looked into his eyes. “But I trust you.”

Pain mingled with the anger in his eyes.

I could see the self-doubt there…

And the fear.

“It’s too big a risk,” he whispered.

“It’s not.”

“It is – ”

“You don’t want to see me die, right?”

He looked startled. “Of course not!”

“Well, I don’t want to see my father die. And there’s a damn good chance he will if he does this.”

“I can keep him safe,” Adriano said.

“If you can keep him safe, then you can keep me safe. And it should be even easier since they’re not going to kill me on sight.”

He started to say something – then stopped.

I’d out-logic-ed him, and he knew it.

I put my hands on his cheeks and looked into his eyes. “Whether it’s me or my father, you’re going to be there no matter what… and since you are, I want to be the one there with you. After all… you need somebody to keep you safe.”

He raised an eyebrow at me and said in a doubtful voice, “YOU’RE going to keep ME safe.”

“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “‘Cause I’m your good luck charm. I told you what you needed to know to avoid getting shot… I was there when you jumped out of a three-story window… and I helped you find my father. I’m your lucky rabbit’s foot.”

“You’re a pain in the ass, is what you are,” he said, though I could hear the humor in his voice.

“That, too,” I whispered, and I kissed him.

He kissed me back…

And then we quietly slipped upstairs to be alone.