Long Live the King (An Italian Mafia Romance Duet #2) Read Free

then?”
    “N . . . no. I just . . . It’s nothing, Alannah.”
    “Then why do you keep looking at me like that? I’ve noticed it more than once today, Jackie, so if you have something you want to say, just spit it out. You’re not doing a good job of keeping your curiosity a secret.”
    She lets out a sigh and her shoulders slump with the weight of guilt. Finally, she approaches the counter and puts her elbows on it for support as she looks down at me.
    “Okay, I don’t mean to pry,” she lies, because she absolutely does mean to pry. “It’s just that I keep hearing rumors that you’re dating a guy who’s in the mafia. Michelle from Optometry told me that you and him actually break guy’s legs together. You know, like, as a couple. A mob couple. A leg-breaking mob couple. I mean, is that, like, true? Is he really in the mafia?”
    Same old crap, just a different day. Jackie is one of our newer nurses, a ditsy twenty-something who has obviously been sheltered by her parents for far too long, so I almost can’t blame her for being so naïve. But that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
    “A leg-breaking mob couple? Are you fucking kidding, Jackie?” I snip. I don’t mean for it to come out as mean as it sounds, but I don’t necessarily regret that it came out that way. “I don’t even know who Michelle from Optometry is. So that’s why you’ve got that look on your face whenever you come around? Are you picturing Dominic and me breaking legs like some sort of psycho couple?”
    “Well, I don’t know . . .” she stutters, but I cut her off.
    “Look, the first thing you need to do is mind your own business. But if you’re incapable of minding your own business, then at least come talk to me if you want to know something about me. In which case, I will promptly tell you to mind your own fucking business.”
    “What exactly is going on here, ladies?”
    Ugh.
    I look up to see Deanna Senna glaring at Jackie and me. Deanna is the head nurse and my direct supervisor. She stands there with her hands on her bony hips and her hair as gray as the day is long. Her typical scowl seems to have grown in strength since I saw her earlier this morning, so I’m sure this conversation is going to be a fun one.
    “It’s nothing, Deanna,” I reply, picking my pen up and returning my attention to the chart.
    “Nothing?” Deanna asks. “So nothing is what’s making Jackie cry?”
    I glance up, and sure enough, Jackie has managed to shed some tears just in time for my boss to see. Wonderful.
    “All I did was tell her to mind her own business when it comes to me and my boyfriend,” I say to Deanna.
    “Ah yes, your mobster boyfriend,” Deanna replies, and I immediately feel my blood heat up. It’s not quite at a boil, but it’s at that point when there’s a bunch of little bubbles and you know the boil is coming. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that myself, actually.”
    “Why is that? Don’t you have your own husband to think about?” When the words come out, I immediately regret them, because I know Deanna just came out of a very tough divorce and custody battle with a doctor who used to work at Mercy. I try to recover. “I’m sorry, Deanna, I didn’t mean to say that. I just forgot.”
    “Oh, is that right?” she snaps. “My ex-husband gains custody of my only son two weeks ago, and you decide to throw it in my face because I mention your mobster boyfriend?” I know I touched a nerve in Deanna, because now she’s the one with tears in her eyes.
    “I’m sorry, Deanna, I really didn’t mean to.”
    “Bullshit, Alannah. If you want to date a known mafia member then go right ahead, but maybe you can show everyone else’s relationships a little respect.”
    “Okay, I know you’re upset about the divorce, but please stop saying Dominic is in the mafia. That’s the kind of thing that’s fueling these rumors about me.” I try to be reasonable, but Deanna is already off the deep