Deception (Mafia Daddies #3)

Hallie

A tremble racks through my body, causing me to grip Rocco’s hand tighter. He glances at me over his shoulder and gives me a reassuring smile.

The house is magnificent, with marbled floors and chandeliers. Magnificent but cold. It lacks personal touch, as if it’s all for show.

My heels click on the floor as we make our way toward a big wooden door. Rocco knocks once, then enters, pulling me in behind him.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Dark eyes rise from the computer and find mine, causing my breath to still. This man before me screams importance and oozes confidence. His white shirt is stretched taut over his shoulders, with his sleeves pulled up to his elbows, exposing his golden skin and thick veins. His silver hair is styled to the side, and the scent of his cologne hangs in the air. He’s handsome and powerful, an older version of Rocco, and the thought takes my breath away. His gaze scans over me before he flicks it back to his son’s.

“You deaf?”

“Nah, I’m not old like you,” Rocco jokes, then throws himself in a chair opposite his father. Pushing me in the one next to it, he quickly takes my hand in his. The mark on my ass makes me suppress a whimper, trying my best not to draw attention.

His father misses none of the actions and watches Rocco like a hawk. “What’s this?” He waves his hand between us, and my mouth goes impossibly dry.

“This is my wife, .”

Oh, sweet Jesus. Panic grips me as his father’s eyes narrow on him. The muscles on his neck coil and his nostrils flare as he leans forward on his desk.

“Come again?”

Rocco shuffles from side to side and chuckles, but it lacks humor, exposing his nervousness, and I squeeze his hand to give him reassurance.

“I told you, you’re going deaf.” He juts his chin out. “I said she’s my wife.”

Rocco’s father looks fit to burst, his face becomes redder by the second. “Oh, I heard you perfectly, you dumb little fucker. But you’re engaged to the Harrington girl, so you can’t possibly be married.” I flinch at his mention of the engagement, and his eyes slice to mine before returning just as quickly to his son’s.

Rocco holds my hand up, exposing my ring to his father, and I swear I could slide off my chair at his lack of tact.

“We’re married. Harrington is going to have to deal with it.”

His father’s nostrils flare wider, and he heaves in a breath before slowly exhaling. The atmosphere between us is filled with a tension that steals the air from my lungs while I wait for a reaction.

“There’s been a contract in place for years, you know this.” He slams his fist on the desk, causing his computer to rattle.

Rocco leans forward. “And I told you it wasn’t going to happen.” His voice is calm and collected, and something tells me he knows when to push his father and when not to.

“Fuck!” His father swipes the contents of his desk to the floor, and I cry out at his outburst. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m out of my chair, then Rocco leaps up and stands in front of me.

“Calm the fuck down, old man. You scare my girl and I’m going to put a fucking bullet in your head, Mafia don or not.”

The air between us thickens as I wait for his father’s reaction.

A loud laugh fills the room, followed by a heavy, defeated sigh.

Rocco steps aside, allowing me to see his father again. His father scrubs a hand over his head.

“My apologies, . My son has caused a fucking nightmare.” He glares at Rocco with vengeance in his eyes, and a shudder flashes through me as I entwine my fingers with Rocco’s again. He presses me under his arm and places a reassuring kiss on the top of my head.

“Why the hell do I think there’s more to come from you?” His eyes drill into Rocco’s, and my hand tightens in his. Again, his father’s eyes flicker over our exchange before returning to his son.

He sure as hell misses nothing, and that thought has my stomach churning.

“It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?” he asks, dragging a finger over his top lip. “Sit and explain.”

Rocco huffs, then takes a seat, but this time, he sits me on his lap. I wince at the bite of pain on my ass, then my cheeks flame with heat, knowing his father is scrutinizing us.

“ is divorced.” His father clucks his tongue, and Rocco ignores it, continuing on. “She, erm...” He shuffles and drags his hand through his hair.

“Spit it fucking out, Rocco, I have a date tonight,” he bites out.

“Fine. Her son is my best friend.”

“The Math’s kid?” His father’s eyebrows furrow.

“Right, Matt. But his father is an issue.”

“Back the fuck up. Your ex-husband is an issue? This is why his panties are in a twist?” He looks to me, and I can only nod.

“Get rid of him.” He shrugs at Rocco, and my spine straightens.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Rocco grimaces.

“Why the fuck not?” His bellow is loud, but I don’t flinch. I’m becoming accustomed to this family’s volatile behavior, yet somehow, I still feel safe.

“It’s Gerrard Davis,” Rocco all but whispers.

His father’s jaw tics. “Speak up, it appears I’m a little deaf after all.”

“I said, Gerrard fucking Davis, and you know it,” Rocco snaps out, with fire in his eyes.

His father throws himself back in his chair and drags his hand down his face. “Fucking dumb little bastard.” He shakes his head.

When he finally faces us again, his face is impassive, and my heart thuds erratically.

“I’d like to speak with .” Rocco stiffens, and instantly, I want to reassure him. “Alone,” he adds.

“No.” Rocco’s sharp response has his father’s shoulders tightening, so he leans forward, his eyes promising punishment.

“It wasn’t a question.” The darkness in his tone makes my heartbeat faster, but not as fast as Rocco’s, and I find myself wanting to protect him from his father’s onslaught. It’s the least I can do, knowing the predicament we’re in.

“It’s okay. I’m happy to speak with your father.” I swallow back the nerves lingering in the pit of my stomach.

“No.” Rocco doesn’t so much as look at me, and it pisses me off. As much as it’s nice to have him want to protect me, I’ve lived with a monster for years. In the past fifteen minutes of being in his father’s office, I’ve come to learn his father doesn’t like to terrify women, and the fact he apologized for scaring me proves as much. He might be deadly to men, but to me, he’s all bark and no bite.

Rocco was telling the truth when he said his family doesn’t hurt women and children, and that gives me the confidence I need.

“I said it’s fine,” I snap back at Rocco, and he turns to search my eyes. I lower my tone. “I’ve dealt with a classroom of unruly teenagers, Rocco. I can deal with your father.”

His father releases a chuckle, and I realize he most certainly is not deaf.

“Your brother is waiting for you in his office,” his father, whose name I’ve yet to learn, says.

Rocco scoffs and slips me from his lap, placing me on the chair, then he bends and places a kiss on my lips. “Shout for me if you need me.”

“I won’t,” I state with a jut of my chin.

“That’s my girl.” He grins as he turns on his boots and heads toward the door.