Sinful Secrets (Savannah Sharks Hockey and Mafia #2)

Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

SPENCER

Mario runs outside. “Do you need me to call-” He glances at Savannah. “-someone to come help fix your problem?”

“No. I have a spare and all necessary tools needed.” I release my tight grip from around the arms of the chairs.

I should have done more to prevent them from slashing my tire. I wanted to, but I’m not ready for Savannah to be thrown into that world.

I want to keep her away from the danger at all costs.

Savannah reaches across the table, resting her hand on my thigh. “Are you sure there isn’t anyone you need to call? That looked like it could have been so much worse.”

She has no idea how worse it can and probably will get.

“By the time the police get here, they will be long gone. I don’t know who they are. No one seems to know them.”

She narrows her eyes for a moment as she thinks. “Has anyone tried to follow them to see where they hang out or where they meet up? Maybe that will give us answers about who they are and what they want to accomplish.”

I shake my head. “No, and don’t get any ideas, either. They are dangerous and unpredictable.”

She raises her hands up in surrender. “I was merely suggesting a course of action. I don’t have a death wish.”

“Well, that’s a relief because I’d chase after you and once I caught you, I’d lock you in my bedroom until you learned your lesson.”

She leans closer to me. Her eyes darken with lust. “What if I want to be locked up in your bedroom?”

“All you have to do is say the words. You wouldn’t have to chase danger.”

“Well, maybe I’ll ask after you change your tire and we eat lunch.”

I get up and kiss her cheek before heading over to my car. Working for Arturo has made me plan for the worst at all times.

I always have a usable spare tire and not just a donut. I have a tool bag of random tools in case we need them for a job and I travel with an EMT approved first aid and trauma bag.

Grabbing all the tools I need, I quickly change my tire and throw everything back in the trunk. Savannah grins as I walk closer.

“You are very handy with the tools. I’ll have to remember that if I ever have car troubles.”

I return her smile. “I’m only a phone call away, and if it’s not something I can do, I know a garage that has excellent mechanics.”

It’s also owned by Arturo Marino, but the mechanics are the best.

“I’m going to get cleaned up while we are waiting for food to finish cooking.” I tell Savannah.

I don’t trust the gang to stay away, so I poke my head inside the restaurant and ask Mario to keep an eye on Savannah while I clean up.

He wipes his hands on a bar rag. “Sure, no problem. I’ll just yell if there are any issues.”

Lucia steps out from the office. “I’ll shoot before yelling.”

“That’s more like it. I shouldn’t be but a minute.”

I head to the restroom to wash my hands as Mario heads outside to sit with Savannah. I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

The past couple of days have been nothing but stressful. Always having to be on alert and watch not only my back but also Rhett’s and Francesca’s. It feels good to be back home.

I quickly wash the grime and grease off my hands and make my way to the kitchen to check on Lucia.

“Do you need help? I can wash pots and pans, or help clean.”

She smiles at me. “You have already done more than enough. You shouldn’t have paid our debt.”

“It was my pleasure, seriously. You two have always fed me and treated me like family. It’s the least I could do.”

“Ah, nonsense. You should have saved the money.” She turns away from me to check on the food in the oven before pulling the baking dish out and setting it on the counter.

“I have plenty of money. You don’t have to worry about that. Believe me, if I knew you two would retire and not open another restaurant, I’d buy you the house of your dreams.”

She frowns at me. “You can’t do that. Keep your money.”

“But I would in a heartbeat. I still may. Christmas is coming up.” I flash her a mega smile, which she returns.

She shoos me out of the kitchen. “Go sit outside with Savannah. I’ll bring your food out in a minute.”

Something deep inside my gut makes me blurt out, “Do you like her? Savannah.”

Lucia is caught off guard by my question. “Of course I like her. I like anyone you like, but the question is, do you like her?”

“I do. A lot.” I glance outside where Savannah is laughing at something Mario just said. “I told her I loved her. I’ve never felt this way before.”

Lucia’s smile widens as she pulls me into a hug. “That’s wonderful news! You two are perfect together. I can just tell that you two will be together for the rest of your lives. Now go. Don’t keep her waiting. Send Mario in here to help with the plates.”

“I can help, you know.”

She scoffs. “You are the customer.”

I shrug. “So? I’m already here and the plates have to go where I’m headed, anyway.”

“You are a stubborn man. Stubborn like a mule. Just like Mario.” She glances out the front window at Mario lovingly.

“All the best ones are.” I tease, as I grab the plates off the counter and carry them outside.

As soon as Mario sees me, he jumps out of my chair and takes the plates from me. “Sit, sit. I’ll take these from you.”

I roll my eyes as I sit down. “Mario, I can carry two plates.”

He places our plates on the table in front of us. “But you are the customer.”

“That doesn’t make me any less capable.”

I smile at Savannah, hoping she knows this is all in jest. She returns my smile and gently kicks my foot with hers.

Mario pats me on my shoulder. “Just try to relax and enjoy your meal. Let me know if you need anything else, okay?”

The restaurant door opens and out comes Lucia with a basket full of garlic knots and freshly made marinara. “Try these and let me know what you think. It’s a new recipe.”

Savannah leans forward to smell them. “These smell heavenly.”

“Thank you, dear. Come on, Mario, let them eat in peace.”

The two of them disappear back into the restaurant, leaving Savannah and me alone.

She points to the garlic knots. “These really do smell amazing. I wish I could cook like this.”

“I’m sure she could teach you. Or we can cook together.”

She gazes at me with wide eyes. “You know how to cook like this?”

I glance down at the food in front of me. “As long as I can use store-bought ingredients, it will be similar. No one can cook as well as Lucia and Mario.”

“I’d love to learn. I want to be able to cook well-balanced meals for my kids one day.”

Her statement makes me freeze.

How often does she think about having kids? Does she picture having them with me?

She immediately holds up her hand. “I wasn’t meaning that in any sort of way. It’s not like I picture having babies while I’m still in college. Not when I have tuition to pay for. I’m not trying to scare you off or anything.”

“That’s not what caused me to freeze.”

“Then what did?”

Should I be honest with her? Should I tell her I’ve pictured her as the mother of my children?

No, definitely not. That will for sure scare her away. She’s younger than me and deserves to have a career.

“I have something to tell you, and I’m not sure how you will react.”

She drops her fork and turns toward me. “I think I already know.”

“You do?”

Confusion must be written all over my face because she scrunches up her face for a moment.

“What are you talking about? What do you need to tell me?”

I take a deep breath and let it all out. “I paid your tuition, room and board, and upgraded your meal plan for the rest of the year. I even have a single dorm on hold if you want to have a suite all by yourself.”

Her smile immediately disappears.

Fuck. That’s not the reaction I was hoping for.

I figured she would show some hesitation, but she’s irate.

Her lips are pressed together so tightly they are nearly non-existent. Her gaze is locked onto her food and her hands are clamped together in her lap.

“Savannah, what’s wrong? Did I totally fuck this up?”

She sighs. “I wanted to do this by myself. I wanted to be able to prove to myself that I am capable of taking care of myself.”

“You are more than capable, Savannah. I just wanted to do this for you so you don’t have to stress about coming up with that much cash right now.”

Her gaze doesn’t move off her plate. “I feel like I always need someone to bail me out. This was going to be my one chance to show the world that I don’t back down when I’m faced with a problem.”

I reach over and rub her thigh. “And you still can. Save the money you’ve already made and use it to start your own design company once you graduate.”

“I know about the mafia and the Savannah Sharks.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but it filters through my ear as clear as day.

How did she find out about the Sharks? She didn’t even know my last name.

How the hell did she find out about Arturo and the mafia? Did someone tip her off?

Who could have gotten to her?

“I promise to answer any questions you have, but I’d prefer to do it in private, where no one can overhear. Is that alright?”

“Yeah.” Her voice cracks, like she’s holding back tears.

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but the money I used to pay your tuition is from a side gig.”

She looks over at me and whispers, “The drugs?”

“Yeah. That’s how you were going to pay for tuition. Besides, you are way better at it than I am. You even made more than I was able to.”

“That’s because men will gladly pay more from a half naked woman.”

Jealousy bubbles up inside of me. If I’m going to support her temporary job, then I need to get used to hearing things like this.

“I’d buy anything from you.”

I’d also buy anything for her, but that confession might scare her.

The corners of her lips curl up into a small smile. “Is that so?”

“If you were half naked and standing in front of me, you could get me to do just about anything.”

She plucks a garlic knot out of the basket. “I’m willing to test that theory.”

My dick hardens in my pants. “Food first, then maybe we can grab dessert on the way home.”

“It’s still early.” She says between bites.

“And this is a pretty hearty meal, but I do know how to order food if we get hungry later.”

She takes another bite and glances at me. “I know we have a lot to talk about, but I actually have some good news.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“I got a new job as a Savannah Sharks ice girl. Are you okay with me working there? I should have asked once I found out you were a player for the team, but Alvin gave me the idea the day we met and his daughter got me an audition.”

“I’m more than okay with it. I’ll get to see you on the ice every home game and get to show you that part of my life.”

Any chance I get to see Savannah more than I already do will be worth any negative consequences for violating the no fraternization clause.

Besides, Arturo wouldn’t fire me. Not when his own daughter, the Director of Public Relations for the Sharks, is engaged to one of our star players.

“Will you still have time for the club, school, and your design classes?”

“That’s the best part. The schedule will work out perfectly because other ice girls are college students and practices are always around their classes. I’m only working two nights a week as a cocktail waitress at the club to sell the pills.”

“Well, then, it’s perfect.”

“I’ll just need to decide what to do after I graduate.”

“Where do you hope to take your fashion dream?”

“I’m as indecisive as one can be. I don’t know if I’ll try to intern somewhere or jump straight into working.”

“What about your own business with your own designs?”

“That would be a dream come true, but maybe in five to ten years. I need more hands-on, real world experience first.”

“Not in this world. It’s more about who you know, and if you haven’t guessed, I know a lot of people.”

“I don’t want handouts. I want to do this on my own.”

“If you insist, but think about any big name fashion designer. Do you think they do everything themselves? No. They hire people to help. They probably had investors give them their start.”

I wrap my hand around hers.

“I don’t know anything about fashion. I don’t know how to sew or bead. I don’t know what’s trending or considered old. But I can be an investor. I believe in you and your designs.”

She looks at me with hesitation. “We will cross that bridge when we get to it. I don’t even know what type of clothing I want to design. Casual or dressy? Affordable or elegant and high end?”

I chuckle. “You still have plenty of time to make those decisions.”

She finishes her meal and dabs her lips with the cloth napkin. “Good, because one thing I know is that I want to spend all night with you.”

I pick up our plates. “Then let’s go.”