Page 63 of Coerced Kiss

Even in that, she has no choice, but I don’t tell her so. “This is already a lot to take in. Why don’t we take things one day at a time?”

“What happens after I’ve served my purpose?” Her gaze plays over my face with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. “Do webreak up? Do you make up a story about how wefell out of love?”

What she really wants to know is if I’ll kill her. “Play your role convincingly, and I’ll make sure nothing happens to you. If you take care of me, I’ll take care of you.”

“So it’s a trade. I ensure your freedom, and in return, you guarantee my safety.”

“If that’s how you want to look at it.”

“Except for one tiny detail.” Anger glimmers in her eyes. “I don’t have a choice.”

I don’t mind giving her the ugly truth. “Correct.”

The sound of the doorbell cuts our exchange short.

“Take your time to go through the clothes,” I say, straightening. “I’ll be back shortly.”

At the end of the hallway, I check the security panel screen. Luigi and Giorgio stand on the threshold, staring at the camera.

I go downstairs and open the door. “This is a surprise.”

“We need to talk,” Luigi says, leaning his weight on his cane as he pushes past me.

“Go through.” I step aside for Giorgio to enter. “You know the way.”

A glance up the street ensures me the men stationed in front of the house are in place. Now that Anya will be living here, security is a priority. I’m not fucking with her safety.

I usher my guests into the study and close the door. “Drink?”

Luigi sits down in the chair facing my desk. “No.” He keeps one hand on the carved wolf head of his cane, balancing it next to the chair as he watches me with a sullen face. “We need to find a new bookkeeper.”

“What about the Mancini guy?” I ask, going to the wet bar. “I thought you wanted him to take over from Lewis.”

Giorgio perches on the corner of my desk. “He died of a heart attack this morning.”

Pouring a brandy, I measure Luigi. “Who’s taking over in the interim?”

Luigi grunts. “Antonio.”

“Your nephew?” I ask with unconcealed surprise.

“He’s all we’ve got for now,” Luigi says.

“Candidates?” I ask, carrying the glass to Giorgio.

Giorgio takes the drink. “No one we trust enough.”

“I’ll look into it,” I say. “No disrespect intended, but Antonio doesn’t have the braincells for the job. We need someone with solid experience and knowledge of the business, someone who knows the legal and the tax systems as well as the loopholes.”

“Any ideas?” Luigi asks in a gravelly voice.

Giorgio rests an elbow on his knee. “None like Mancini. Why didn’t we know the motherfucker had a weak heart?”

“I know a few guys who may fit the bill,” I say. “Leave it with me. I need to check them out first.”

“Get back to me by next week,” Luigi says, pushing to his feet with a groan. He adds on his way to the door, “If we leave the books with Antonio for too long, everything will be in a fucking mess.”

Giorgio downs his drink and leaves the glass on the desk. “Have you changed your mind about the club?”