Page 8 of Owned By the Mafia

I don’t want to be caught off guard, so I calmly make my way to the office door. When I reach it, looking into the hallway to see who is there, I completely freeze.

Of all the Irishmen I could be working with, it is Robbie fucking Quinn.

We stand there, eyeing each other for the longest, most awkward moment before I tilt my chin and confidently ask, “Can I help you? What are you doing here?”

He shrugs. “What are you doing here?”

He’s asking the same question, but somehow, I sense he knew I’d be here.

Another awkward silence.

I take charge and stand firm. “This is my office building where I am running as head of security for the families.”

I see the dangerous flash in his eyes, and he scoffs. “I’ll be damned if I work for you.”

“Well, then you can leave Mr. Quinn. There’s no necessity for you to be here.” I don’t want to get trapped in my office, so I keep firm, walk toward him, and then past him.

He catches my wrist and pulls me close to him, so close I can smell the coffee on his breath.

“Do you remember what it’s like to cross me? To be punished by me?” His voice is low and threatening, but I’m no longer twenty-five in the shadow of a thirty-seven-year-old.

Before he can blink, my gun is in my hand, and the barrel is pointed at his crotch. “You’ll find I’m no longer a little child who gets spanked for being naughty. There are consequences to fucking with me.”

Robbie releases my wrist, and I step back, my finger still on the trigger. “I don’t care what you want. Either you get on board with me being the boss, or you can get out. I’m not playing sick little mind games with you, Robbie.”

He tilts his head and looks at my gun, still pointed as his pride and joy. He steps a little closer and looks deep into my eyes.

“Fine, I’ll play by your rules. For now.” He smiles and steps away again.

“I assume you are second in command.” It’s not a question so much as it is rhetorical. “That means your office is behind me to the right.”

I step further away from him so he can pass, and once he’s not looking, I slide the gun back into its secret little holster.

“However,” I say, and he pauses at the door to look at me, “I would prefer both leaders are not so close in proximity. If one of us goes down, the other has to be in a safe place to assume leadership. Let’s see where else we can put you.”

I lead him to the elevator, and we take it to the first floor. I want him beneath me so he knows what it feels like to be dominated by someone in power.

We exit the elevator. I can feel his eyes trained on me as I lead him down the hallway, checking each space.

“This is perfect.” I smile as I open up into a small room with no windows.

“You’re joking.” Robbie looks at me with disdain. “You seriously think you can put me in this piece of shit office.”

“I’ll be knocking the wall down between the two offices upstairs to make more room for myself, of course. If I recall, you aren’t a man who likes many possessions, so this should suit you well.”

I know he’s pissed, but I try not to show how much I’m enjoying it. “I need to see how you’ve been running things, so carry on as you were for now. I will observe so that I can run the operation better.”

I turn and flounce off, a smirk on my face. He doesn’t follow. As I enter the elevator, I look down the hall to see him staring after me.

It makes my blood run cold, but I return to my office and start rearranging the furniture as I want it for both safety and convenience. Even though I’m physically distracting myself, I am acutely aware that he is in the same building as me.

The elevator dings, and I hear footsteps again. I look up to see Robbie at the door, smiling. “Dina, good news. There’s an office on this floor at the end I can use. I just chatted to security, and no one is using that office. Far enough apart that we should be safe.” He steps into my office, and I straight up, breathing slightly harder than usual. “I mean, you’re not afraid of little old me, are you?”

It’s a challenge, and I need to meet it head-on.

“Of course not, Robbie. You are welcome to the office down the hall. That will, however, place you first in line should we be attacked.” I raise an eyebrow.

He shakes his head. “It places the attacker as first in line to be killed by me. Anyway, I need to see to the men while you… decorate. If you feel like joining us, we’re in the first-floor board room.”