Mob Mistress

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“Why did Brian give it up?”

“Because I got shot and almost died, and he got scared. We’ve lost a lot of people we’ve loved over the years, and Brian couldn’t take losing me, too. He’s more sensitive than he seems.” Richard paused. “It was one of those defining moments. When I recovered he just looked at me and said, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’ I knew exactly what he meant. It was over for me, too.”

Justin wanted to believe his uncle’s story. But Maya sneaking into his room told another tale. And so did his mom’s fragile concern. “Is the hit still active on Reed?”

Richard blew out a labored breath. “Dad won’t let it go. He’s still got connections from prison.”

“I don’t think I’m going to like my grandfather.”

“He wants to meet you. I know this sounds crazy, but he loves you already. Just being Beverly’s boy makes you special. More important than any of us.”

Justin angled his head. Had he detected a note of envy? Of rivalry? Or was it pain? “Do you still love him? Even after he forced a violent lifestyle on you?”

“I try.” Richard glanced away.

A gap of silence yawned between them.

Then Justin turned and spotted Maya adding more food to the buffet. In the sun, her tightly woven hair glistened with auburn highlights. He wanted to see it loose and free, the way it had been when she’d become his angel.

Damn it. Why hadn’t she let down her guard and admited who she was? Why hadn’t she whispered it in his ear? No, instead she’d just stood there, staring at him, making his blood rush to his groin. He’d never been this challenged by a woman before.

Richard noticed her, too. “Maya the maid,” he mused. “Sleek, sexy, off limits.” He gave Justin a serious look. “Do you always want what you can’t have?”

“Not before I met her.” He needed to find a way to get past this, to be able to talk to Maya out in the open, to earn her trust. “Why can’t I have her? What’s the big deal?”

“If we get too close to our staff, if we encourage affairs with maids or become bosom buddies with our chauffeurs, we’ll invite the wrong kind of employees. We don’t want a bunch of groupies or wannabe mobsters working for us. We’ve always had to be careful not to blur those lines.”

“Why does it matter, if you’re not involved in organized crime anymore?”

“We’re still rich and famous. And we’ll always be notorious. The Hollywood Mob will never go away. Not to the media, not to the FBI, not to anyone who doesn’t believe that we’ve gone straight.”

“I still want her.” Justin wasn’t giving up on Maya. No way, no how.

Richard chuckled. “You’re a Halloway, all right.” He shook his head, sighed. “You’ll have to convince Brian to let you have her. He runs this house. He’s the boss, and I’m the underboss. That part hasn’t changed.”

“Then I’ll talk to Brian when this party is over. I’ll do what I have to do.” To be alone with Maya, he thought. To keep his promise.

And keep her safe.

Maya knew she was in trouble. You didn’t get called into the boss’s office unless you’d done something to displease him.

She headed down the corridor, her sensible shoes squeaking on the black-and-white tiled floor. Mr.B.’s king-of-the-castle lair, with its mahogany furniture and custom-built aquarium, was in the east wing of the house.

Maya knocked, and Brian told her to come in and close the door. She stepped forward. The boss sat behind his massive desk with a holier-than-thou expression. Like Sister Frances, the principal of the Catholic school she’d attended.

Feeling like a knobby-kneed kid, Maya kept her hands at her sides. Sister used to scold her when she fidgeted.

Brian didn’t offer her a seat. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of tropical fish.

And then she saw Justin. He stood near the corner of the aquarium. He’d shoved on a pair of threadbare jeans over his swim trucks, leaving the top button undone. His hair, disheveled from diving into the pool, lent him a bad-boy quality.

Rich and spoiled looked good on him. Too good, she thought, scowling in her mind.

Brian finally told her to sit, which she did, taking a chair near his desk. Justin stayed close to the aquarium, enhancing the marine beauty.

“My nephew spoke to me about you,” Brian said.

Maya glanced at Justin, but he didn’t react, other than to smooth his hair. The ends were still damp.