Mafia Queen (The Manning Sisters #1) by Christina Escue Read Free Book Online Page A

the exact same height as dad,” Dakota pointed out and Michelle grinned again.
    “Exactly. Your father was always the tallest around and now all my boys are. Your sister missed out on the tall genes, thank goodness.”
    “Speaking of Tati, how is she? I haven’t heard from her in a while.”
    “She’s doing well. She’s absolutely loving art school and your father finally accepted the fact that she’s in Paris and not here.”
    “One less person I have to worry about at the moment,” Dakota murmured.
    “You focus on keeping Lis safe and let your father and I worry about our own safety. We aren’t new to this life, Dakota.”
    “I know, mom, but dad got out of it because he wanted a better, safer, life for you, for us. Now I’m dragging you back into the heart of it.”
    “You are doing what you must to protect the one you love,” Michelle said and held up her hand when Dakota went to speak. “There’s no use denying it. You have been in love with that girl for years. I’ve known that and so has your father. She’s the reason you stayed after your contract was up.”
    “I wasn’t going to deny it, but I haven’t placed a label on what I feel for her. I do know that if anything happens to her I’m not sure how I’ll manage to go on.”
    “You would manage because you would want to get revenge on the one who took her from you. Now, I think it’s time you went and properly proposed to your girl.”
    “I love you, mom,” Dakota told her and dropped another kiss on the top of her head before he headed upstairs to his old room, hoping Lis would be in there. When he knocked softly on the door he didn’t get an answer so he opened it a little and peaked in. Lis was curled up in his bed asleep and he couldn’t help but smile.
    Instead of leaving, like he knew he should, he walked into the room and closed the door behind him. As he approached the bed he saw that her face was streaked with tears and his heart melted. She’d been crying and he hadn’t been there to comfort her. In that instant he knew that what he felt for her was a deep, unwavering, and undying love. He also knew that he couldn’t leave her. What if she woke up and needed him?
    He walked over to his suitcase and pulled out the pair of pajama pants he’d purchased in San Diego. He hated them, but he knew he didn’t need to sleep like he usually slept when he was her sole protection.
    After a quick shower, he slipped the pants on and snagged a light blanket from his closet. He covered her with the blanket then climbed into the bed with her and slid his arm around her waist. He wasn’t used to sleeping with anyone, but he needed to get used to it and now was the best time to start.
    When she rolled over and laid her head on his chest he sighed softly. This felt right and he felt completely relaxed for the first time since he was a kid. He knew that as long as she was beside him, he’d always be home.
    As sleep started to find him, he pulled her a little closer and let himself slip into the darkness.
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
    Lis awoke with a start and felt an arm tighten around her. When she tilted her head back her eyes connected with Dakota’s and a smile formed on her lips.
    “Good morning, beautiful,” Dakota said and brushed his lips across her forehead. “Did you sleep well?”
    “Morning, and yes. I slept better than I have in a long time.”
    “Me too,” he told her and frowned.
    “What’s the frown for? I thought sleeping well was a good thing.”
    “It is. I’m just not used to sleeping with someone else. I don’t think I have since David and I got separate rooms.”
    Lis sat up and looked at him for a second before she said anything else. “What about all those women?”
    “ All of those women ?” He asked and chuckled. “I do have a bad rep with you. Elisabeth, let me explain something. There were never a lot of those women . There have been a total of twelve women in my life that I have had sex with. Out of