Asher holds up a hand, then leans forward and takes mine. “I know, darling. But you need to start adjusting your life to accommodate all these things that will be a permanent feature. Maybe try to make the most of it. He is hot after all and rich as fuck.”

“That’s not what I see when I look at him, and that’s not all that matters about a boy. You’re Italian. You’re supposed to be all about the romance,” I tease.

“So, there is romance?” she asks, grinning. “And that’s a terrible stereotype.”

“There is no romance,” I say firmly.

“Except he rescued you from his evil cousin who wanted to hurt you, and then you made passionate love in the shower,” she teases.

My blush deepens. “Keep this up, and you’ll never hear a juicy morsel again.”

She laughs and eats her last bite of toast before dusting her hands off and getting up. “I should call my cab and get ready to go. He’ll be back soon and might want you all to himself.”

“Not really, we’re just kind of…existing.” I look out the window. “But he is here now.”

“Get him to do something.” She turns to me. “Just do it. Tell him you want to, I don’t know, do something fun and make him do it with you. If there really is a fun side to him, you’ll bring it out, and you’ll be able to see something worth looking forward to.”

“Maybe,” I muse as Kervyn and Luka walk toward the house.

Asher takes out her phone as they walk in, and Luka pauses. “Are you leaving? I didn’t see your car.”

“Sold it,” Asher says, looking at him defiantly. She refuses to fear them anymore now that they’re a permanent part of my life. “I’m about to call a cab home.”

“I’ll drive you,” Luka says. It isn’t so much an offer as a direction.

“I’m going to accept because I’m saving cash, but keep your hands to yourself, you filthy man-whore.” Asher says before turning to hug me. “I’ll message you when I’m home safe and away from this beast.”

Luka chuckles and follows her out of the room.

“Good day?” Kervyn asks as he loosens his tie.

What the hell? Maybe Asher is right.

“Let’s go out,” I say suddenly. “Let’s go…” I cast my mind around for something we can’t do at the mansion. “Let’s go play miniature golf.”

He stares at me. “Leon can take you tomorrow if you want to play.”

“I want you to take me,” I say, clasping my hands behind my back. I notice his eyes stray to my boobs, which are popping out more because of how I’m standing.

“Well…”

“Me and you. Guards can come, but they stay far away so we can just get to know each other.” He stares at me, and I finally say. “I’m bored and want to do something fun and childish.”

“I don’t do fun and childish in public where people can see me,” he says.

I look at him, disappointed, then turn and walk away from him with my head hanging low.

I hear his sigh and try not to smirk.

“Fine,” he says. “Let me change into something more casual, and we can go play mini golf.”

I smile and walk toward the stairs. “I’ll change too into something warmer and grab some comfortable shoes.”

I get changed and meet him by his car out front. It’s a large Porsche. It’s his family's favorite type of car. He waits for me to buckle in before driving for twenty minutes, in silence, to the miniature golf course in the next neighborhood.

I get out of the car and beam at him. “They have ice cream. We can have ice cream when we’re done.”

“You are aiming for childish, aren’t you?” he asks, but I swear I see a smile teasing his lips.

He pays for a round of all eighteen holes and takes our scorecard. He writes our names on it, hands me my club and ball, and takes his own.

“Ready to get your ass whipped?” he says with a grin.

“It’s supposed to be fun,” I point out.

He chuckles. “It will be fun to whip your ass.”

“Oh, it’s on like Donkey Kong,” I say. “I get to start because I’m the lady.”

“Ma’am, please go right ahead.” He motions to the first hole. “I’ve paid them well enough that we have the whole place to ourselves.”

I grin. “I actually like that.” I put my ball down in the marked spot and look up. I take careful aim, but before I can strike, he says. “Woah. Stop. That’s now how you do this.”

He sets his things down and comes behind me. I’m acutely aware of his body molding to mine as he wraps his arms around me to reposition my hands. “Open your legs a little wider. Keep your hands together like this. Yes. Now, you’re going to swing back, and when you come forward, you’re going to keep it straight. Otherwise, the ball will veer off.”

I can smell the musky odor of his cologne, and I am momentarily distracted as he takes my swing back and helps me swing forward. The ball goes up the little ramp and into the monkey’s mouth. There’s a plop as it falls out the other side and stops near the hole.

“Did you see that?” I ask excitedly as he lets go of me, and I turn to look at him. “Did you see what I did?”

He smiles. “Go put it in, and then I’ll go.”

It takes us two hours to get through the entire course because we keep stopping and teasing each other and, honestly because I don’t want it to end.

When we’re done, he hands our stuff back in and pays the clerk for two ice creams in polystyrene cups with strawberry sauce on top.

We move to the eating area with our ice creams and sit on the table with our feet on the bench.

“I love ice cream,” I say as I lick some off my little plastic spoon. “Especially soft serve, it’s my favorite.”

“If it’s your favorite, then you should make it the dessert at the wedding.” He smiles at me.

“Why are you like this?” I ask suddenly, frowning.

He raises an eyebrow. “Like what?” he asks.

“You’re so fun and spontaneous and nice to be around sometimes, and then when we’re with other people, you’re a…a…douche.” I sigh. “Why can’t you always be this nice.”

He sighs and rests his arms on his legs, leaning forward. “I’m not just the leader of some mafia family,” he says, glancing at me and meeting my eyes. “I’m the leader of the entire Vegas Bratva, of all the Russian families in this area. My family is the example by which all other families are led. They follow every word I say and every command I make. I can’t be seen as weak, not even for a moment. Not even if I want to have a moment.” He smiles sadly at me. “I can’t let them know you’re my weakness or that you’re soft. Because you will be the queen of an empire that spans back generations.”