Taking Care Of The Mobster: A Steamy Standalone Instalove Romance Read online

  CONTENTS

  Taking Care of The Mobster

  NEWSLETTER

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Six Months Later

  Six Years Later

  Two Years Later

  NEWSLETTER

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

  BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

  LAIRDS & LADIES

  RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD

  IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS

  INKED BY LOVE

  Collaborations

  About the Author

  TAKING CARE OF THE MOBSTER

  AN OLDER MAN YOUNGER WOMAN ROMANCE

  _______________________

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS, 295

  FLORA FERRARI

  Copyright © 2022 by Flora Ferrari

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers.

  TAKING CARE OF THE MOBSTER

  It was too late...

  I had signed a binding contract before I knew who my patient was.

  Now I had to take care of the infamous mobster, Carlos Rodriguez, whom the world thinks is dead.

  And that’s not even the worst of it...I have to live in the same house with him for three months.

  It seems like the end of the world, but I can’t take back my decision.

  I begin my duties in Carlos’s home, hoping just to survive three months and get my paycheck, but life has many surprises in store for us both.

  Contrary to popular opinion, Carlos is a gentleman – and a very handsome one at that. I slowly start to get comfortable in his space.

  In taking care of the mobster, I fell in love with him.

  But I’m just a girl with too many curves and insecurities – nothing compared to the type of woman he flaunts in public.

  Would an older experienced man like Carlos Rodriguez be able to love a woman like me?

  * Taking Care of The Mobster is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Abby

  I twist my hands nervously in my lap, resisting the pressing urge to bite down on my lip or fingernails, an annoying habit that manifests whenever I’m nervous. I look around at the faces of the other women sitting in the reception area, and I feel my already near-zero confidence plummet like a popped balloon. They all fit the description of how a nurse should look, prim and pretty. On the other hand, I take a deep breath and try to remember my sisters' little pep talk before I left home.

  You’ve got what it takes, Abby. You are the best fit for the job. You’ve definitely got this.

  I wish I could find the courage to believe Beth’s words. I wish I were more like my courageous sister. Beth is never afraid to go after what she wants, even when the odds are stacked against her. She is bold and always liked wherever she goes – the exact opposite of me.

  “Miss Smith?” I hear a voice call my name. I raise my head and see a perfectly proportioned woman with a gorgeous yet insincere smile. Her straight legs look unending in her pleated skirt and high heels. I would be jealous if I had the time.

  I stand as sharply as I can while trying not to trip over my own two feet.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I say with the most pleasant smile I can muster – not much considering my teeth are starting to ache from clenching them so hard.

  “You’re up,” the lady says, gesturing toward the interview room with her pen.

  I swallow down my nervousness and give her a small smile. “Thanks,” I murmur as I walk past her on my way to the interview room. I take one last deep breath and let it out in a big whoosh.

  I knock once on the door and turn the handle.

  I don’t know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t the gorgeous blonde sitting on a comfortable armchair, leisurely swirling a glass of wine in her hand and generally looking bored.

  Her shirt is unbuttoned to the point where it barely covers her sizable cleavage. Her short skirt emphasizes the endlessness of her long, statuesque legs so that it makes one want to look on and on.

  She almost looks like a Barbie doll, except with an attitude and lots of makeup. As my gaze unconsciously drifts to her legs again, I can’t help but wonder if employees are employed here for their looks and long legs. I guess that just adds another item to the long list of reasons why I won’t be getting this job.

  “Sit,” the lady in the chair says in a husky voice that borders on being seductive. She openly runs her gaze slowly over me. Accessing...judging...I recognize that glimmer in her gorgeous light blue eyes; it’s the look I would see in the eyes of my bullies in high school. It’s the same mock and disgust I’d see in the faces of everyone that ever looked down on me in college. It’s the same look I saw in Simon’s eyes before he dumped me so callously. I know about it all too well, and it’s safe to say that I won’t be getting this job.

  I manage a small smile as I lower myself onto the couch she gestures. “Good day, ma’am,” I say.

  “Call me Mandy,” she says, flashing a very insincere smile. She leans forward to place her wineglass on the table, and I almost gasp at the scandalous show of her cleavage. She picks up what must be my file and sits back in her chair.

  She opens the file and flips through it, running her gaze up and down the pages. “Miss Abby Smith...,” she murmurs without looking up at me. “I see you’re fresh out of college. Although you graduated the best in your class, you don’t have any prior experience. Well, except volunteer jobs at local clinics and the university’s health care center.”

  “Yes, ma’am...I mean, Mandy,” I correct myself immediately, seeing the sharp slit of her eyes.

  “We have nurses from top hospitals with years of experience vying for this job,” Mandy says, raising her gaze to mine. “Now, tell me, Miss Smith. Why do you think you’re the best fit for this job?”

  I clear my throat nervously and sit forward in my chair. “I...um...I’ve also volunteered in pet clinics and animal rescues...I....” Really, Abby? That’s the best you can do? My subconscious screams at me. Why the hell am I talking about animals? I clear my throat to start again. “You see...I’m...”

  “Nev
er mind,” Mandy cuts in, shutting my file. She picks up her wineglass again and takes a long, satisfying sip. “You’re hired.”

  What?! “What?” I say out loud, blinking rapidly in surprise. “I’m...hired?”

  “I believe I said so,” Mandy says, almost irritably. She picks up a new file from the table and hands it over to me. “Here. It’s your employment contract. And no, you can’t take it outside of this room. Read through and let me know if you are good with the terms and conditions.”

  I read slowly through the document. The terms of employment are clearly stipulated at the top of the page in simple enough English. I have no cause to misunderstand anything. I gasp loudly as my eye catch sight of the number of zeros at the bottom of the page, just before the line where I have to place my signature.

  “This...,” I say, looking up at Mandy as if to verify if my eyes are working correctly. “Fifteen thousand dollars...Is that for real?”

  “As you can see,” Mandy says with a tight smile. “You will be paid an advance of five thousand dollars, and you’ll get the balance as soon as your work is done.”

  My heart picks up speed at the thought of what I could do with that much money. I don’t have to think twice about it. My family needs this. And without bothering to read the rest of the contract, I pick up a pen from the table and quickly sign my name.

  I don’t care what I have to do in the next three months, as long as my account balance reflects the number of zeros on that paper.

  “Great,” Mandy says with a satisfied smirk that raises my hackles. “Now that you’ve signed the contract, I must tell you that your decision is irreversible. Backing out will have a heavy penalty. I’m sure you read it all in there.”

  I missed that part, but I nod my head with a tight smile. “Of course. I’ll do my best.”

  “I hope you do. For your sake,” Mandy says ominously. She pulls out another file from the stack on the table and hands it to me. “The person you will be taking care of is the CEO of Diamond Investments; therefore, you’ll need to sign a confidentiality agreement. You will say nothing of what you see or do in his home for the duration of your stay. You will not cross any boundaries set and will stay in your quarters at all times. You’ll....”

  “What do you mean stay in my quarters?” I ask, my brows pulling together in confusion.

  “You read the contract, didn’t you?” Mandy asks, looking at me like a nitwit whom she can’t wait to get out of her hair. “It’s clearly stated there.”

  Beth has always berated me for my impulsive tendencies, but it’s at this moment that I begin to feel the irresponsibility of my actions. I’d been so blinded by the pay that I refused to read fully through the contract.

  I swallow hard and chuckle awkwardly. “Of course! I totally read that...It’s in there, of course.”

  Mandy sighs like she’s tired of dealing with me already. “If you flip to the next page, you will see the patient’s records and medical history. Look through and let me know if you have any questions.”

  I flip the page that she indicated and let my eyes scroll down the patient’s medical history. I flip to the next page and freeze in shock as the patient’s picture jumps out at me.

  I glance at the name just to confirm my eyes aren’t playing tricks on me and let out an unconscious gasp. The page trembles slightly as my hands begin to shake.

  My breath quickens, and I can feel a panic setting in.

  Mandy’s brow knots in a frown as she looks at my face. “Miss Smith? Are you alright?”

  I slam the file closed and throw it on the table like it’s on fire. I stand up jerkily, nervously twisting my fingers. “I...Um...I need to go. I mean, I need to go to the restroom. Please?”

  “Down the hallway to your left,” Mandy says, looking at me like I’m crazy.

  I turn around and run out of the room like a demon’s hot on my heels.

  “Please, pick up. Pick up, Beth....” I mutter to myself, chewing desperately on my fingernails. I feel like I’m going to faint if Beth doesn’t pick up the phone soon. She’s the only one that can make sense of the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

  “Hi, sis!”

  My heart swells with relief as Beth’s always optimistic voice comes through the line.

  “Hey?” I say in a shaky voice, pressing the phone closer to my ear. “Beth, I think I’m in trouble. I...I was so blinded by the pay that I just went right ahead and signed the contract. I should have known that it was too good to be true. Fifteen thousand dollars in three months just to attend to a sick man. What do I do, Beth? Please tell me what to do?”

  “What are you talking about, Abby?” Betty asks. She sounds as confused as I feel at the moment. “Calm down and talk to me slowly.”

  I take in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I...I got the job.”

  “That’s a good thing, isn’t it,” Beth asks, sounding elated yet confused. “Shouldn’t you be glad, sis?”

  “I....” I lick my lips nervously and look around the bathroom to ensure no one is listening in on my conversation. “My patient is Carlos Rodriguez,” I say in a whisper.

  “Who’s that?” Beth asks, sounding even more confused. “Is he a celebrity I should know?”

  “Carlos Rodriguez as in the man known as Drago!” I snap in a loud whisper.

  Beth gasps sharply. “What?!” she screams, nearly bursting my eardrum in the process. “That can’t be possible. Wasn’t he pronounced dead? How are you treating a dead man? He was shot dead in the last shootout between rival gangs. It was all over the news, right? Besides, I thought the patient was the CEO of Diamond Investments?”

  “I thought so, too,” I say, biting down harder on my fingernails. “I...can't do this, Beth. He’s a notorious gangster. We all know what he’s capable of. What should I do? Please tell me?”

  “You need to calm down, Abs,” Beth says, lowering her voice to a gentle pitch. “Take a deep breath and blow your fears out. Now...this might not be as hard as it seems. I mean...how much damage can one injured man do? Besides, his life is in your hands, and I’m sure he knows that fact, too. There’s no cause for alarm.”

  “I have to live in his home for three months, Beth!” I screech, my fear getting the better of me. “I can’t possibly do that. How do I live with a mafia boss for three months? Oh, my God! What if he decides he doesn’t like my face and shoots me dead? OMG, I’m going to die. I’m going to walk back out there and demand out. Damn the consequences.”

  “I don’t think it’s going to be that easy, Abby,” Beth says with a sigh. “Besides...we need the money for Mom’s medications. Think about it. You know how expensive those medications are. We’re barely getting by as it is. And the debts? Think about how much that money could do for us.”

  Images of our mother flash through my mind, I can see her leaning heavily on the closest wall, her face wrought with pain. She smiles through it all, but I know better than anyone how much pain she’s in. I think about my sister, who works her butt off to pay off my college debts and buy mom’s medications. They have both done so much to see me through college, the least I can do now is return the gesture. Refusing to do this would be selfish of me.

  “I can do this,” I say out loud, despite every fiber of my body protesting that fact. I swallow down the raging fear in my chest and breathe in and out multiple times. “I can do this,” I repeat, more confidently this time.

  “I believe in you, little sis,” Beth says with a conviction that serves to strengthen my resolve. Like always, she is my pillar of strength. Surviving three months in a mobster’s home is nothing as long as I have my big sister’s support.

  Right?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Abby

  I stop myself for the thousandth time from gawking at the shiny expensive decor and furniture in Carlos Rodriguez’s home as I slowly walk behind his housekeeper down a long hallway.

  After my little episode in the bathroom, I returned to Mandy’s office and told her I was rea
dy to begin work with the biggest smile I could muster while trying not to give in to the urge to make a run for the next bus home. Mandy had looked at me with disdain as she called the driver that brought me down to Carlos’s home. I’d only stopped at home, to pack a few things, and say goodbye to Mom and Beth.

  The housekeeper, a pleasant petite lady, welcomed me with a warm smile when I arrived. She looked to be in her early fifties, but I could tell she’d lived a lively youth from the mischievous light in her eyes. She must have seen how tired I looked because she immediately volunteered to lead me to my room.

  The housekeeper stops in front of a door at the end of a hallway. She turns to me with a small smile. “This is your room.” She gestures toward the adjacent room and turns back to me with a smile and says, “That’s Carlos’s room. I believe it’s best if you stay close to him, just for convenience purposes.”

  “Y-yes, I guess,” I mutter, clearing my throat awkwardly. “Thanks, ma’am.”

  “Please, call me Sarah,” she says, smiling apologetically. “Forgive my tardiness. I should have introduced myself earlier.”

  “That’s fine, ma’am... I mean, Sarah,” I say with a genuine smile. “Thank you.”