THE MAFIA KING BROKEN ROSE novel Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Aria’s POV

I wasn’t joking when I told him I wanted to help out too. I didn’t have a certificate or any polished skills that could land me a real job, but I was tired of sitting around, being protected, and watched like I was made of glass.

Or am egg. Egg or glass which is more delicate?

Definitely egg.

Dominic looked up from his tablet when I said it. We were in his office–well, his version of it. Dark walls, thick curtains, massive desk that probably cost more than anything I owned in my past life.

He set the tablet down slowly, like he wasn’t sure he heard me right.

“You want to… help?”

“Yes.” I crossed my arms. “I’m not a decoration.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Never said you were.”

“You think it,” I muttered.

“You are not in my mind Mia cara.” He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. “So what exactly are you thinking? Running a dance school? Starting a studio? That used to be your thing, right?”

I stiffened.

“No dance schools.”

His smirk faded into a look of genuine confusion. “Okay. Why not?”

“I just… I don’t want to go back to something that already failed or reminds me of my past. I want something new.”

His brow lifted. “Alright. What then?”

“I want to be your assistant.”

There was silence. Long, annoying silence.

He blinked slowly, tilted his head, and gave me a look. “My assistant?”

I shrugged. “Yes.”

A beat passed, then he gave a low, amused chuckle. “Not in that way, I hope.”

My mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”

“You know,” he said, that damn smirk creeping back again, “the kind that wears pencil skirts and forgets her panties and bends over desks just when I need a file.”

I stared at him, deadpan. “Not to suck your cock.”

He raised both brows. “Your words, not mine, not like I would mine though, your tips do a wonderful massage.”

“God, you’re unbearable sometimes.” I groaned. “That’s not what I meant.”

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Chapter 1621

“Well, then what do you mean?”

I plopped down on the armrest of his chair. “I mean I want to learn. I want to do something real. Work for you. Help with… whatever shady empire you’ve got going on. Not just sit and wait for someone to kidnap me again.”

He studied me for a moment. That unreadable look he wore when he was turning something over in his head. Then finally

“What interests do you actually have? Other than threatening people with frying pans and slapping

grich men at galas.”

“I’m great at both,” I said with a grin. “But I don’t know.’I liked logistics. Problem solving. When I used to dance competitively, I loved managing schedules, organizing rehearsals. I even liked budgeting for our travel and gear. It felt good. Like solving a puzzle.”

“Hmm.” He leaned forward now, elbows on his knees. “You ever thought about business? Project management?”

My nose wrinkled. “Sounds like something boring rich people say at brunch.”

“But it fits. And it’s not boring. Not when lives are involved.” He gave me a pointed look. “And trust me, they often are.”

I hesitated. “Would I need to… you know… go to college?”

“Most likely.”

The word wrapped around my brain like static. I hadn’t thought of school in years. I barely made it out of high school with all the mess I’d been through. The idea of being back in a classroom with people younger, smarter, more put–together than me made my stomach churn.

Dominic must’ve noticed, because he reached out and touched my knee.

“College isn’t a punishment,” he said. “It’s a tool. If you want to build something of your own–or even if you want to help me properly–you’ll need the right tools.”

I bit my lip. “You’d support that?”

“I’d fund it. Arrange your admission. Hell, I’d hire someone to do your assignments if I didn’t think you’d stab me for it.”

“I would.”

“Exactly.”

I leaned my head on his shoulder. “You don’t think it’s too late for me to start over?”

“I think the people who say that are the ones who gave up too soon.” He turned his head, brushing his lips against my hair. “You’re not one of them.”

My chest warmed at that. I hadn’t realized how badly I’d needed to hear it.

– “So…” I said softly. “Business and project management?“,

“Unless you’d rather do IT. I hear hackers are in high demand.”

I rolled my eyes. “Please. I’d probably crash your entire system and delete

“Now that would be a problem.”

We sat like that for a while, quiet and comfortable.

your bank account.”

Dominic shifted to sit beside me, his hand still resting on my knee, fingers tracing slow circles through the fabric of my pants. His voice came low, almost

too casual.

“Come sit on my lap.”

Chapter 162

I blinked, turning my head slowly. “What?”

His lips twitched. “You heard me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why?”

C

“Because I asked nicely,” he said, leaning back in his chair like he had all the time in the world. “And maybe I miss having you close. Skin…to skin”

I stared at him for a second longer, trying to decide if he was joking or if this was just one of his playful moods. But there was something warm behind his eyes, something soft. So I sighed, stood up, and carefully settled onto his lap.

His arms came around me immediately, like they’d been waiting. One curled low on my waist. The other draped lazily across my thigh. I could feel his body heat seeping into mine, strong and steady. It was annoying how good it felt.

“You’re ridiculous,” I muttered.

“You like it.”

I didn’t answer. But he saw the smile twitching at the corner of my lips.

He dipped his head closer, lips brushing my ear. “So tell me, partner… ready to run my empire?”

“Partner doesn’t mean secretary,” I shot back. “And I’m still thinking about it.”

“Hmm.” His fingers toyed with the hem of my shirt now, teasing. “Thinking… does that mean you’re imagining all the ways you’ll boss me around? Telling me to kneel and suck your pussy. Moaning my name so loud.”

I turned slightly, giving him a look. “Why do you always turn everything into something dirty?”

“Because it’s fun. And because you blush so easily.” He smirked. “Like right now.”

“I’m not blushing.”

“You’re glowing.”

“Dominic!”

He laughed, full and warm, the sound rumbling in his chest under my palm. It wasn’t fair that he could still do this to me, even when I was trying to be serious. My heart was doing weird things. I didn’t want to admit how much I liked being in his arms like this. How much I’d missed it.

“You’re such a child sometimes,” I muttered, though my voice had softened.

“A very attractive, powerful child,” he teased. “Don’t forget charming.”

–+rolled my eyes, and he caught my chin gently between his fingers, tilting my face toward him.

“You do know I’m proud of you, right?” he said, quieter now. “You didn’t have to come back to me. You didn’t have to choose this. I was a dick.

“You still are.”

His hands smacked my butt making me yelped. He chuckled.

“I didn’t really choose,” I whispered. “I just… couldn’t not.”

His thumb brushed my cheek. “Still. You could’ve walked away. But you didn’t.”

I rested my forehead against his. “Neither did you. Staying by my side. Protecting me. I don’t think I would find another man willing to do that.”

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Chapter 162

Our breaths mingled in the space between us, hearts beating out some palm warm against my tower back. Not urgent. Just steady. Grounding.

I leaned in and kissed him.

slow rhythm only the two of us could hear. His hand slipped beneath my shirt,

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t desperate. It was… soft. Careful. Almost sweet.

He hummed into it, then pulled back just enough to whisper, “You’re going to kill me one day, you know that?”

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