Bought by The Mafia Boss

Chapter 37

**Renzo POV**

No matter how important our business discussion was, I couldn't focus. That woman ruined me. And saved me. Yet, I worried that her sweet innocence would affect how I ran things, seeing as she had a moral code that didn't seem to align with mine. Or maybe that had made me more ruthless, better at my job because if I ever got caught now, it wasn't just me that it would destroy. It wasn't just my business and my life that was riding on my success.

"Boss?" James said, jolting me out of my thoughts again.

"Hm?" I asked, hoping that they hadn't asked me anything important.

"Where's your head at? We've got a lot to finish yet you are not present." He leaned back against the dresser, his larger frame rocking the picture that sat on it. I couldn't help but smile. Aedlin. Even her name was as beautiful as she.

"Sorry." I muttered and quickly peeled my eyes from the picture. Her smile, those large green eyes, even the fact that she was a little curvier than other girls made me weak at my knees. "Aedlin." I murmured, unconsciously unaware I said her name out loud.

Brick sighed. "Why her?" He said in Italian and I blinked, glaring between the two men that were watching me.

Yet, he wasn't wrong to ask. Why her was a good question. "Because she's everything that the rest were not. She reminds me what it felt like to be a kid, before this all became my world, before I was responsible for..." I trailed off and they both shook their heads.

"Because she's still innocent. Innocent from the things you've done." James clarified for me.

He wasn't wrong, which part of that bothered me. "After everything, after all of the choices I've made, this is the first time in years I actually feel some sort of consciousness over my actions." I paused and looked at my best friend, the man that I had known since I was a boy. The man that I used to climb trees with and throw dirt at. The man that has been by my side from my first kiss, to his first drink. Through everything. "Why does she think someone like me is worthy of someone like her?"

He chuckled and shook his head. That goofy grin that hadn't changed since we were eight spread across his face. Those bright blue eyes widened as he wiggled his eyebrows.

"My boy's in love." He taunted me and I rolled my eyes.

"F*** off James."

He slugged Brick in the arm. "He's totally in love with this girl." Brick grinned, his beady brown eyes watching me beneath bushy red brows. "So what, some barely five foot girl shows up and turns our boss into a little lovesick puppy? I'd bet money he even f**** her without all his usual kinky sh**." Brick bellowed in laughter and agreement while I stared daggers at the two of them.

"I'll have you know she likes that kinky sh** so-" I paused as both of their mouths dropped open. But that's not what stopped me. The doorknob was rattling as if someone was trying to get in. Both of my boys glanced at me and then back to the door. Brick and James slid a handgun from their concealed holsters and then we waited.

Waited for whoever was attempting to get in, to finally burst through and attack.

Instead, the sweetest voice floated past the wood. "Hey, um, everyone is ready to go shopping and I need some shoes and my purse and..." She stopped, sounding nervous and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"Speaking of." James winked at me as the two men holstered their weapons.

"Open the door and leave for a bit." I stated flatly and gestured to the door. Both men wiggled their eyebrows at me as they shuffled out of the room, past Aedlin. She stood in the doorway confused for a moment as I returned to my phone, pretending to be busy with work.