Free Ruthless: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance by Lauren Landish Page B

shrugged and set down the bag that was in his hand. "I just got the name and the order. It's already paid up, just if you could sign for it, please."
    I did, making sure to give the kid a tip, and watched as he walked out. Opening the bag, I saw that inside were two Bertoli pizzas with a note attached.
    Just a preview. How about stopping by the house Sunday afternoon?
    - A.
    My friends. Still taking care of me, even though I didn't deserve it.

Chapter 9
Dante
    " S o how is dance class going?"
    I stopped in the middle of where I was reading and looked up, surprised. Tomasso was standing in the doorway of the library where I had been reading an annotated copy of The Art of War , an assignment from Luisa that I actually enjoyed. It was part of my training. The Bertolis wanted me to train mentally and physically.
    "It's going well," I said, putting my bookmark in and closing the book. "I apparently at least halfway know how to waltz, and we're going to start working on the foxtrot."
    "Having fun with it still?" Tomasso asked, smirking.
    "It’s a fun little stress remover and exercise at the same time. I'll admit that," I said. After nearly three weeks, I wasn't sore anymore, but instead, I felt more comfortable, both with the intense regimen they were putting me through and being around the Bertolis. "The VersaClimber sprints still suck, though."
    Tomasso laughed and nodded. "They suck for everyone, but that's part of the appeal, learning to embrace the suck. In any case, are you ready for this afternoon?"
    "This afternoon?" I asked, confused. "Nobody told me anything about this afternoon."
    "They didn't?" He said, mock-perplexed. "Probably because I didn't tell anyone. Do you have jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt?"
    "Not here, but I have some at my apartment," I replied, sitting up. "Should I get them?"
    "Yes, and then meet me back here. I'm taking over your training this afternoon." Tomasso had a little twinkle in his eye, like whatever I'd be doing was going to be fun.
    "Any hints?" I asked, setting my book aside and getting up. "You know, so I can make sure I wear the right set of jeans."
    He shook his head and tapped his watch. "Think you can make it to your place and back in a half hour?"
    It was a rush, but I did it, pulling back into the parking area at the mansion exactly twenty-nine minutes after I left, although it had involved me running through my apartment, and I knew I had a mess to clean up afterward.
    The tasks that they gave me weren't impossible. They had an innate understanding of my limits. But what they both did was challenge me, pushing me just one step past what I had been able to do the day before, and with each new step, I found myself gaining, mostly in self-respect. Tomasso was standing by his sports car, waiting for me when I got out, slipping my keys into my front pocket. "Good job. Nice choice on the shoes, too."
    I looked down, glad that I'd gone with instinct and worn an old set of Timberland boots that I had from an old part-time job years before instead of the exercise shoes I was wearing so often now. "The Nikes were stinky as hell, and I knew if I tracked dirt and mud into the kitchen tomorrow, Jessie would take a mop handle to me."
    "Yeah, she's fun like that," Tomasso said, getting into his car. "Jump in. Watch the back."
    We drove for about a half hour, out into the woods south of Seattle. "What are we doing out here?"
    "I've never seen you shoot. It's part of our job, even if we haven’t had to in a while,” Tomasso said. "I'm not expecting you to be as good as Daniel is, but I do need to know you're not going to shoot yourself in the foot. Or me.”
    We reached an empty area off a dirt road, where a natural embankment provided a safety backstop for anyone who wanted to shoot. I decided to not ask questions and just accept it, and I got out of the car. "So what are we shooting?"
    "Beretta Cougars," Tomasso said, taking the case that had been in the back seat and opening it, showing