The Older Mafia Boss Had Given Up on Dating—Then His Curvy Friend Secretly Set Him Up With Her
Chapter 2
Sophia drove across town to a small bakery that stayed open late.
A woman stood behind the counter, arranging pastries beneath the warm yellow lights.
Her name was Elena Carter.
She was thirty-nine, curvy, soft-spoken, and had a smile that made strangers feel welcome.
Sophia had known Elena for almost a year.
They had met after Elena catered a charity event.
Unlike most people Sophia knew, Elena had no interest in Marcus Bellini’s reputation.
She didn’t know his name carried fear.
She didn’t know half the restaurants in the city quietly paid him for “protection.”
She didn’t know that detectives had spent years trying to connect him to crimes nobody could prove.
To Elena, Marcus was simply a man who looked lonely.
Sophia walked into the bakery.
“You’re late.”
Elena looked up.
“I had customers.”
“You always have customers.”
“Because I sell good cake.”
Sophia smiled.
“Do you still remember what you told me last month?”
Elena frowned.
“I say a lot of things.”
“You said you wanted to meet someone.”
Elena immediately looked suspicious.
“I said I’d like to meet someone eventually.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Sophia leaned against the counter.
“What if I knew someone?”
Elena laughed.
“You’ve been trying to set me up for months.”
“This one is different.”
“How?”
“He’s older.”
“How much older?”
“Thirteen years.”
Elena blinked.
“That’s…quite a difference.”
“You’ll like him.”
“You said that about the dentist.”
“The dentist was boring.”
“You told me he was mysterious.”
“He was mysterious because he had no personality.”
Elena laughed.
Sophia became serious.
“He’s a good man.”
Elena studied her.
“You really believe that?”
“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
“What’s his name?”
Sophia hesitated.
“Marcus.”
“Marcus what?”
“Bellini.”
The smile disappeared from Elena’s face.
“I’ve heard that name.”
“Probably.”
“Is he involved in…”
She didn’t finish.
Sophia didn’t pretend not to understand.
“Yes.”
Elena stepped away from the counter.
“Then why would you want me anywhere near him?”
“Because I know him.”
“That doesn’t answer the question.”
Sophia sighed.
“Marcus has spent years believing he doesn’t deserve a normal life.”
“And you think I can fix him?”
“No.”
Sophia shook her head.
“I think you might remind him what normal feels like.”
Elena looked toward the window.
Rain tapped against the glass.
“What exactly are you asking?”
“Dinner.”
“With him?”
“Yes.”
“Does he know?”
Sophia smiled.
“Not yet.”
Elena stared at her.
“You secretly arranged this?”
“Technically, yes.”
“That’s terrible.”
“Probably.”
Elena laughed despite herself.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
Finally, Elena nodded.
“One dinner.”
Sophia smiled.
“Perfect.”
She had no idea that Marcus would react very differently when he discovered his oldest friend had arranged a date without telling him.
