The Older Mafia Boss Had Given Up on Dating—Then His Curvy Friend Secretly Set Him Up With Her
Chapter 6
Their second date happened three days later.
No expensive restaurant.
No private dining room.
Elena chose a small neighborhood diner.
Marcus arrived in a plain jacket.
Elena smiled.
“You look almost normal.”
“Almost?”
“I’m still working on it.”
They sat in a booth.
For two hours, they talked.
Marcus told her about Isabella.
He had never spoken about her on a first date.
He told Elena how they met.
How Isabella used to steal his fries.
How she laughed whenever he tried to cook.
How she had once told him that his greatest weakness was believing he had to solve every problem alone.
Elena listened.
“You still love her.”
Marcus nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s okay.”
He looked at her.
“I thought it would make you uncomfortable.”
“It would be strange if you stopped loving someone just because they died.”
Marcus looked down.
“You’re different.”
“I’ve been told.”
He smiled.
Then Elena told him about her own failed marriage.
Her ex-husband had spent years making her feel ashamed of her body.
He called her too heavy.
Too loud.
Too emotional.
Eventually, she left.
“I promised myself I’d never again become smaller so someone else could feel bigger.”
Marcus looked at her with quiet respect.
“You shouldn’t have had to.”
“I know.”
Outside, rain began falling.
Marcus reached across the table.
His fingers touched hers.
Elena didn’t move away.
Then a car stopped outside.
Marcus looked toward the window.
His expression changed.
“Do you know that car?”
Elena turned.
“No.”
Marcus’s security instincts sharpened.
The vehicle remained parked.
Five minutes.
Ten.
Then it drove away.
Marcus stood.
“Come with me.”
“Why?”
“I don’t like this.”
They left through the back entrance.
Marcus’s driver arrived.
Elena got into the car.
“What’s happening?”
“I don’t know.”
He looked at her.
“But someone may be watching you.”
Her face tightened.
“Because of you?”
“Probably.”
Elena was silent.
Marcus expected her to leave.
Instead she said:
“Then tell me the truth.”
He nodded.
“You may not like what you hear.”
“I’d rather know.”
Marcus took a breath.
“My life isn’t clean.”
“I already knew that.”
“No.”
He looked directly at her.
“You don’t.”
