He pushed her hand away.

"It's not that easy for someone to touch me but for you, Tessa."

"What does that mean?"

"My treasure." Vincenzo smiled at her, drawing her in with his deep charming eyes.

"Does it hurt?" Tessa stared at Vincenzo’s wounds.

"I had two gunshot wounds and a sprained hand but none of that hurt as much as the wok you handled."

Tessa caught the hint of some flirtation but she knew better than to be entangled with the Mafia. No matter how handsome one was. She remembered what he said was the best case scenario if she got caught by one.

"Here's your wristwatch. I want money." She threw the watch at him.

He caught it and held it up in the light, then turned it to check the back before he passed it to Matteo. "Straight to the point. I like her already."

"I want 200 thousand and I need it now."

"What for?"

Discomfort crept on Tessa. The Mancini men were rumored to be capable gun handlers. He could end her to avoid giving her money.

"I didn't ask you why you were running from those men."

"The Mafia's business is the Mafia's business." Vincenzo took the check book from the guard. "I'm disappointed that you rate my life as low as two hundred thousand."

"Five hundred then."

He also owed her for the destruction of the restaurant. She hadn't considered taking it as part of the money.

"Still low—"

Matteo nudged Vincenzo's side again and Vincenzo glared at him.

"But five hundred it is."

She stared down at the check he presented to her. "I want a bank transfer."

"Are you saying Vincenzo does not honour his words?"

"You might but I don't trust others." She made sure to glare at the guard that tripped her.

"Felix means no harm."

She called her bank account number, still shooting bad looks at Felix.

Vincenzo nodded at Matteo to transfer the money to her. Tessa felt her phone vibrate in her pocket and she froze, unable to believe she had actually collected money from the Mafia.

"How about I make a deal with you? Two hundred every month as my secretary. Your boarding and feeding will be taken care of and I'll add in a shopping allowance for months that I'm impressed." He limped forward.

Tessa shook her head. "The Mafia's business is not my business."

"It would be a shame to let you go. There's very little I find redeeming in people, loyalty is one of such."