Hands Tied (Book 2): Brancati Family Mafia, #2

By Zoey Parker

This is book 2 of the Brancati Family Mafia series! Book 3 is available everywhere now!

Zico is a filthy man, playing a filthy game.

And he's about to drag me down with him.

I'm kicking. I'm screaming. I'm begging for help.

But my hands are tied…

And I'm powerless to resist.

ANNA

I'm a young detective.

New to the city.

Learning fast, but a long ways yet to go.

That is, if I make it.

The way things are shaping up now, that might not be the case.

I accepted a favor to help out my partner…

And somehow ended up in the hands of a mob boss.

Zico knows I'm innocent.

But that won't stop him from shattering me.

If I want to get out of here, there's only one thing to do:

Get my own hands as dirty as his.

ZICO

I've never yet met a cop with a clear conscience.

But in my line of business, dirty cops just come with the territory.

Sometimes, though, they get a little out of control.

And they need to be reminded who the real boss is.

I'd take care of the beast myself.

But where's the fun in that?

It's much easier and more entertaining to let the gorgeous Detective Anna Grasso do it for me.

Besides:

I just love the way she squirms when she knows there's nothing to do but obey me.

***

A dirty cop trapped by a filthy mob boss? What could be hotter?? You're gonna want to one-click this dark mafia romance series right away if you love romantic thrillers with an unexpected twist, alpha male bad boy mob bosses with an attitude and a rock-hard body, or new adult contemporary romance about mafia dons. Don't miss out on this forbidden romance love story!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sopris Page Press
• Release date: Oct 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393919650

Book preview

Hands Tied: A Mob Romance (Brancati Family Mafia Book 2)

By Zoey Parker

Zico is a filthy man, playing a filthy game.

AND HE’S ABOUT TO DRAG me down with him.

I’m kicking. I’m screaming. I’m begging for help.

But my hands are tied...

And I’m powerless to resist.

ANNA

I’m a young detective.

New to the city.

Learning fast, but a long ways yet to go.

That is, if I make it.

The way things are shaping up now, that might not be the case.

I accepted a favor to help out my partner...

And somehow ended up in the hands of a mob boss.

Zico knows I’m innocent.

But that won’t stop him from shattering me.

If I want to get out of here, there’s only one thing to do:

Get my own hands as dirty as his.

ZICO

I’ve never yet met a cop with a clear conscience.

But in my line of business, dirty cops just come with the territory.

Sometimes, though, they get a little out of control.

And they need to be reminded who the real boss is.

I’d take care of the beast myself.

But where’s the fun in that?

It’s much easier and more entertaining to let the gorgeous Detective Anna Grasso do it for me.

Besides:

I just love the way she squirms when she knows there’s nothing to do but obey me.

A DIRTY COP TRAPPED by a filthy mob boss? What could be hotter?? You’re gonna want to one-click this dark mafia romance series right away if you love romantic thrillers with an unexpected twist, alpha male bad boy mob bosses with an attitude and a rock-hard body, or new adult contemporary romance about mafia dons. Don’t miss out on this forbidden romance love story!

Chapter 1

Ilaid on the floor awhile after Zico left, trying to wrap my head around the snowstorm of emotions flurrying in my brain. I felt guilty about sleeping with Zico and going to meet up with him in the first place. I was angry at Gary for implicating me in his crimes when I didn’t know any better. If he hadn’t made me drive him around to do his collections, none of this would even be happening.

I was disgusted with Zico. For blackmailing me twice now. For breaking into my house and threatening my job, my livelihood, my life. And then, on top of it all, was a great deal of confusion. Zico had blackmailed me into having sex with him, but...I’d enjoyed it. And, despite Zico’s threats forcing me to take Gary down, I wanted Gary taken down anyway. I’d gone to Sergeant Hale to do just that. But more than anything else, I was tired. More tired than I’d ever been in my life.

Eventually, I heaved myself off the floor, collected my clothes, making a mental note to pick up the buttons from my shirt later, and took a shower. I lathered myself in layer after layer of body wash and let the hot water pour over me until it began to run cold and my hands and feet had gone pruney.

Afterwards, wet hair tangled around me, I collapsed into bed, where I fell instantly asleep.

The next morning, I slept through my first two alarms, but Gary didn’t say a word to me when I walked in over an hour late to work.

OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, Zico kept his promise. I heard from him, all right. He contacted me in just about every way known to man. Via email, text message, phone calls to my cell phone and my desk phone, letters taped to my door or wedged under my windshield wipers. Each message was nothing more than a number. A phone number, to be exact. Apparently, he expected me to call him.

After the third day of this communication barrage, I finally dialed the number. He picked up on the first ring.

Took you long enough, he said. It was the first time I’d ever heard him sound grouchy. His standard tone seemed to be a playful smartass kind of vibe. Grouchy didn’t suit him.

I’ve been busy, I said.

Oh, yes. His voice had taken on a mock concern. You seemed so busy last night while you watched hour after hour of home improvement shows. I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your packed schedule.

STOP WATCHING ME! I shouted. How are you doing that?

He laughed. Close your blinds, sweetheart. I could see you vegging out in your pink pajamas from my car on the street. You aren’t exactly making it difficult to keep an eye on you.

Immediately I jumped up from my spot on the couch and pulled all of my curtains closed, checking the edges to ensure there were no cracks. I sat back down, throwing a blanket over myself, still feeling vulnerable.

So, what do you want, Zico?

I swear, I could hear him smiling through the phone, his grouchiness from before all but gone. I don’t think you’ve ever said my name before. I like it.

What do you want? I sighed, purposefully not saying his name. In fact, if I could avoid it, I’d never say his name again.

Have you forgotten our deal? he asked. Because I sure haven’t. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forget the night we made our agreement.

No, I haven’t forgotten. And, for the record, you’re disgusting.

He laughed again. Well, be that as it may, we have a contract. In case you weren’t aware, a spoken contract is just as legally binding as a written one.

In case you weren’t aware, I said, legality has nothing to do with your operation. The law doesn’t uphold contracts that require one or more of the signing parties to commit a crime.

You know what I mean. I’m here to discuss your end of the bargain. You agreed to help me take down Gary Unwin, and I’m just trying to make sure we have a plan.

No, I said, making my voice as forceful as I could. "I’ll come to you when I have a plan. I know what your plan will be. It will involve murdering Gary in any number of gruesome ways and disposing of the evidence. I, however, refuse to be privy to a murder. If that tape of our exchange in the back room of the cigar shop gets