My Mafia Neighbor

My Mafia Neighbor Ella Adair Copyright Copyright © [Year of First Publication] by [Author or Pen Name] All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Contents 1. Before 2. Chapter 1 3. Diego 4. Mia 5. Diego 6. Mia 7. Diego 8. Mia 9. After- 8 Years Later 10. Mia 11. Diego 12. Mia 13. Diego 14. Mia 15. Diego 16. Mia 17. Diego 18. Mia 19. Diego 20. Mia 21. Diego 22. Mia 23. Now Chapter one Before I must have changed my outfit about a million times.I could hear Leo and Diego playing basketball outside, and I knew I had to wear just the right thing to get Diego’s attention. He hadn’t noticed me yet, not as a girl he might want to date, but he would. I would make sure of it.Diego had been a fixture in our house for years, being my big brother’s best friend our whole lives. He and Leo were pretty much the same age and had gone to school together since primary. After graduating from high school, they went to the same college where they were roommates, and, whenever they had a break, they would come back to his house or ours. They had both graduated and entered the working world now, and Diego’s visits had become much less frequent.But today they had chosen to get together at our place, and I was so glad they did. I hadn’t seen Diego yet, but I knew I was going to make a big impression.It had been almost a year since he had last seen me, and I had filled out completely. I had boobs and hips now, and I was taller and no longer put my hair into dorky pigtails. My braces had come off about six months before, and I had learned a little about fashion. I had a woman’s body now, and I was excited to use it.I had been in love with Diego since I was old enough to know what love was.He had been my first kiss in a game of truth and dare when I was six and he was eleven. Leo had dared Diego to kiss me. After, they had laughed about it, but I was in love. We got along really well and teased each other a lot, but nothing else had ever happened. Not even when my brother invited him for a sleepover, and the two of us spent the night watching movies and throwing popcorn at each other while sharing a blanket. I ended up falling asleep with my head on his shoulder, and it was the best night’s sleep I had ever had—though in the morning he was gone, and he refused to talk about it afterward.Now I was eighteen and things had changed. I still wanted Diego, but this time, he was going to want me too.I settled on the skin-tight black dress and a pair of high-heeled shoes and put my hair up in a messy bun to show off my neck. I put on a thin silver chain and a matching anklet, then headed downstairs. I was going to play it cool and go over to my best friend’s house, driving the car Daddy had bought me for my sixteenth birthday. It sat in the driveway near the basketball court where they were playing, which was perfect.I headed out, grabbing my purse and throwing it over my shoulder. I very pointedly did not look at the basketball court, hoping to play hard to get. If he didn’t notice, then he didn’t notice—no harm no foul. It just meant that I would have to try something else.I put a little extra swing in my hips as I walked, feeling my hair and my chest bounce with the rhythm. I knew without a doubt that I looked good.“Hey Mrs. Zuccarelli!” I heard Diego call out, and I turned to him. He was standing there in basketball shorts holding the ball. He didn’t have a shirt on, and I resisted the urge to drool.Diego was gorgeous. He really should have become a model instead of going into the business world. He had silky brown hair that fell around his ears and dark brown eyes that watched me with intensity. His abs were incredible because he was very into health and fitness, and I could see them flexing as he breathed. He even had a little bit of stubble on his chin.“Excuse me?” I asked, sounding annoyed. Good, I would rather sound annoyed than caught off guard like I was. He had always been cute, but now he was amazing. He had apparently filled out too, which was not fair at all. The muscles of his arms were lean and strong looking, his calf muscles were chiseled, and, if I paid enough attention, I could see the flex of his pectoral muscles.Nope, completely unfair.“Wait…Rosa?” He tried again, and I shook my head. He was referring to my older sister, which was still a huge compliment. Rosa was definitely the prettiest of us three girls. She was twenty-five and living on her own—engaged to a man Daddy had chosen for her. Rosa didn’t seem to mind, but it really bothered me. No way was I going to let Daddy choose the man I would marry.Unless he told me to marry Diego… then it might be okay.“Wrong sister,” I replied and made my way to the fence. I noticed Leo wasn’t on the court anymore and wondered where he had gone—not that I minded. He probably would have just yelled at me for wearing that dress and told me to go back in to change.Diego gave me a once over, and I could feel his eyes on me as if he were touching everywhere he looked. His eyes were appreciative, which was a good sign. An even better sign was when his gaze stopped on