Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49562 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“So”—a strange look crossed the Luciano’s face—“what are you saying?”
Playing chess for the crown, he’d had to reset his board the moment he’d met Chloe. A change of plans had been in order, and now it was time to reveal his grand plan.
“We work together, and when I get my father to step down, we run this city together … fifty-fifty.”
Laughter filled the air for several seconds until it died.
“You’re fucking serious, aren’t you?”
Lucca simply nodded, letting him know this was no joke.
“Why?”
The why didn’t matter. The deal he was offering was all that did. There was no way he was telling him how important Chloe was to him if Dominic hadn’t figured it out already.
“I have my reasons. Now, do we have a deal … or not?” Lucca asked, stretching out his hand.
It seemed like an eternity passed while Dom contemplated before he finally spoke, “Call off my sister’s wedding, and we will.”
That’s disappointing.
Lucca turned away from him. “No.”
“You said fifty-fifty, and you’ve taken everything from me. Kat is the only thing I’m asking to get back. My profits and Angel, you get to keep. You don’t even need her, anyway.” Dom’s voice turned desperate.
That was where he and the Luciano mob boss differed—the Luciano mob boss might win in a fist fight against him, but Lucca would always win in chess. Dom only ever thought one move ahead, while Lucca contemplated his next ten.
“But I do.” He placed a cigarette between his lips. “Making Katarina a Caruso ensures our deal and that you will never betray me.”
It was as if you could see Dominic’s face drop. Checkmate.
“What about me, though? I’ve taken loss after loss. What ensures my deal with you? You have to give me something that proves your deal is in good faith and that you won’t stab me in the back one day.”
“Unfortunately, the terms you agreed to are off the table until I replace my father, but besides those, what do you want?” he asked, flipping open his Zippo to light the end. The thing was … Lucca already knew exactly what Dominic secretly wanted, even if Dominic himself didn’t know yet. “Think carefully, Dominic. You only get one choice,” he warned, making sure he’d ask for the right thing.
With a deep breath, Dominic made his choice, “Maria.”
Lucca had to take a long, hard hit to keep himself from smiling. Poor Dominic didn’t even know that was exactly what he’d hoped the Luciano would ask for. Of course, how could he know Lucca would sell his sister’s soul if it came to it to protect Chloe?
“Deal.”
It was obvious the Luciano couldn’t believe Lucca had agree to it just like that, but he wasn’t dumb enough to look a fucking gift horse in the mouth.
“Deal.”
Shaking hands, they sealed the deal before either could back out.
From the outside, it looked like Dom had gotten the deal of a lifetime while Lucca had gotten the shit end of the stick. But, what Lucca had gained was simply priceless. He not only got an army to protect the person he loved, but he got Lucifer’s Army. No one, not even One-Shot, was going to stand against that.
Lucca finally let himself smile, staring into the hazel depths of the only person who could ever rival him, who could no longer lift a hand against him the moment he married his sister. And Lucca was going to do everything in his fucking power to make sure it did.
I guess I don’t have to kill you after all.
To say Maria finally choosing Dominic to marry was easy … would be the fucking understatement of a century. All his planning had almost gone to shit the moment Maria had met Kayne, but Lucca held true to his word, doing everything in his power to make sure it did.
Unfortunately for Kayne, it came at the highest cost …
“I’d like to reward you,” Lucca said, standing next to her.
This was not only Maria’s favorite spot in the city but the world.
Looking down at the glittering city from his office at the Casino Hotel, her emerald gaze could stare down below for hours. However, her attention could no longer be held by the city lights.
Whispering, she appeared to be in disbelief while still knowing exactly what was coming. “You’re going to let me be made …?”
Even better.
“How does consigliere sound to you?”
“You want to make me your equal?” Maria’s disbelief only grew, but like a consigliere should be, she was smart enough to figure out quickly why he would do this.
A knowing smile lifted her lips. “You’re smart, brother, but even I didn’t expect that.”
Lucca’s brow rose. “Do you blame me?”
The fact was, Katarina marrying Drago hadn’t changed much between the two families. They had wed, yes, but without any children to account for yet, divorce still existed as a possibility. Dominic loving Maria wouldn’t even die with her death, so if Lucca was to make her his equal, it would secure the Lucianos’ mob boss’s undying loyalty.