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)
“I wouldn’t have …” Chloe looked at Adalyn to see the implied, almost harmless threat and decided to tease her more, anyway. “But why shouldn’t I?”
Her friend had no trouble teasing her right back. “Because I would let it slip back that he spends most of the time staring at you.”
Chloe’s stomach started to churn nervously. “He doesn’t.”
“Yes, he does. You might not notice because you’re staring at your computer”—she wiggled her brows mischievously—“but I do.”
She tried her best to nervously laugh it off. “Then you should start paying more attention to yours and not what I’m doing before you flunk out of class.”
“I’m not going to flunk out.” Adalyn didn’t take offense. Her arm that was still entwined with hers pulled her in closer. “Professor Miller wouldn’t flunk the best friend of the object of his fixation.”
If he was staring at her, she knew exactly why—the same reason everyone else did.
Her scars.
It was Lucca’s first official day. His father was in Cancun with Nadia and Leo by now, and he was relishing having full control. Finally.
A knock on the door had him leaning back in his chair. Well, almost.
“Come in.”
A proud Vinny walked in through the door. “Congratulations,” he greeted with a slow smile as he held out his hand, “boss.”
“Thanks,” Lucca said, taking his hand in a firm grip to shake it. It wasn’t that Vinny Vitale was a bad consigliere. He was just his father’s consigliere, and having Vinny around would always feel as if Dante were still around.
Dante, Enzo, and Vinny were all friends since birth, much like their sons, Nero, Amo, and Vincent. But Lucca didn’t have any plans to make Vincent his consigliere …
“Well, firstly”—the consigliere wasted no time taking a seat and getting straight to business—“have you come to a decision who your underboss will be?”
He already needed a fucking cigarette. Normally, Lucca wouldn’t give a fuck and light up, but he was trying to show respect to his consigliere, and Vinny was like his father where cigars and cigarettes were concerned.
“I’m still considering my options.”
“I see,” Vinny drawled out as he adjusted himself more regally on the chair. The presence of excellence he always had just oozed out of him. There was no doubt who the best dressed in the family was. His suits easily cost in the thousands, and not only that, they were never repeated. Today, he sported a black suit with white pinstripes and a bloodred tie with a silk pocket square to match. He was definitely the most colorful of the family, with the most old-school look, as the pocket watch chain detail set him above the rest. It was a nice touch that always completed his look that he had yet to leave behind. “As you know, Enzo held the title until you came of age and would probably be the best fit for the next two years until Nero turns twenty-one.”
Figures. He knew exactly what Vinny’s opinion on the matter would be before he had even spoken it. Unfortunately for Lucca, he still had to at least listen to it. A consigliere’s job was to consult the boss, and while Vinny was his equal in the Caruso family hierarchy, he held no real power. The only power he could hold was the weight of his words, and with the way Lucca worked, it was little. If there was something Lucca wanted to do, he would do it and ask for forgiveness later. Not that it ever came to that.
“Like I said”—deciding to fuck it, he placed a cigarette between his lips—“I’m still considering my options.”
“Of course.” Vinny’s tone held the perfect amount of disinterest, like a consigliere pro. “As you should.”
Lucca flicked open his Zippo to light the end of his precious cigarette, desperately wishing his sister were sitting in front of him already.
Unlike Vinny, his sister’s mind worked a lot like his. It was in Maria’s nature to want a crown and throne for herself. Instead, she had to sit there and watch Lucca have all the power given to him because she had not only been born a woman but second born.
Lucca himself knew that it was a shitty rule that should have died generations ago, because the throne should go to the most deserving person. It not only was the smartest decision, but it would always be best for the family. And what was best for the Caruso family now was to get rid of the old ways as a new era dawned.
“As the new head of the family, you are allowed to call in your own choice for consigliere, as well …” Vinny had spoken as if they weren’t discussing his own future, but he finally let it drop for just a moment to vouch for himself. “Although, I’m sure I have a few more years left in me before I must retire. I could hold out until Vincent comes of age, if it would make it easier for you.”