Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 174(@200wpm)___ 139(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“We need to calm down and talk territories,” Don Grasso says. I’m ready to go to war, but that’s not in the best interest of anyone at the moment. Keeping my eyes on Denali, I don’t trust that fucker. If he crosses me, I’ll treat him to a trip to hell after taking his empire.
“Nothing should fucking change,” Diamanté family head exclaims, pounding his fist. His family is losing more and more business and he doesn’t want to risk losing it all.
“Listen. We’re trying to keep the fucking peace here, gentlemen. I’m talking about the latest infringement we’ve had in the Grasso and Bianchi areas by both of you.”
“I told you mine was accidental.” It had been. A stupid dealer looking to make a big score came to our side and started slanging some crack and meth. Both the Grasso and Bianchi families don’t deal in drugs because it makes people less willing to pay us our money on time. We tend to work on the books. You want to gamble or need a loan we operate that way. I’ve only returned from a summer in Italy, learning my roots when my father mentioned retiring. For the past month, I’ve been learning, so today is my first big meeting with these men. I have to remain strong and yet levelheaded and not the young punk they think I am.
“And ours, the fucking city changed zoning, forcing a block further north.”
“Again, we just want to come to an agreement. Keep the fucking dope on your side of the street. Taking cuts isn’t something any of us want.”
A knock at the door sends Don Grasso’s hand up to silence us. “Come in.”
A waitstaff comes in to serve us some coffee. The door’s ajar as they go around the table, serving us. I don’t trust open doors like that, so I watch for any blitz move. I’ve learned a lot from our homeland counterparts. I’m just about to tell the lady to stop pouring me coffee when something catches my attention out the corner of my eye.
Not a something, but rather, a someone.
She freezes as our eyes meet. I wonder if she’s curious or if she is interested. Who the hell is she? Did Don Grasso intentionally sneak in honey traps, or is she a part of the household staff? I look at her clothes and know it’s not the case at all. The raven-haired beauty is in a skin-tight black cocktail dress that reveals a little too much leg for all these men for my liking. Her long black hair lays over her shoulder, adding a level of allure to her already enchanting presence.
My dick stiffens under the table as she stares directly into my soul, making me question my sanity. No one in their right mind can fall that fast. I pull my attention away from her ruby red lips parted so prettily and send my gaze up and down her form. Fuck, her tits are practically popping out of the dress that fits her too snugly. She presses her palm to her hip, almost posing for me and revealing a little more skin with that subtle move. I bite back a growl, wanting to scold her and wrap her up in my coat, so no one else can see her sexy figure.
Getting too carried away, I return my attention to her face and her not so subtle makeup. It’s not overdone, just well done and so alluring. I want to bite down on those cherry lips as she whimpers my name. Everything about her calls to me, and I know in that instant that I will make her mine. Never in my life has a beauty like her captivated me enough to forget business. I’d forgotten all the reasons why I’m in the house of one of my rivals, dealing with all my rivals.
The servers leave, closing the door behind them, stealing my queen from my sight. A low growl exits my chest, hating whoever stole her beauty from my presence. I have to know who she is, and I will find out.
“Gentlemen, you must forgive me. I must have a word with the young Mr. Bianchi.” I cock my brow up at him and realize that he’d been staring at me the entire time. Shit. Maybe from the look on his face, she’s not a honeytrap. Please don’t tell me she’s his daughter.
“Let’s do this.” I stand without fear and am grateful that my hard-on is covered by my suit jacket. I’d hate to make a fool of myself in front of these pussies that I could easily take out.
His guards and mine follow us out of the room and to his study, tensions high.
As soon as we’re inside, he turns our men and says, “None of you will be needed. This is a private conversation.” He sends his men first, so I nod to mine to follow suit. My cousin, Nero, hesitates and gives me a look to see if I’m sure, and I am, so I nod again. He takes his leave, closing the wooden door behind him.