Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 73655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
But he's intrigued me, so I ask, "Why?"
"When women are different, they're not good for us. We fall head over heels."
"Are you saying you were in love? You're one of the most ruthless Bosses in the world. People whisper about you from here all the way to Italy. They even in fucking murmur about you and what you've done in China."
He nods slowly. "I've allowed myself to feel something, but it didn't work out. And that's why I can say it's not safe when they're different. They tend to make you want it more."
"She's the princess of the Familia who had my father killed. There is no way in hell she will ever make me love her." My tone is filled with confidence, but the man before me who I've known most of my life only smiles.
"So," he finally says. "On Saturday, we'll meet at our warehouse, and travel together to the pier." Back to business. "Once the job is done, we will head over to the club and enjoy a nice Scotch."
"Sounds like a plan. I want those Irish bastards to know exactly who they've fucked over." Pushing to my feet, I button my suit jacket. "I want them to know the De Rossi name, and second guess any other chances they take coming into New York."
"They will," he agrees. "Joining forces only makes us stronger. At least, for this job. If you keep to your entertainment venues and we share in the arms deals, we won't have any trouble."
"What about that club you're so in love with?" I question, knowing more about your business associates makes you formidable for two reasons—you can use the information to build a connection, or you can use it to blackmail them. With Franco, I want to build a familiar connection which will allow us to do business. It's the only club that I've had my eye on that's been difficult to pin down.
He watches me, tipping his head to the side before he smiles once more. It's a scary sight to see a man like him smile—you don't know if he's about to kill you or laugh along with you. "You really want it?"
I nod. "What's your interest in it?" I ask, my brow creasing with intrigue.
He sighs, pushing to his feet, he looks over the paperwork on the table before lifting his dark stare to mine. "The owner is a man I'd like to sort out."
I know what that means, I don't ask why, and I don't make a comment on it. If Franco has something in this deal, then perhaps once he's completed whatever plan he has, I'll be able to purchase the club. It's stunning, on the right side of town, and it will allow me to turn it into something exclusive.
"I can give you first option to purchase once it's available," he tells me as we round the table and shake hands. "Only if you promise to allow me to hire someone to work there, full time. She doesn't lose her job; she doesn't walk away."
"A woman."
"Why else do bastards like us do anything?" he challenges with a dark laugh, which I mimic because he's right. Even with our lives being filled with violence, there are always women who run the show. We just don't allow them to know that.
"See you soon," I tell him as I make my way to the elevator which takes me down to the basement. The men who have come along with me follow, and we head to the cars together. I find Mario having a smoke when I reach the SUV. "It looks like we're going to have an interesting weekend."
"Oh? Did he agree to the ambush?" He pulls deeply on the smoke, the swirl of white filling the space between us.
"He did. He also mentioned the club," I tell him. "It's a done deal. I'll have first dibs on purchase if he can get rid of the owner. I have a feeling there's more to the story than meets the eye. I'm going to look into it."
"I can do that for you, Boss," Mario says, a sideways smile on his face.
We slide into the cars and head out. "Did Valentino confirm the meeting?"
Mario nods in response before he tells me, "He did. Tomorrow morning. Apparently not everyone could make tonight."
"Take me back to the apartment. It's time I spent a few hours with my fiancée. She needs to learn about her future husband." I inform him before settling back and pulling out my phone. There are few emails I respond to, but my mind is on what I'm about to find when I step into the house. If she's still dancing, I'll watch from my office. When I had the cameras set up around the studio, I knew I would not be able to work from home if there was something important, I needed to do.