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“And it will be. I guarantee the docks project will be completed as scheduled in the original contract.”
“I find that highly doubtful given the delays.” Gordon shakes his head.
“I concur,” I interject.
Dante turns his snarl on me, erasing the distance between us. “No one asked you, coglione.”
With my younger brother’s attention on me, the commissioner makes a run for the elevator. I don’t blame the man. Dante can be intimidating as fuck. He’s a wild card, a guy that I still haven’t quite figured out. He tries to get past me, but I plant my palms on his chest and hold him back until the elevator doors slide closed behind Gordon.
“Figlio di puttana,” he mutters through clenched teeth.
Son of a whore? My mother may have abandoned us in this godforsaken country, but she did it to give us a better life. No one talks about my mamma like that and lives.
I wrap my fingers around Dante’s collar and jerk him closer so our noses nearly touch. “What did you just fucking say, pezzo di merda?”
“It’s an expression, relax, bro.” Dante’s dark eyes taper at the edges, and his fingers curl around my jacket’s lapel. A glint of gold catches my eye on his ring finger. “Get your fucking hands off me if you want to keep them.”
I release him and take a step back, running my hand down my tussled shirt. “I see congratulations are in order. You and that feisty Rose finally tied the knot?”
“Don’t you dare say her name,” he growls, rage streaking across the dark abyss. I recognize the look well, I’ve seen its reflection in my own eyes.
“Now who needs to relax, fratellino? I have no intention of hurting your precious Rose. Keep your wife, I just want the King’s empire.”
“Over my fucking dead body.”
I shrug. “If you insist. Though I’d hate to make a widow out of Rose so soon.”
A dark chuckle erupts from Dante’s lips. “Try it and you’ll find out I’m a pretty tough bastard to kill.” He leans closer, the sharp notes of his cologne burning my nostrils. “And you’ll only get one shot.” He spins on his heel and stalks toward the elevator, jabbing his finger in the call button. The doors finally slide open, and he jerks his head over his shoulder. “Say hello to this mysterious brother of yours. I’m looking forward to meeting him sooner rather than later.”
A faint smile curls the corner of my lip. I’m looking forward to it too. But I’d rather extend the anticipation. It’s more fun that way.
CHAPTER 12
A VILE PRESENT
Maisy
I hate working from home.
Staring out the window at the brackish waves of the Hudson, I release an exasperated sigh and attempt to refocus on my laptop. With my stupid ankle still healing, I’m stuck at home for at least a week.
Who knew I’d even miss the stench of my fellow commuters on the morning bus ride?
It was exactly for this reason I’d gotten the job at Palestra in the first place. I couldn’t just sit around at home all day, despite my generous divorce settlement. And I’d hoped I’d meet new friends, maybe even a guy someday…
My thoughts flicker back to the disastrous date with Jack on Saturday. I’d texted him all day yesterday and hadn’t heard a word. Not that I blamed him. Any normal man would run away screaming after how Nico acted.
Stupid, possessive, psychopathic a-hole.
Who gave me the best orgasm of my life.
Just at the thought, warmth floods my traitorous hoo-ha. “Nope, not happening ever again, girl. Get that insane mobster out of your mind.”
Yup, I really need to get out of the house. Now I’m talking to my private parts.
The doorbell rings, yanking me from my internal musings. I grab the crutches and stagger to the door. A long minute later, I finally make it and peer through the peephole. A delivery man fills the small circle, flashing a smile. Unlocking the deadbolt, I open the door a crack.
After being kidnapped all those months ago, I never open it all the way anymore.
