Page 21 of Savage Don

She is my key to power.

… I just need to impregnate her first.

Fuck. The thought alone is enough to make me so fucking hard.

But putting a baby in her belly won’t just feel amazing, it will give me intimate access to the remaining Italian families. A half-Irish, half-Italian heir will cement my control over the syndicate, and vanquish all doubt that I am the unquestionable leader.

The Great Don.

I’ve been given a year to prove myself. The clock is ticking. If I fail, I die. But if I succeed, the rewards are unimaginable.

“Well, if you can pull yourself away from the all-important task of stalking some college girl, then that would be great, because you’re presence has been requested at a meeting between all of the bosses tomorrow.”

Fuck. It still makes my heart jump to hear myself referred to as a boss. I’ve worked so hard for this.

“What’s the meeting about?”

“I’m not sure, they don’t tell these things to lowly servants like me.”

“Hey, maybe if you work hard someday, you’ll get your shot, too,” I tease. I know Maksim well enough to understand that he came from the same kind of destitution as I did.

“We’re running out of mob families to subjugate,” he chuckles back. “You got the last of them. Better not waste your opportunity.”

“Oh, this will all be worth it,” I smirk, squinting my eyes to get a better look at the raven locks that dance in the window across the street. She’s laughing. Another guy has made her laugh.

There goes the levity of the situation. Just like that, I’m pissed and impatient again.

“I’m looking forward to hearing an update,” Maksim jokes.

“I’m sure you are.”

“If you fail, maybe they’ll come knocking on my door.”

“I don’t doubt it. But I’m not going to fail, am I?”

“I hope not, buddy. I’ll do all I can to make this work. You deserve the promotion.”

“Don’t think I won’t need my own second-in-command,” I say, feeling for the gun I usually have tucked beneath my belt. But I left it at home, just to be sure I wouldn’t go too crazy if I saw exactly what I’m seeing now. That douchebag in the window is getting awfully close to my girl.

Is she leaning on his shoulder?

“I’m already taken,” Maksim jokes, just as a flash of jealous rage burns through my body.

“I’ll buy you out,” I growl.

“I’d like to see you try. The Barinov’s have more money than they know what to do with.”

“… If only you could see the numbers in my bank account now,” I mumble.

“I’d rather not. Ignorance is bliss.”

“Listen, we’ll talk later. I’ll be at the meeting tomorrow. I’ve got to go.”

“Have fun,” Maksim teases, before hanging up.

The second the line goes dead, a stone drops in my gut. But it’s not because I’m suddenly alone again. No. It’s because in the window across the street, I can see that Francesca has fainted onto the douche-bro’s shoulder.

She looks like she’s out cold as he slowly starts to drag her out of view.