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“Lucien!” Angelo banged on the door. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“Using your fucking bathroom, moron. Back off.”
By the time I stepped out into my brother’s office, my hard-on was gone, and my control was fully back in place. “It’s time for our meeting. Let’s go.”
“Why are you in here?” Angelo asked. “And why the fuck didn’t you knock?”
“I own this building. I don’t have to knock.”
“Don’t try that imperious shit with me.”
“That’s a big word for you. Better be careful how you throw that around.”
He flipped me off. “What was wrong with your bathroom?”
“I needed a change of scenery.”
Angelo grinned. “You got that little twink in there? The new receptionist? What did you do? Fuck him until he passed out, then leave the scene of the crime?”
I grabbed the front of Angelo’s shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Don’t ever speak about Peter like that again. In fact, don’t speak about him at all.”
Angelo raised his brows. “Damn. I’ve never seen you like this over a man.”
“I want this one to myself.”
Angelo whistled, and I’d never regretted more how impossible it was for me to intimidate him or how easily he read me. He was right. This wasn’t normal for me. I rarely felt possessive of the men I fucked, and I rarely had the same man twice. I wasn’t sure why Peter was different, and that made me uneasy. I didn’t want to talk about this, not even with Angelo.
“Don’t push me on this, Angelo.”
He must’ve seen something in my expression that made him realize how serious I was.
He brought up a hand and cupped my face. “If you need to talk, you tell me, okay?”
I nodded. “I’m good.”
“Stay that way.”
I let him go and stepped back. “We’re late, and I need you to behave in there.”
Angelo grinned. “Always.”
“Liar.” He fucking never acted like he took anything seriously. I knew better. He was listening, absorbing everything that was said even as he joked around until everyone was ready to kill him.
Everyone else was already there when we arrived: Devil, Vincent Trevisani, the son of one of my father’s closest allies, Vinnie was slowly taking control of the family, but this was the first time I’d worked with him directly.
We’d also invited Stefan Romano, another member of an allied family. He was Angelo’s age, but he’d often hung out with me and his older brother, Ash, which had been awkward since Ash and I were a hell of a lot more than friends though very much in the closet.
Next to him at the table was Marco Ricci, Damian’s estranged nephew. I had serious reservations about trusting him. He’d argued with his uncle years ago, thinking their business should go a new direction. After being disowned, he’d set himself up as a fence, and we’d worked with him occasionally. He came to me asking to help take down his uncle, but a few days ago, Stefan had heard a rumor that Marco had been sniffing around his uncle again trying to make amends. Maybe he just wanted info or maybe he wanted to bring us down. I was watching him, but I had every intention of using him to get the information we needed.
Devil had also insisted we include a couple of men he liked to use for muscle who’d worked for the Riccis and been screwed over. The Riccis still owed them for a big job they’d never paid up on.
I unbuttoned my coat and took a seat at the head of the table. “All right, gentlemen, as you know, we’re here because word on the street has it that Damian Ricci is gearing up to make a move on my territory. He’s been putting out feelers, gathering allies, talking to some of our suppliers, and making promises to some of those under our protection. I intend to put a stop to it before it goes any further. I’ve already sent someone to talk to him, but he’s not a man to see reason, so this is likely to turn ugly. Needless to say, I expect your loyalty and obedience.” I glanced around the table stopping when my gaze met Marco’s. “Is that going to be a problem?”
“I don’t like your insinuation, Marchesi.”
“I don’t like the fact that I don’t know if I can trust you.”
“My jackass of an uncle disinherited me five years ago. I ain’t talked to him since. What gives you reason to doubt that?”
“I never trust anyone until they prove their loyalty to me.”
Marco’s expression hardened, but eventually he inclined his head toward me. “I intend to prove it.”
I looked at Vinnie and Stefan next. “You’ve worked with the Riccis before. I need your word that you’re all in with me now.”
“My family and I are behind you on this,” Vinnie assured me. Stefan did the same.
