Allegra chuckled. “Uh-oh, here comes the troublemaker… What were those sins?” When her father remained silent, the woman pouted. “Oh, come on, papa, this could be a juicy scandal that could generate thousands of reactions, comments, and…”
“No.” Umberto cut her off laconically. “I’ll tell you because it might be helpful, but I have no intention of turning this into tabloid gossip. It’s like beating a dead horse.” The man licked his lips. “He tried to twist the Council’s arm to change the law banning illegitimate sons from succeeding their fathers.”
“He did…what?” Allegra dropped the notebook and stared at her father in disbelief. “Doesn’t this make him the good guy? Wouldn’t it be better to have him as an ally? One of circumstance, of course, because once he’s done his job, we’d get rid of him.”
Umberto smiled bitterly. “Ottavio Sforza may be a lot of things, but he is not a fool. He was easy to fool the first time, but now it would be impossible. Everything has changed. Back then, he had a very solid reason to do that, but that motivation is gone.”
“You mentioned he has children. Well, sons,” Allegra pursed her lips. “Also, I suppose the guy didn’t make them by himself, so he has a wife somewhere. We need to look for this woman; she could become a valuable ally, especially if they are divorced or if the happy couple isn’t very happy.”
“Those…things don’t have a mother, like all the children,” Umberto’s lips curled into a rictus of hate and disgust. “They are creatures of evil, abominations, the results of unnatural relationships, as a man carried them.”
“Oh, so a male pregnancy,” Allegra nodded. “Well, this makes things easier for us. Get in, take the little whiny toads, get out, and blame the...carrier. It’s less complicated to deal with one of those than with a real mother. A woman whose babies are taken would become more dangerous than a lioness.” She looked at her father, who was smirking at her. “Yes, I know what you’re trying to say with that expression, but we know very well that the situation would be very different if I had daughters.”
“That’s true. Honestly, I would love to have a granddaughter, a girl with your brilliant mind and feisty spirit.” Umberto gave his daughter a paternal smile that quickly turned serious. “You'd better become friends with one of those sons of yours. It’s very important for the success of our plan.”
“I don’t like this at all, but great, noble causes always require sacrifices,” Allegra grinned. “Oh, my,” she exclaimed, glancing at her wristwatch, “it’s getting late, and I have so many things to do. I'd better get started, or they’ll pile up on my head in no time.” She left her seat and went behind the desk.
“I won’t keep you here then,” Umberto said affectionately as his daughter kissed his cheek. “Will you come to dinner? Your mom misses you; she’s not as lucky as I am to see and talk to you every day.”
“Of course!” Allegra answered with a bright smile. “I may bring Keith, too; it’s time for the two of you to have a real, meaningful grandfather-grandson talk.”
The woman gave her father a playful grin, headed to the door, paused, then turned around and waved at the man in the imposing winged chair. Once out of the office, she cast a poisonous glare at Kirstin, ignoring everyone else, and wentstraight to the elevator reserved for executives, a move that surprised all the employees who saw her.
Indeed, Allegra usually preferred to ride with the staff; only those working on the top floor knew who she was, and they were a small, discreet, loyal group who disliked gossip. The others were not shy about complaining about working conditions, the bosses’ attitudes, or the methods used to boost the company’s market presence.
Allegra really enjoyed listening to employees talk and often joined discussions, especially when the topic was work-related. She valued honest criticism and ideas for improving things that didn’t work quite right, and she awarded those who saw the media corporation as more than just a source of their monthly paycheck.
However, this time, Allegra needed to be alone; a million ideas and thoughts buzzed through her head like a hive of frantic bees. I definitely need a to-do list, she told herself as she left the building and headed to the spot in the parking lot reserved for her. As soon as she climbed into the silver convertible, she grabbed a pen and a leather-bound notebook from the glove compartment and started writing.
First things first, Allegra decided to learn as much as possible about the Italian Mafia and the Sforza family's history. After all, her father claimed those people were her ancestors, and she had no reason not to believe him. It would take a lot of time, and I couldn’t even use the help of our little dirt-diggers.
Or maybe not. The deep frown lines on Allegra’s forehead softened into a triumphant smile as she thought of her father’s chief security, Esteban Ortega, whose almost ascetic features she remembered. The man was incredibly loyal and would help her with anything, any time, without asking questions.
Besides her father, Esteban was the only man Allegra respected because he used every spare moment to read and toenrich his mind with all kinds of helpful knowledge. I’ll ask, and he’ll help—simple as that. The woman continued her internal monologue with a smile. Problem solved.
CHAPTER 3
“Yeah, it feels so good!” Chadwick exclaimed in ecstasy, his head tilted back, as he shot his load deep into his partner’s ass. After a few moments of silence, he caught his breath, then continued. “You know, Dick, I’m always pleasantly impressed with how tight you are, given how hard and how long I plow that ass of yours.”
“And I wonder why you have to be such a selfish bastard all the time.” The other, much younger man huffed in frustration as he struggled to free his hands, tied behind his back. “I let you restrain me, thinking you would take care of my problem, too, but as usual, I was bitterly wrong.”
“If you’re thinking about jerking off on my couch and ruining it, think again.” Chadwick slipped off his sex partner, slapping away the hand that reached for his cock. “I’ll have you killed and buried on a construction site; this thing is made of the finest leather. I paid a great deal of money for it.” Tucking his flaccid cock back into his underwear, he zipped his pants and started pacing up and down his office.
“Fuck you and your goddamn piece of furniture. I need release.” The other one plopped onto the couch, legs spread wide, spat into his hand, and began stroking himself. “I am not taking orders from you. I am not little Lincoln, you know. That one is a pain slut who takes everything dished out to him without complaining.”
Chadwick examined the other man with a mix of interest, disgust, and a hint of amusement. “There’s something almost animalistic about you jerking off. I find it fascinating. Oh, speaking of my dear play partner, I’m afraid we won’t be together anymore; unfortunately, we’ll have to part ways.”
Eyes half-closed, grunting from time to time, the younger man pumped his dick furiously. “And why is that, if you don’tmind me asking? Did you finally find out he was being pounded by half of New York City’s male population? Well, it’s no wonder, since he is a nice piece of ass, if I may say so myself.” The younger man, with a fragile, boyish appearance, huffed a laugh.
Chadwick shook his head, annoyed. “You know, sometimes I think the ass is the best part of you.” He swept his gaze up and down the adolescent-looking man, who was close to the edge. “I think the bitch we both know and hate started to suspect something, or so Linc believes. Over the past week or so, she has been throwing out innuendos here and there.”
“Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah,” the other guy chanted as he spilled over his fist, then closed his eyes, lost in post-orgasmic bliss. “Finally,” he breathed, still panting, his chest slick with sweat.
Finally, what? Chadwick shot the guy on the couch a poisonous glare. “Does the thought of the bitch finding out about me and Linc make you happy, little fucker? It shouldn’t, because if it happens, I’ll have to take the edge off with someone else. And guess what?” He wrapped his hand around the younger man’s now limp cock.
“Leave me alone, fucker,” the other sank his nails into Chadwick’s wrist and broke free. “You know what?” he continued, standing and heading to the door. “For a moment, I was sorry for you and that pathetic fuck-toy of yours, but then I remembered what pieces of shit the two of you are.” Hand on the doorknob, he turned around. “Don’t count on me to replace him in your bed, asshole.”
Richard Ronson winced as he stepped out of the shower, thinking that provoking that nasty moron wasn’t a good idea. The large bruises across his sides and torso were a painful reminder of the beating he’d received a week earlier for being adisrespectful little brat, as Chadwick put it after administering the punishment.
