Page 5 of Lust and Honor

I change the subject and give him the update. “I’ve tracked down Vincenzo Vanni. He’s heading to Trentino next week to see his grandson. With the trip there and back, I can get it done in five days.”

His expression hardens again, no longer the doting father or possessive husband. Now, he’s just Don Carlo Bruni.

“I’ll come with you,” he offers, generous as always. “We’ll take a team and finish him off.”

I shake my head. “Thanks, Carlo. But you know I have to do this alone.”

Of course he knows. We may not share blood, but the shit we survived together since we were eight binds us tighter than blood ever could.

His eyes narrow slightly. “Six down out of seven, right?”

A wicked grin tugs at the corner of my mouth. “That’s right, Don Carlo. Once this one’s in the ground, there’s only one left.”

He rises from the couch and claps a hand on my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s drink to his sorry ass going straight to hell.”

Two

Maxim

I call Elen and put the phone on speaker. I’d rather keep driving and let the cool air fill my lungs, but I roll the window up so I can hear her better.

She picks up on the second ring. “Hey, Casanova. You on your way back?”

That woman has temptation built into her DNA. Her voice alone is enough to make a priest hard. I’m immune to her spell, though. Ever since I gave her a real job, I’ve kept my dick out of the equation. Business and pleasure don’t mix.

“Hello, pretty tits. Miss me?”

“Oh, you’re in a good mood. That means either a good fuck… or a good kill.”

My grin stretches from ear to ear. This woman knows me too damn well.

I skip the small talk and get straight to it. “Elen, I’m coming to Heaven tonight. Keep Mia available.”

Mia’s one of our most skilled escorts. Gorgeous girl. A fucking goddess when it comes to seduction.

“Ahh, so it was option two that put you in such a good mood. I know you trust me, Maxim, which is why tonight, I’m giving you someone else instead of Mia. Just hired her. The moment I saw her, I thought—this one’s exactly your type.”

My right brow arches. “Her tits?”

“Seventy-five.”

“Ass?”

“Round and juicy.”

“Stomach?”

“Flat as a board.”

“Skin?”

“Soft as sin.”

“Hair?” That one actually matters more.

“I’m keeping this one a surprise. Gotta leave your favorite organ something to fantasize about.”

I smirk. “So she’s a redhead. The only question is, natural or one of those bottle jobs again?”