Page 60 of Cavaliere

Dennis doesn’t say another word as his eyes dance frantically between us.

“Here’s what’s going to happen, Dennis,” I say calmly, as if I didn’t just stab this piece of shit to the desk. “You’re going to sign over this building to me, and then you’re going to leave this city as if it never existed for you.”

“What?” He jerks back, making the knife slip more. “Holy fuck.” He pants through clenched teeth. Sweat is pouring down his face. “I can’t just give this to you. I need the fucking money.”

Alessio snorts. “I think you’ve made enough from stealing the rent payments you collect. Do your tenants know you’re two months away from being foreclosed on?”

“I was going to give it back! I was just short this month.”

“You’ve been short for the last five years, Dennis. This is the last time I’ll ask nicely,” I say. There’s only so many times a guy can ask before he just cuts off the whole fucking hand.

Dennis doesn’t say anything as he stares at the blood trickling off the desk. I wait another beat before I snap my fingers. “Gio.”

“Finally,” Gio exclaims in delight, wasting no time stepping forward.

“Wait! Just wait!” Dennis frantically yells.

I arch an eyebrow impatiently. “You don’t deserve that.”

Gio takes his knife out of his pocket and stabs the desk. “Did you see how easily that just went in? Imagine that slicing through your ear. You won’t feel a thing. I promise.”

“Alright!” Dennis says. “I’ll do it. Just keep that away from me.” Dennis’ wild eyes are on a bloodthirsty-looking Gio. “The place is yours.”

“Excellent,” I say, a smile creeping on my face as I turn to leave. “Gio- don’t make a mess.”

I’ll sleep easy tonight, knowing Wren is officially out of this shithole.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

MATTEO

“Boss,” Rob answers on the first ring.

“I’m on my way back from Wren’s apartment. How is she doing?” I ask as I turn the corner sharply.

I try to contain my laugh as I hear Rob’s dramatic sigh. I already know what he’s about to say. “She spent all day out by that stupid fucking pool again. I thought I was going to have a heat stroke.”

“Don’t be so dramatic.” Fuck. The thought of Wren out by the pool with a bikini on sends me spiraling. What kind does she wear? String? Thong? Maybe a sexy one-piece that has little cutouts designed to drive a man to his knees. I need to remember to watch the cameras when she’s not around.

“I wouldn’t have to be so dramatic if she did things in the air conditioning. I’m too old to be sweating my ass off like this,” Rob grumbles.

“Like you aren’t getting paid to fucking do it,” I respond. “Everything else went okay though?”

“Yeah. It was a pretty relaxing day otherwise. Oh, wait…” Rob hesitantly trails off, making me tense.

“What?”

“She is a little upset currently. At you.”

“What did I do?” I haven’t even seen her since this morning. I swear this woman is fucking crazy.

“She wanted to go get more of her stuff and then got pissed when I told her no. She stormed off after.”

“Wren doesn’t like to be told no.” She’s a stubborn thing. “I’ll be there in ten.” I don’t wait for him to respond before I hang up.

The high I had on the ride home from the anticipation of being greeted by Wren was killed immediately when I realized she wasn’t anywhere in the fucking house. In fact, she wasn’t on the grounds at all.