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I know these things don’t matter to Gia, but it’s a good match, and although Michael isn’t the brightest spark, she will be spoiled like I have done all her life. If he gifts her a property, she can use it to do her silly little bakery videos.

“I’m happy to hear that, Michael,” I say, standing and buttoning my suit jacket closed. “You’ll excuse me. There’s a lot to arrange, including securing a ticket to the bid.”

“I’ll have my men secure the tickets, don’t worry,” Juliano promises. “You just make sure your sister starts preparing for the wedding.”

I give a curt nod and leave without another word. Christian, waiting outside for me, opens the car door for me. When we get home, I walk into the house and look around the blue and white entrance hall.

“Gia?” I call. “Gia?”

I walk outside and go to the spare kitchen where Gia bakes, but she’s not there either. I see my butler and stop him.

“Francis, where is Gia?”

“She’s not here, sir,” he says. “She left shortly after you did.”

I take out my phone and dial her number. I listen to it ring until it cuts to voicemail. I try again and still nothing. Wherever she is, it’s clear she’s busy.

I pause and call her driver. “Where is she?”

“She was at the beach with a friend. They’ve just gone for lunch.”

“Keep an eye on her. Report back to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

I walk toward my study, dialing Lorenzo’s number.

“Hello?” he answers. “How did it go?”

“Well, come find out,” I respond. “I’m in my study.”

He hangs up, and I walk into the bright wood-paneled room. It was my father’s before me, except the chair. The chair is new. I didn’t like his high-back armchair. It had Godfather vibes, and that’s ridiculous. I got an ergonomic office chair the minute the room was mine.

I sit down and look at my phone before I call Ewan, one of my informants.

“Hey, Andrea! Good to hear from you! How can I help?” he answers.

“I need to know what the plans are for Esposito casinos.” I glance up as Lorenzo walks in, and I wave for him to sit down, putting the phone on loudspeaker.

“Well, they’re all going up for auction, but everyone is saying that it’s going to probably go to Matteo Ricci, because he’s interested and has the funds.” Strange background noises filter through the phone. Whatever Ewan is doing, it sounds wet and gross. “The auction will be soon and will be via private bidding.”

I knew Matteo would make a move like that. He clearly knows whoever holds those casinos holds Miami in their pockets.

“Thanks, I’ll speak to you later.” I hang up and look at Lorenzo. “It went well. Juliano agrees that Michael and Gia can get married, but he wants twenty percent.”

“I thought you were going to give him ten.”

“He originally wanted thirty; we negotiated,” I comment, stroking my short beard. “We’ve done the right thing by joining the Russos, especially if Matteo is making his move at the auction.”

“We should ask Francesco to keep an eye on Matteo,” Lorenzo suggests. “So we know where he is and what he’s up to.”

I nod. “You call him.”

Lorenzo takes out his phone and quickly calls our younger brother. Once he hangs up, he looks at me. “At least this way we can always be one step ahead of the Ricci family.”

I take a deep breath, in and out, and relax. Things are going according to plan; this is going to work out nicely, I can tell. With this new union, my family will be stronger than ever, and have the funds to back it.

I can buy Juliano out quickly with the profits from the casinos; that won’t be hard. And Gia will be taken care of and spoiled rotten as she should be.