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Rocco’s eyes widened fearfully. “Oh, my god. You can’t be serious, Mr. Braxton.” His tone was perilously close to pleading. “Don’t do this to a family business out of some childish desire for revenge.”
“Childish?” Carter rolled up his one sleeve so his opponent could take a closer look. “I certainly have my reasons, Terini, and they are not the least bit childish.” He saw the sick look on Rocco’s face as he gazed at the scarred flesh. “You had no compunction about destroying my business, and I certainly have no concern for yours.”
Rocco squared
his jaw as Braxton replaced the hat, ignoring his queasy stomach. “I see. I’ll simply use the proceeds from the sale of the shares to rebuild my empire.” He waved a hand, as though unconcerned.
Carter laughed. “I do believe you’re forgetting your rather substantial debts to the various casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Reno, Terini. You’ve found it incredibly easy to obtain credit in the past, and every last cent of the money you’ve made is going to be necessary to cover your debts. In fact, I believe you used this lovely home for collateral just last month.”
Rocco’s complexion had gone ashen, but he turned stark white when Carter removed a contract from the briefcase Darren handed him. “You have three days to exit the property, Mr. Terini. As of this morning, I now own this house. I suspect you’ll have to sell all your lovely antiques and family heirlooms just to cover the difference on your debts versus your assets.”
“You son of a bitch.” Rocco jumped from his chair again. Darren stepped forward menacingly, causing him to collapse back into the seat. “Not my home.” His voice had lost all hint of strength. “I have three daughters to provide a home for. Think of my children.”
“I have no concern for your children,” Carter snapped. “They are all of legal age and should be living on their own anyway.” He knew it was cold, but he didn’t care. They deserved to learn who their father truly was.
Sweat poured from Rocco’s face as he visibly strove to find some desperate way out of this. “Can’t we reach an agreement?”
Carter’s eyes narrowed. “Gambling once more, Rocco?”
“Give me a few months to scrape together enough to buy this house, at least. It’s been in my family for two hundred years, and you have no right to it,” he said sternly, as if trying to shame Carter into backing off.
Carter raised an eyebrow at the older man. “Why should I agree to such an absurd request? I would have no recourse against you if I agreed to this, and I would lose a substantial amount of money if you skip out on me.”
Rocco shook his head. “I’ll give you something for collateral.” His brow furrowed. “I have a Mercedes, and my daughters each drive nice cars.”
Carter laughed, sharing a look of amused disbelief with Darren. “I have more cars than I could ever drive as it is.”
Forehead wrinkled, Terini seemed to rack his brain furiously, searching for something to appease Carter. His head lifted slowly as his eyes filled with tears. “I’ll give you one of my daughters,” he whispered. “She’ll stay with you for the time you give me. If I don’t get the money together, you can do as you wish to me.”
Carter’s eyes narrowed. “You’re giving me one of your daughters?” He was unable to believe the depths to which Rocco would sink. This man was clearly desperate, but still his own family? He really was scum. So now Carter would dangle his own issues in front of him. This would be so easy to show his daughters what a creep he was. Just another wine for Carter. Tonight was going even better than he expected.
“How long would this arrangement last?” The game continued, he decided with a small smile of satisfaction. Dangle hope, then withdraw it—always amusing entertainment.
“A year?”
Carter laughed. “Ridiculous. A month.”
“Nine months,” Terini shot back. “It’s going to take awhile to recoup my loss.”
“Three months,” Carter countered, starting to enjoy himself.
“Six months,” Terini said, and Carter nodded. “If I haven’t recouped the money on this house in six months, you can kill me. In exchange for your lenient terms,” he said with a mocking growl, “You’ll be in possession of one of my daughters for the duration of the contract. You must promise not to hurt or compromise her,” he said, blushing despite his age.
Carter shook his head, marveling at Rocco’s nerve. “I’ll do with her as I please.” He allowed the words to sink in before continuing. “That is if I agree to this. And you have to convince your daughters.” That seemed unlikely.
“I can do it,” Rocco said. “I’ll go talk to them now.”
“No. I haven’t even agreed yet. If I do, I pick the girl. You will have no say in the matter except to persuade her.”
“No.” Rocco fumbled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off his forehead. “You can’t do that.”
“It was your idea. I’m perfectly content to dispense with it and move on to your eviction.”
Swallowing audibly, Rocco nodded and stood up. “I’ll have them assembled for your inspection.”
He sent the maid to fetch the girls as he took Carter into the sitting room, with Darren in-tow. They sat on an expensive sofa while they waited. Rocco was fidgety which only annoyed Carter even more. The first girl appeared, a pout on her face. “This is Lecy. She is twenty-three.”
Carter dismissed her immediately. “She looks stubborn. No.” He shared a look with Darren, who briefly smiled. None of the girls would end up being suitable, and he’d have Rocco squirming again within moments.
