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“Meaning what?” I asked, slowly turning to face him.
“Meaning I was right. She is the only daughter of Police Commissioner Worthington. The man who has been yanking our chain for years?” He studied me intently, waiting for my reaction, sighing when I didn’t respond quickly. “At least she didn’t lie about arriving in town. Her plane was late. What do you want me to do about her? I’ll handle everything.”
While I wasn’t prone to emotional explosions of any kind, he knew I’d been more on edge lately. At my father’s insistence, we’d removed the selling of narcotics from our business, concentrating on the casinos already in operation, online gaming, and other even more lucrative ventures I’d undertaken with the development deals over the years. We’d even made Mama Lucia’s restaurant a haven, a place of peace. That also allowed us to keep watch on what was going on in our city.
Even amongst other criminal organizations.
The benefit had been real, although there’d been added tension over the past few months. We had a tentative agreement with the Bratva, who had a firm hold in place, but the other crime families were always vying for another piece of the pie. It was just a matter of time until one or more attempted to move in with force.
Exhaling, I closed my eyes briefly. It was impossible to get her out of my mind for more than a few minutes. While my instinct about her had been correct, I wasn’t ready to make a decision that would alter the rest of her life.
As well as mine.
When I didn’t answer, he snorted, rattling off more data. “She started out as a typical crime reporter, at least from what I can tell. Small shit. Now she reports on some pretty heady shit about the local mafia organizations. You know she’s pissed off more than just the fuckin’ Poles.”
What fascinated me was that finding out about her profession didn’t shock me, nor did it infuse my vision with red, my need for blood increasing. No wonder she hadn’t provided her real identity.
“I don’t think you need to be so alarmed, Brando, although I am curious if the reason she gave for her trip is the truth,” I said more to myself than my second.
“She’s not on assignment, if that’s what you mean. Still, she’s bad news. There’s nothing official on the street about her, but she doesn’t pull any punches. That might not mean anything in New York, but if she really had something to do with Lazor’s second in command being arrested, additional charges pending, then they want blood. Maybe she found out about their plans. God help her if that’s the case.”
“Yes, God help her.” I looked away, pacing the floor. Even if she had no plans on creating a scathing report while in town, her presence could set off more than a few red flags. The fact she’d been attacked meant she was being watched. It also meant there was a possibility that we’d been seen together. Her image flushed my mind of all rational thoughts, my cock twitching.
“At minimum you need to question her.”
“It would seem you continue to forget your place, Brando.”
“Maybe because I give a damn about your family.”
My family. I found his words curious.
A low growl erupted from my chest, and I fisted my hand, trying to pull my mind out of the filthy locations it remained. “I’ll handle the woman, Brando. That’ll give you time to learn your place. However, I won’t change the course of my business practices based on an interesting fact.”
“An interesting fact? Why do I have a feeling this girl means more to you than just finding out why the dirtbag tried to kill her?”
“I find her… fascinating.” He was the one person who could get away with challenging me, but for some reason even his mild condemnation pissed me off.
“Why does that make me nervous?”
I rubbed my jaw as I thought about how to handle the information. Was it entirely coincidental that she’d shown up on my doorstep late at night? If she was the one who had a target on her back, the man sent to kill her had either followed her from the airport or she’d made the mistake of doing some undercover reporting while in town for her family celebration. What I knew about the Poles was that they refused to stop until their target was dead. “Keep searching. I want to know everything the Adamos family is doing, and I do mean everything.”
“So you’re going to leave her alone.” He dropped the photograph of her he’d copied on my desk, shaking his head.
I stared into his eyes, trying to keep my anger from presenting itself like a fire-eating dragon. The dark cravings I had extended beyond all common sense, but the bold intensity of my longing transcended business. “That sounded like an order, Brando. I certainly hope I’m wrong.”
He walked closer, planting his hands on my desk. “What the fuck are you doing?”
“I suggest you change your tone.”
“She could ruin you.”
“She’s a woman. Nothing more.”
“That’s bullshit. Even if you won’t admit it, I certain as fuck will.” Brando’s voice had risen.
I walked around my desk, prepared to snap my hand around his neck. He stood up straight, feeling the full three inches of my additional height, his face strained. “Who I fuck is of no concern to anyone.”
“This isn’t about fucking, Valentin. I’ve never seen you this way. You need to stop thinking with your dick.”
