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Misery doesn’t always love company.
Wanting and needing are two very different things.
I want her. I must never need her though.
So, I can’t confuse what we are either.
Chapter Ten
Vincent
Ava was colder toward me this morning.
Ice cold.
We still ended up the same way as yesterday, slaves to passion when it came to claim us. It left me wanting more and on edge. Two things I can’t be right now. This instability of emotions is not good for me. Today is the meeting with the Bratva guys.
It’s happening in a few minutes.
I got to Giordanos Inc. early. It was so early I had to open up the building myself. We have a custodian who usually takes care of that.
I’ve been standing by the window of my office looking out at the shimmer of the lake as the sun graces the water.
My office here is bigger than the one I have at Renovata. I like it more here because of the view. It makes good for times like these when I need to reflect and get lost in my thoughts for a while. Or rather just think of anything. The problem with thinking isoverthinking.
Right now, I have Ava and her gorgeous body stuck in my head, and I have this meeting I’m really not looking forward to.
The two things are competing so badly for my attention that I’m not even thinking about Mark. Ava has replaced him in my mind.
My phone buzzes in my back pocket, and I reach for it.
It’s Claudius Morientz, another mafia boss and a friend of mine. He has a PI he works with who’s helped us out a few times. He’s a powerful man in Chicago and has seen his fair share of trouble, which means he knows the right people to get certain things done that the usual Joe can’t do.
His text says:Gibbs is on the case.
I message back my thanks.
I contacted him yesterday when I realized it was best for me to delegate some of the investigative tasks I needed to do on Mark. The shit of a mess he left in the office was too much to handle with the investigation as well.
Now I’m glad I did it because last night, I got a message from the rehab clinic Mark booked himself in letting me know he was being placed under a medicated detox.
The doctors said he wouldn’t be able to talk business for the next three days while they weaned him off the drugs. He’ll be in there for a minimum of three weeks.
Three fucking weeks. It pissed me off, but at the same time, it made me aware of how serious his situation must be.
Gibbs on the case will give me a break. I need it all resolved so I can be sure there’s nothing left to worry about. Then all it will be about is my lost two million. I can deal with that and anything that directly affects me. What stresses me out is shit that affects everyone else.
So far, I have those things under control. Various clients Mark was stealing from have been paid back, out of my damn pocket to smooth things over, and we’ve managed to put a block on all the shit he set up to siphon money from the other business.
I am absolutely still left in wonder as to how the fucker did it while I never knew what he was up to, but I’ve decided I’m not thinking about it today. I don’t care if someone holds a fucking gun to my head, my focus is going to be on this meeting. And being objective.
A knock sounds on the door, and I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s time.
“Come in,” I call out, and Salvatore comes in with Christian and two bulky-looking Russian men who look like cage fighters.
That’s my first clue of personality. One has dark hair, the other is blond.
The dark-haired guy is Dmitri and looks like my age. He’s the Sovientrik, advisor to the Pakhan, the boss. He’s the same rank as my mother to my father.
