AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As outraged as I was with her betrayal, I understand why she did it. She always was a rule follower, never stepped out of line in her work or personal life. It’s just part of who she is.
Doesn’t matter Cynthia was going to shoot her dead. Simone wanted justice for what happened to her ex-boss. And as much as I want to admit I shot my former lover to save Simone, I killed her to save myself as much.
My chest aches. I miss Simone, more than I should after her betrayal. But I did betray her first.
Perhaps I could still have a future with Simone. I have money. Grease the right palms, and you can find anyone willing to do anything, even abduction. It would take time to orchestrate, but time well worth the wait if I can have Simone in the end.
Lost in thought, I don’t hear the footsteps approaching me from behind. The dark shadow cast over my table doesn’t faze me either, as I dismiss it as cloud cover. It’s not until a man takes a seat across the table from me and disrupts my view that I notice I’m not alone.
The stranger seated at my table looks sort of familiar. Oddly, I can’t place him. His tall, lean frame is dressed in a fine Italian suit, accessorized with heirloom cufflinks in the shape of a monogrammed “B.” His black hair is slicked black, his face razor-clean, and his dark eyes sharp. He has an imperial grace and commanding presence.
“Ciao, Signor Grills,” the stranger greets in fluid Italian. “Finalmente ci incontriamo.”
The face. The voice. But how? He’s dead. It was all over the news, in every paper and talk show.
“Signor Lorenzo Bianchi?”
The man’s lip lifts in one corner, his eyes full of dark amusement. “No. I am his cousin. The new Don of Denver, Piero Bianchi.” He slowly leans forward, his hands folding together on the table in front of him. “And I believe you possess something belonging to me.”
My throat constricts as I gulp down my nerves. I take a quick glance of my surroundings, noticing four large men in black suits surrounding our table. My eyes land on one man in Bianchi’s entourage. The man smirks, pulling his suit jacket back far enough to rest his hand on the Glock holstered at his hip.
Outnumbered, unarmed, and with nowhere to run, dread rushes in my nerves as I turn my attention back to the man I stole millions from. “Signor Bianchi, I—I had no idea the money would be missed. After your cousin passed, no one came to retrieve the funds. Not one person called to claim it. The man who forced me to create the account never returned. It was just…sitting there.”
Piero raises a dark brow, his face stern. “And you thought you deserved it, although it wasn’t yours to take?”
An involuntary shiver runs up my spine. “I have no excuse. I fell victim to my greed and took your money to escape the states. I can return what I owe to you with interest, if it helps. I’m an excellent investment banker. Perhaps I could help your organization make amends for my actions.”
The mobster turns up his nose, his first physical sign of contempt since sitting at my table. “I have no need for more bankers or accountants. I have enough on my payroll as is, and one who is more trouble than she’s worth.”
“There must be some way I can atone for my sin,” I plead, my voice cracking.
Piero snaps his fingers. A server comes scurrying to their table with stemless crystal wine glasses and a bottle of red wine. He shows the wine choice to Piero, who nods his approval. The server goes about opening the bottle, pouring a generous portion into each glass.
A small drop of wine runs down the outside of the glass in front of me. Using the linen draped over his forearm, the server takes the glass and wipes the spilled droplet from the rim. He then sets the glass in front of me and retreats from our table.
Piero picks up his wine, swirling it for a moment. He breathes in the rich aroma with a content sigh. “Come. Raise your glass, Signor Grill. We must toast.”
Toast? What for?
Afraid to ask, I hesitate before hurrying to pick up my wine. If I’m sharing a drink with the mobster, it must be a positive, right? Perhaps Piero has reconsidered my offer to use my services in a way to repay my debt.
“To new beginnings,” Piero says before taking a sip.
I hurry to drink from my own glass, mumbling cheers as I take a long pull. I’m going to need the liquid courage if I’m dealing with a mobster.
Piero watches with a smile, raising his glass again. “To vitality.”
Again, we drink.
“And to death,” Piero concludes, his glass raised in toast.
What?I halt mid-sip, my eyes frozen on the mobster in front of him. Alarm constricts my insides.
Piero finishes his wine, nodding at the empty glass in his hand before looking at me. “It’s good,sì? Full bodied and sharp on the tongue, coats the throat and warms the chest.”
Unable to swallow, I stare in horror. My throat tightens harshly as I sense doom on the horizon.
Silently, Piero sets down his empty glass. He cocks his head at me, his dark eyes narrowing to slits. “You should’ve left Simone alone. When you fuck with Atlas or his men, you fuck with me. Stealing from me is one thing. Messing with those I call family is another—one I don’t forgive.”
