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“Drop the towel.”
I know I’m being cruel and for some sadistic reason, I get pleasure from her fear. In my mind, this woman is Diana and I love seeing her kneel before me.
I reach out and grab her chin and force her to look up at me and snarl, “Just so we’re clear, you are my prisoner. Speak only when asked and offer no opinion. Do as I say and don’t think I care about you. You are nothing, a means to an end and a way to destroy your sister. When that happens to my satisfaction, you will be set free, exactly like I told you. Until then, you will be my shadow. Where I go, you do too. I am your puppet master, and I pull the strings. Whatever I say is law, and you get no privileges unless I say so. Any questions?”
To her credit, she merely shakes her head and casts her eyes to the floor in a submissive act that gets me instantly hard. What can I say? I’m a dominant man and not only because of my name. I crave control, which is why I fell so hard for Diana. She played me at my own game and turned it back on me, and I wonder if this is what Flora is doing now. I can’t be sure, so I sigh heavily and snap, “On your feet. There’s a closet in your room with enough clothes to choose something that fits. Dress respectfully and I’ll be waiting. We need to eat and discuss the next step.”
She nods and stands silently, which angers me a little. Where is the fight in this woman? She must be playing a game because nobody in her situation would willingly accept what I’m asking. She should be pleading with me, begging me to let her go, but she’s allowing me to treat her like the trash her sister is, and I wonder about that.
Once again, I lock her in her room and head to my own to shower and dress in my customary black suit. We have business to occupy us and it’s important we pull it off.
My phone rings when I step from the shower and my brother Matteo says darkly,“It appears to be my turn now.”
“What do you mean?”
From the edge to his voice, I’m guessing it’s unwelcome, and he snarls,“Last night I received a call from a rival family. Don De Luca.”
“What did he want?”
Don De Luca runs an operation in Garden City, and they respect each other’s boundaries. Something is telling me that is about to change.
“His shipment of cocaine was seized by the authorities, and I was placed firmly in the frame.”
“By whom?”
“One of my soldiers was delivered back to me this morning with his tongue cut out and his throat slashed.”
“An informant?”
I can picture the scene because it’s standard practice for dealing with anyone who squeals.
“It appears he told them I gave him the green light to inform the authorities, and Don De Luca has declared war.”
“You think it’s a set up?”
“Of course. The heat is now on me to prove my innocence and defend my family against attack. My casino was torched in the early hours and my staff only just got out in time. I’m guessing somebody wants us out of the picture and they are wasting no time.”
“Does Leo know?”
“Of course. I told him just before I called you. He will be next, and it doesn’t take a college diploma to work out who is responsible.”
“Diana.” I hiss through gritted teeth and his rough, “The fucking bitch herself,” tells me my brother hates her almost as much as I do. That doesn’t surprise me because, like me and Leo, Matteo also fell for her manipulative charms.
“What do you need?”
I offer him my assistance because the Ortegas may hate one another, but we are still family and that has always come first, and he barks,“Nothing. We are all fighting our own battle in this bloody war. I just thought you should know. If you discover anything from your hostage that could help, call me because I’m guessing we’ll need all the help we can get to slay this monster.”
“I’ll see what I can drag out of her.”
“She must have some information we can use against them. It needs to be quick information, though.”
“Of course. Leave it with me.”
Matteo sighs heavily.“I could fucking do without this right now.”
“Same.”
It’s obvious we are being kept busy for a reason and my thoughts turn to the reading of my father’s will next week and wonder if there is something written that is the catalyst for this.
