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I continue my aim for the next hole while he scoffs. “By like five minutes,” I counter.
“They seem to be hitting it off,” Lev whispers, swirling a glass of scotch.
I look over at Mia and Adrian and find they’re laughing with one another while they both sit on a small chair in the corner of the room. I knew it would happen eventually. It was just a matter of time.
“Finally.” I wink at Adrian, and he rolls his eyes at me.
“Enough of the game—you need to look at these,” Lev says, directing my attention to the files that cover the entire table. I just started playing, but he’s right: I need to sort this shit out. I don’t have Sloane on the boat for shits and giggles.
I take a file from the table and lay all the pictures out. “Which one is Giovanni after again?” I ask him.
“324 Parkway.”
He’s after the one building I want. Theonebuilding my father wanted me to take back. Giovanni might not even know about this, and if he does, I’ll kill him twice over.
I read the paper and see a name I recognize.
Gabe.
At this point, it’s just one bad thing after another. After losing two people who meant everything to me, life can’t seem to give me a fucking pass.
“Why the fuck is Gabe’s name on here?”
“I’d assume it’s because he wants to get it before you do.”
No kidding. Gabe has done shit like this my entire life. He goes after what I want every single time. He’s my cousin and believes he deserves to rule instead of me. He’ll never be able to comprehend that Pavel gave me his kingdom instead of him. He’ll never be able to get that through his thick skull.
“A meeting will be arranged with him,” I demand.
“Good. He’s using Kirill’s tactics,” Dimitri says as if I’m not already aware of his scheming tendencies.
Acting innocent until proven guilty—that’s his thing. I’m sure Gabe’s plan is to make it look like he has my best interests in mind, but he never has. He’s a snake who’ll go against me if I show one sign of weakness. He’s never gotten along with anyone in my family. I can’t even begin to understand how the fuck he’s still relevant.
“This is the building worth seven million.”
“Yes, but I don’t think Giovanni has the funds for it right now. You could take over his entire section of the city if you wanted to.”
I shake my head. I don’t want to take everything from him; I only want the buildings he hasn’t gotten yet. I want what’s mine.
“I don’t want his parts of the city. I just need that building. It doesn’t matter whether I have more money than Giovanni or not—it’s controlled by investors. If the three brothers choose me, it will eventually go in my name. All I need is Parkway and a house. The rest will come easy after that.”
“Many will see it as a threat.”
“I don’t give a fuck.” I need 324 Parkway. If Giovanni takes it over, it’s a roadblock.
I wasn’t planning on going back to New York yet—not for a while. But then I found out Giovanni is bidding. It’ll be nice to see Nina again.
I want everything in my name. I want the Stepanov name in New York. I’m tired of being seen as a threat an ocean away.
I reach for a cigarette from my pocket and light it.
“Reservations are planned for West 90—it’s in the Upper East Side. Clarke’s territory,” Lev says.
“That’s too close,” I tell him. “I told you to stay clear of them. Get rid of West 90.”
If I target the Clarke family, they’ll come after me with their fucking pitchforks raised. They’re ruthless and don’t blink at the sight of blood—as a matter of fact, they’re usually the first to spill it.
It’s been years since we last heard from them, and I’d love nothing more than to keep it that way. West 90 isn’t an option because it’s on their land. The second I sign a contract for a building in their territory, they’ll walk off with my head.
