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This guy doesn’t look anything like my father’s normal associates. He looks like he might rip out of his suit—that’s not because of it being small or ill-tailored. It’s because he’s so much taller and muscular than any man I’ve seen. He looks like he’d be more at home in worn jeans and a T-shirt—or naked. I’d love to see him both ways. He’s got jet black hair that is cut short on one side and a little shaggy on the other. He’s got a full beard that’s neatly groomed, and I mourn the fact I only get a small glance of his face. There’s ink everywhere you can see, and it disappears under his clothes, and I find myself wanting to know just how much of it covers him.
He’s beautiful.
My heart stutters in my chest when he stops in the middle of the hall. I’ve been so engrossed in watching his long legs moving that the sudden stop jars me. I don’t get time to think about it, though. Because he starts looking around.
Can he feel me staring at him?Yikes.I scuffle away from the door and pin myself against the wall behind it. It takes a hot minute to catch my breath. I hear the fall of heavy footsteps on the tile. That should make me relax, but the steps are getting louder—not growing distant. He’s heading toward the office. I bite down on my bottom lip, needing to remain as silent as possible.
I’m afraid to breathe as he enters the room. My heart speeds up as the door slowly opens. I hide behind it and wait. I can’t see him, but his presence in the room is undeniable. The air is heavier and has more of an electrical current running through it. I close my eyes from the headiness of it. He stands with just the door between us, drugging me with his presence without even trying. My heart is beating wildly, which makes no sense. It’s not as if it matters that he finds me here.
It's my father who can’t find me.
I know the exact moment he turns to leave. The atmosphere around me lightens and I feel strangely empty. I miss the power of him being close. I don’t have time to mourn, however. I need to grab the money and get out of here before anyone discovers me. I wait until his footsteps grow quieter, then spring into action. My father will kill me for this, but I don’t have a lot of choices in front of me. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I push Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome but Deadly out of my mind. I’ve got bigger worries…
Like how to survive.
antonio
I pick up my glass and swirl the amber liquid inside staring at it. I want out of this damn country. I’ve done nothing here but waste my time. The more I check into Dracos, the more I’m learning my security team did not do their fucking job. They were to vet this deal thoroughly. Dracos is into shit that doesn’t fly in my organization. I’m not a good man by any stretch of the imagination, but the thought I almost went into business with someone who pedals flesh doesn’t sit well with me. It’s a hard line I will never cross. Maybe that makes me a sanctimonious asshole, considering the fact I have blood on my hands. I don’t give a damn, though. I believe a person can do whatever they want with their body—but it’s always their choice.
Dracos needs to be destroyed and that’s going to fall on me. War is never a good thing when it involves the lives of those who work for you and give you their loyalty. It is a huge decision. I’d be lying to say if it wasn’t personal at this point, too. I don’t like being made a fool and that’s exactly what has gone down with these fucking meetings.
“Boss…”
I look over to see Victorio pulling out the stool beside me. He’s a bodyguard who has worked in the organization for a hell of a long time. My father hired him to help look over Maxwell and his family. Maxwell was my father’s closest friend and served as his Consigliere. After my father died, he took me under his wing and helped guide me through the waters as I took the reins of the organization. I knew a lot—but foolishly thought because I was my father’s second that I knew enough to step into his shoes without a problem. I was wrong. Maxwell was invaluable. He also helped bring Niko Petrova in. I didn’t know Niko, but I trusted Maxwell and I’m damn glad I did. Niko worked hard to earn the position of Capo. I’ve been contemplating moving him into the position of my second. I haven’t had one. I suppose Maxwell held that position as well. I just haven’t found someone I trust like I should to give them the job.
My father made me his second after my uncle was killed. The position holds a lot of power and the last thing you want is to have someone who will slit your throat from behind to take it all over.
Niko and I have a lot in common. We both know what it is to be doubted and work your ass off to prove yourself. He’s also made himself invaluable on this trip. The same could be said for Victorio, although in different ways. Victorio was young when my father hired him, but he had a gift of sensing trouble before it hits. Now that he has some age on him, he’s probably one of the best in the business. I’ve been toying around with the idea of moving him into the family. I’m pretty fucking sure that I’ll have some positions open soon. I think Niko would appreciate it. Victorio is currently his fiancée’s bodyguard. Victorio draws the eyes of any female around—a fact Niko is not happy about.
“What are you doing here?”
“Maxwell said you had another meeting with Dracos and was proceeding to get drunk. He thought you could use someone else watching your back.”
I shake my head. “I may have exaggerated. The meeting was little more than a phone call a few hours after I walked out. I gave him a chance to change his mind. He demanded an apology.”
“And how did that go?” he laughs, already knowing the answer.
“I told him to go fuck himself.” Victorio laughs and I let out a labored sigh. “I’m also not drunk. I did think about it, however. I decided to plot that fucking asshole’s demise instead. What about you? I thought you were watching Niko’s back tonight.”
“Niko gave me the night off.”
“He did?”
“Yeah, I think I irritate him.”
“You’re too pretty,” I laugh, taking a swig of my drink.
“If I hear that one more time…” he grumbles.
“I’m feeling damn old, Vic.”
“You’re not. You’re just a few years older than me. Don’t age me before my time.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, too full of frustration to respond. It’s days like today that make me want to just burn my house down and walk away. I’d never do it, but sometimes it’s the dream I long for.
“You can let Max know we will be leaving Saturday,” I grumble, not happy. If I had my way, we’d head back tonight. There are some things I need to do before leaving Greece, though. If what Killian told me is true, then I need to lay some groundwork. I was going to make Dracos pay for dicking me around either way. Now, I’ll just have even more reason.
