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“What about you? Have you carried out your part of the plan?”he fires back, and I’m quite smug as I laugh softly.
“I have her and congratulations are in order.”
There’s a slight pause, and he laughs softly.“You bastard.”
“Thank you.” I swirl the contents of my glass around and enjoy a moment’s satisfaction. My other brother, Domenico, was to find Diana’s sister and use her much in the same way as I intended on using Abi. This time to bring Diana down and steal the money she stole from our father’s bank account. Flora, Diana’s sister, was to impersonate her and transfer the money to one of our bank accounts instead. It worked well and now we have the money that was stolen from us and the resources to control our empire. We only need to remove the current incumbents and life can get back to normal with an Ortega in charge.
Leo adds,“I understand you’re attending the gala tonight. Just a heads up that Jefferson Stevenson has been added to the guest list.”
My anger knows no limits because why the fuck didn’t Cesare tell me that vital piece of information?
Leo must sense my anger and says quickly,“It’s just been added. I’m sure your consigliere will inform you.”
“How do you know already?”
It never ceases to amaze me that Leo knows things before any of us and I’m the one who’s meant to be the information whizz.
“I have a contact at Madison Square Garden. I’m tracking a man called Mason Hargreaves. He’s due to be there tonight and I want to know who he’s talking to?”
“Why?”
“He has contacts with Cuba and there’s a shipment coming in next week. I heard he’s selling arms outside of the agreement and if I find out it’s true, he’s in a shit load of trouble.”
“I’ll keep my eyes open.”
“Thanks, bro.”
For a moment there’s silence before Leo sighs.“I should go. Stay safe, brother.”
“You too and call me when you have eyes on that will.”
“Consider it done.”
He cuts the call and for a moment I stare into the glass and wish things had been different. When Diana played us off against one another, the person who suffered the most was our sister Eliza. We were so caught up in our own anger that we left without a backward glance, leaving her to deal with Mario and Diana on her own. No wonder she ran and look where that got her. Blown to pieces along with my father. A cruel life extinguished alongside an innocent one.
I pour myself another whiskey to dull the guilt I constantly feel every day that I never protected her. Maybe that’s why I’m so protective of Abi. If I couldn’t save Eliza, I’m damn well saving my wife.
CHAPTER18
ABIGAIL
The dresses Matteo had sent over were exquisite. I’m in love with a midnight blue satin gown that hangs off the shoulder, cinched in at the waist with a huge skirt that trails behind me. However, the red dress is exceptional, and I shiver with delight when I pull on the scraps of red lingerie and step into the dress. The red silk molding my curves and the huge split to my thigh makes me feel sexy and promiscuous.
Then again, since meeting Matteo, I have made the word promiscuous mine in every way. If I’m not fucking him, I’m thinking about it, and I wonder how this happened. It all began in his office at his club, watching my current boyfriend engaging in acts I never believed possible. It intrigued me, but not half as much as the man who made it happen.
He is like a dark flame that burns on pure evil. Raw, desirable and wicked, everything a respectable girl should sprint away from. Not me. I run toward it at speed because he makes me feel so alive when he is bringing me to my knees.
I pile my hair on top of my head and apply my make-up with care and precision. I’m excited for tonight, not because of the charity gala. Those events bore the pants off me quicker than Matteo can rip them off but being on the arm of a man like Matteo Ortega is breath-taking in its wickedness. My mom will hate the photos circulating among her friends when she sees his hand in mine. She will blow a fuse when news of our nuptials leaks to her friends and she will demand my return immediately when he flouts our relationship in her face as we mingle with known associates of theirs, causing me to wonder once again why she agreed to it in the first place.
With a shiver of excitement and a spray of the expensive perfume that arrived with the delivery, I am ready to face my future with all guns blazing. Matteoismy future; I can feel it almost as much as the excitement that’s driving my heart to pound like a piston at full throttle. This is the best experience of my life, and I don’t want to waste a second of it.
I head off to meet him and my mouth waters when I find him standing by the window in the living room, gazing out across the skyline.
He looks so dangerous dressed all in black, his shirt unbuttoned low enough to reveal that insane body scripted with dark intent. His belt buckle gleams as it catches the light and I pray I discover what his idea of punishment is when we return. His dark hair is styled short but long enough to feel luxurious, as it drifts through my fingers and the scuff on his jaw shows he doesn’t give a fuck for appearances.
Most of the men I know are clean shaven and dressed in the best tailor-made suits. Matteo is no different but sticks two fingers up at convention and does what the fuck he likes. I admire him for that, and as I head into the room, he fixes that lustful gaze on me as I walk slowly toward him, making sure to expose the bare leg that peers out from the slit in my dress. The neckline is low and holds my assets in place like a lustful lover, and I have never felt as sexy in my life as I do now.
Evidently Matteo thinks so too because his tortured groan makes me smile and my eyes flash with victory as he moves to my side in two steps and slides his arm around my waist, caressing my ass with an ownership that makes me crumble.
