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I cut off Tony before he gets another word out. “Luca’s not in charge. I am. If you’ve got a problem with how I run things, you’re free to go.”
His lips twist into a frown. Tony’s been my brother’s right-hand man since he took over for Papà. His father worked for mine, starting the long legacy. Tony’s the only man alive who knows the real reason why Luca took the King’s throne instead of me.
“You know I didn’t mean any disrespect, D.”
I nod. “Just trust me, okay?”
“Of course, whatever you say.”
I roll the motionless body over with the tip of my boot and meet a pair of vacant eyes.Pezzo di merda. “Make sure you leave the corpse at the door of the Red Dragon. I want to make sure Jianjun knows who’s responsible.”
“Done, boss.” Aldo pulls out his phone and types a quick message to the clean-up crew.
I close my eyes and instead of this man, I picture that blonde doctor, the one who dared lay a hand on what’s mine. When I find the asshole that hurt Rose, there won’t be a face left to recognize.
CHAPTER14
QUESTIONABLE LIFE DECISIONS
Rose
Maisy pulls the blinds down on the French windows overlooking the river as I sip the fancy latte she made in an uber expensive looking coffee machine. She crosses the immense sitting room and slides into the chair in the cute breakfast nook. A deep purple orchid sits on the table, its light fragrance lingering in the air. Everything is perfect. When I woke up this morning, fresh avocado toast was already waiting for me on the table. Talk about five-star service.
“I still can’t believe that was the notorious Dante Valentino that dropped you off last night.” She smirks as she takes a big bite of her toast.
I still can’t believe that Maisy held out on me. She never mentioned she was super rich. When Dante’s driver pulled up to the brownstone, I assumed my new friend lived in one of the apartments, not that she owned the whole building.
I take another careful sip and shrug. Stella had sworn me to secrecy when it came to all things her fiancé and that meant Dante by extension. Most people have heard of King Industries, but their shady, underground dealings are nothing but speculation. “How do you know about him anyway?” Before Stella met Luca, I knew little about the Valentinos or their multi-billion-dollar company.
“My ex, Jasper, the douchebag.” Maisy winces. “They ran in the same circles, and then later I’d see the brothers around Palestra.”
That explains the gorgeous brownstone. All of Manhattan’s wealthy elite frequent the same gyms, clubs, galas, and fundraisers. I’d learned that from my year interning with Dr. Winchester and my resulting questionable dating history.
I want to ask her more about the man who’d sent her into therapy, but the haunted look in her eye at the mention of his name stills my tongue.
“I can’t believe your best friend is engaged to Luca Valentino. He is just wow….” Her eyes take on that glossy, dreamy quality all the women get around Stella’s future husband. The younger Valentino is nothing like rugged, foul-mouthed, unpredictable Dante.
The hint of a smile crawls across my lips at the memory of him in the limo yesterday. Shit, I’d been way too hasty with that ultimatum the night of the party. If I hadn’t, would he have fucked me in the back seat? Gawd, I wanted him to in that moment.
“What are you smiling about?” Maisy’s cute little singsong wipes the smile right off my face.
Dante is not the type of man to be daydreaming about. There’d be no sweet nothings whispered in my ear, no declarations of undying love. If I let Dante have me, it would be brutal, rough and dirty.
“Oh my, do you have a thing for bad boy Dante Valentino?” Maisy’s mouth curves into a capital O. “How could you not mention that last night?”
We’d spent all night in, just like I’d promised Dante, chitchatting, scarfing down tacos and ice cream. It was as close to heaven as you could get without an orgasm. “I do not,” I blurt. “We’re friends—kind of.”
Like how a lion is friends with a lamb.
“That man is gorgeous,” she purrs. “I’ve seen him around the gym, those tattoos….”
“You should see him without his shirt on.” The confession slips out without my approval.
“Dang, girl, tell me everything, you little tease!”
I wave a nonchalant hand. “It was one time. Clearly a drunken mistake. We didn’t even have sex because the asshole walked out on me when he got some super important text message.”
Maisy’s eyes widen, and she drops her coffee mug. “Get out! He did not.”
