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Russel grins, his lips wet, his eyes wet. I can’t believe Dad would ever do business with somebody this unprofessional. People can say what they want about the mob, butourFamily has better standards than this. At least, we did.
“I’d be interested to hear about your income streams,” I tell Russel.
He scowls, toying with his steak knife. From across the restaurant, I spot a few of our men looking over, maybe getting ready for a fight. I normally try to avoid violence. Obviously, I’m capable of it, but there are usually better routes. Here, though, with this asshole, I almost welcome it.
“I thought we were here to sort out the stadium project,” Russel says.
“I like to know who I’m in business with,” I tell him. “It’s a reasonable question.”
Russel sighs and pushes his chair back. “I need to use the little boy’s room. Do you mind?”
Before I can reply, he stands and abruptly walks away.
“He walks like a junkie,” I say. “Look at him twitching.”
“Careful,” Luca replies. “We need him.”
“Need him?” I growl.
“He’s got an in with the stadium.”
“Then we’ll do this the old way. Gather all these Shank assholes up and persuade them to giveusthe in instead.”
“I’m not sure Dad would approve of that.” Luca stands. “I need to use the toilet, too.”
“Feel free to fuck that lowlife up while you’re in there.”
“Bro,” Luca says, giving me a look.
I massage my forehead. I’m getting a headache. It’s the meeting, the noise, but mostly, it’s the fact Scarlet has been walking back and forth between tables this entire time. With those hips moving, her cheeks red, and I can only sit here and pretend not to see, not to care. When she approaches our table, my balls swell, and my shaft aches.
“Are you done with your plates?” she asks.
I nod, finding it difficult to speak. Being this close to her without dragging her into my lap is tough.
As she clears away, she leans over the table near me. Her skirt rises just a little, showing more of her thick, tempting legs, juicy in the tights. My hand trembles with the effort of not grabbing her leg, sliding up, pushing against her pussy, and feeling her wetness.
She turns away, carrying the plates and leaving a note behind. I pick it up and read it. Savage instincts roar inside of me.
I’m so sorry, Mr. Marino. I don’t want to impose, but my dad has gotten into $40,000 of debt with a loan shark. Last night, he got physical with me and threatened me. I wouldn’t be doing this unless I was hopeless. If you can help…
She left a phone number at the bottom of the note.
The savage sense of possession inside of me tries to send me surging to my feet. I’ll find the bastard who threatened my woman—whogot physicalwith her—and I’ll make the prick pay. Just the idea of somebody getting physical with my woman is enough to turn me into a wild, violent animal. The thought of them hurting her…
I take out my cell phone and type her number in. I should probably wait until this meeting ends, but I must know. It hurts just thinking about this. It hasn’t even been an hour since I first saw Scarlet or learned her name, yet I’m still ready to go to war for her.
How exactly did he get physical?I type.
Looking up, I see her carrying two plates across the restaurant. Her phone must be on vibrate. A moment after I send the message, she looks over at me. I’m too far away to see her expression fully, but it’s like I can see the pain radiating from her.
After she’s delivered the order, she heads to the kitchen. My phone vibrates.
He knocked on the door late last night… well, early morning. Then he shoved me up against the wall and put his hand over my mouth. He said my dad owes thirty-two thousand, but it would increase by three every day, so we should just call it an even forty.
I grip the edge of the table, my hands trembling as I try to process what I’ve just read. A manput his handon my woman’s mouth in her own home. He intimidated her in the place she’s supposed to feel the safest. If he were here now, I’d rip his limbs off. I’d drive my fist into his face over and over and—
“You good, bro?” Luca says, sitting beside me.
