Vincent sighs and Salvatore bites the inside of his lip.
Vincent nods his agreement. “We need to be careful. Cops and feds are territory I’d rather not cross, both have been in our fucking faces over the last year but you’re right. We know where to find cops. So that’s the easiest place to start.”
“I’ll get on to it today,” I promise.
“Cool. I think I’ll call in Gibbs to help, he should be back from Sicily by now. More hands less work, the sooner we put down these fuckers,” he answers, and I nod, feeling a sense of assurance at the mention of Gibbs.
He’s a PI we’ve used a number of times in recent years. That guy can get shit on anybody.
“Agreed,” I answer.
“Then let’s do it,” Salvatore says.
“You two,” Vincent says pointing to me and Salvatore. “Focus on this. I need this to take priority. Precedence over everything else. You understand me?”
He’s talking about the club. His gaze settles on me. Of me and Salvatore— who has a wife—it’s me who’s likely to go off fucking around at the club.
Again, I think of Lilly. I’ve never had anyone at the club before to hold my interest the way she has. I could be away for days. What would have happened to her in that time?
I’m the fucker who was planning to make all kinds of money off her and now I don’t want anybody else to touch her but me.
At the same time, I don’t want to get close and she is one doll who could entice me to break my rules.
Salvatore cuts me a glance, noticing my hesitation.
“I understand,” I answer quickly. “I’ll get Georgiou to look after the club,” I suggest, and Vincent nods his approval.
This morning I was in a state of flux because I never expected to be so taken with a woman I just met. The same flux takes me now with no clear answers on what I should or shouldn’t do.
Georgiou’s already in his private lounge when I arrive at the club. I can see him sitting on the leather sofa talking to one of the bartenders.
It looks like he’s here by himself tonight. Normally he’d either be in the office we share doing the accounts or here with Evie and Henry.
When I turn the corner, he sees me. His face tenses with worry as I approach, and he straightens up.
“Buonasera, brother,” he greets me and looks me over with caution.
“Buonasera,” I answer. “Thanks for sending the guys earlier.”
He motions to the sofa in front of him and I move over to sit.
“You’re welcome. Glad to see you’re in one piece and not in a box with a tag on your foot.” He raises his brows and leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“No, not yet.”
Georgiou blows out a ragged breath. “Christian, Pa was out of line for saying that shit to you.”
“You know he meant it, though right?”
I’m glad he doesn’t try to smooth things over and tell me otherwise.
“He shouldn’t have said that to you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. It matters to me. Christian, we’re brothers. I don’t like this tension between us.”
“You know why tension exists. It’s just gotten worse recently because you want to show you can be boss. Pa uses that against you to get to me, and you allow him to.”
He looks thrown that I’ve called him out but acceptance washes over his face and he nods.
“Yeah. I agree it’s that. It’s hard dealing with a man like Pa who controls so much and calls the shots. You don’t make it any easier though on either of us. That’s why he doesn’t take you seriously.”
“Fuck, Georgiou. You know that’s fucking bullshit. There’s no way you believe that. I’ve changed a lot over the years and stepped up. Pa acts like a bastard to me because he can’t control me. He’s never been able to.” I straighten up and stare him straight in the eye, wanting him to see I’m serious about where my goals lie. “I want in on the business Georgiou. I do. it’s important to me. You should know that.”
“I do.”
“Then hear me and stop being a prick. This place,” I motion around the area in reference to the club as a whole. “This place is something I never thought we’d have. We can die happy with the millions we’ve made with The Dark Odyssey. But Giordanos Inc. is legacy. It’s an empire of legacy. That is what people know us for. The Dark Odyssey is our playground, but I can’t play around forever. I’m not doing that now.”
The look of understanding that comes into my brother’s eyes shows he’s not only heard me but he’s not looking at me like I’m the playboy anymore.
“I hear you,” he says and raises a balled fist to bump it with mine. A sign of truce. It’s the first in years he’s done that.
I smirk and bump my fists with his.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll take care of the club. You focus on what you need to do and call me if you need me.”
“I will,” I promise and stand, feeling lighter like a burden of carrying the angst between us has lifted off my shoulders.
I have to go now. I’m supposed to be meeting Gibbs in an hour. It’s gonna be one of those long nights. Salvatore and I already spend most of the day going through files and we’ve just brushed the tip of the iceberg.
“Take care,” he says, and I dip my head in appreciation.
It was good to be civil with him. I can’t remember the last time we spoke properly as brothers and he wasn’t a complete asshole, trying to have one over on me.
I make my way out to the foyer to continue down the stairs that will lead me out, but my steps slow when classical music fills the room. The music feels out of place just like the woman who will be dancing to it. The woman I’ve been trying to get out of my head all fucking day. Lilly St. James.
I’m a floor down from my lounge so when I gaze up at her in her crystal ball, I don’t get the full blown view I usually have, but what I’m looking at is fucking amazing. She looks amazing.
She’s in black tonight. The dress she wears is a dupe of the one she had on last night.
Again, I give Tatiana credit for her creative work. The classical piece I hear is Swan lake. I remember it from school. It suits her as she glides around like it’s familiar to her. She moves like the music is flowing from her in such a striking way that she can compel a badass mobster like me to stop and stare.
I can’t help it.
I move over to the balcony to get a closer look. One last look, one last time.
From here I can watch her from afar without any interaction. Lilly St. James will never even know I was here.
My mouth waters at the sight of her and I remember the taste of her. the taste of every part of her, and how her moans aroused me to devour her.
Lust filled invisible fingers seep into my mind as my eyes roam over her fine body in its graceful stride.
I want her all over again and fuck if I wasn’t standing here and her up there, I’d take her right here up against this wall.
The floor is open for men to place their bids on her and she won’t say no because she agreed to do anything…
Only the desperate and the troubled would agree to something like that.