Chapter 1- Never Tell A Mafia He Can Never Find You

⚠️BEFORE YOU READ⚠️

This book contains extreme 18+ contents in most chapters, it is a dark romance book for a reason.

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Chapter 1

RUSSEL

"Russel Mancini," Carlo Iverson drawled my name, "I was beginning to think you were too afraid to meet."

I leaned back in my seat, squaring my shoulders to match the man's icy stare, "I'm not afraid of anything or anyone, Carlo." I told him frankly, "I was just biding my time."

"Biding your time? Whatever for, Capo?"

I gave him a light smile for his use of my title, "I hear you've expanded your interests. You started your own Outfit, congratulations. But the last time I checked, none of your plans were brought to my notice."

Carlo had made himself comfortable, so he poured himself a drink from the bottle on the table, "It's a big city, Capo. Surely you must understand that there's enough room for all of us to grow and–"

"And I see that your interests are exceeding your boundaries, Carlo." I cut in, "I've sent a warning before, but I think you didn't get it." I leaned closer to him across the table, "You are under me, and raising a small group of miscreants who you hope to use against me in the future will take you nowhere but the early grave."

Carlo chuckled, "Is that it, Capo? Or are you just afraid that I might do better than you if I grow my own men?"

My lips curled as I rubbed at the hilt of my gun, which was safely tucked away in my right hand underneath the table, "I guess I should be scared, except I already know you for what you are, a failure. It was one of the reasons you left the Gianni's to join Cosa Monsoni."

A dark scowl settled on Carlo's face and he let out a big groan, "I'm older than you, Russel. And yet you talk to me with no regard and–"

A flicker of annoyance crossed my face, "Power, Carlo, and brains, that's all that's needed to rule people like you. But you lack both, and I'd so hate to see a power drunk fool like you putting the entire Cosa Monsoni clan at risk of a war with the Gianni's."

Carlo's tone turned appeasing, "Capo, let's not fight over this. I'm still loyal to you, but you need to let me raise these men. Imagine knowing that you have us to protect you, a secret that will be well kept from the rest of the–"

"Dissolve it." I stated impatiently.

"What?"

"Dissolve the damn Outfit. There is no room for mistakes in my world."

Carlo leaned in, his tone soft but laced with menace, "You're a pragmatist, Capo. I'm sure you understand the power of team work more than anything else."

"Protecting my territory from the likes of you is the only thing I understand."

"Your territory. The only reason for so much bloodshed and conflict. For years, we have followed your family blindly, starting from your dead father, but all that has only led us to death. I believe in expansion, Capo, and I want to start that expansion–"

*BANG*

Maybe it was the mention of my father that triggered my bloodlust, but with just a squeeze of the trigger, Carlo lay there, dead. I threw down the gun and poured myself another glass of scotch which I finished in one gulp.

The door swung open immediately and Kegan Gaetano walked in with a disapproving frown plastered on his face. He was my consiglieri and my best friend, perhaps even brother because we grew up together.

"You promised there would be no more killings today." Kegan pointed out accusingly.

"The stupid man kept asking for it." I answered with an eye roll, "Now I have to get a new rug, and I really liked this one."

Kegan scoffed, "You just killed a man and you are bothered about a rug?"

"His life was worthless, anyway." I retorted, "Send his body back to his little friends at his Outfit as a warning."

Kegan nodded and started to examine the man for a pulse, which was very unlikely because my bullets never missed. If I shoot a man, my aim is usually to kill.

As expected, he stood up and shook his head, "Dead as hell."

I poured myself another glass and raised it as a toast, "I hope I don't have to meet any more of his type today." With a thoughtful pause, I added, "Send in my Number One." I need to fuck if I had to think straight.

"Sex should be the last thing on your mind, Russ. You still have one more meeting to attend. More like an interview. And we are honoring an invitation later tonight."

My brows creased in a disappointed frown, "Interview? Fuck! Prepare my study then, since the office is a bit– occupied." I groaned, "I hope to God it's a girl and she's worth the stress."

Kegan eyed me, "This one looks too innocent."

"She's already here?" A small smirk played on my lips, "Innocent works equally well, I could use a little fun before the interview."

"She doesn't look like the type that interests you."

My shoulders slouched in disappointment, "Then whoever fixed that interview should be fired."

It was Kegan's turn to smirk, "I did."

"Fuck you." I muttered.

_________

When I entered my study fifteen minutes later, I was surprised to find a blonde girl sitting on the seat across from mine. Her hazel eyes flickered in fear the minute she saw me, which was good.

But I couldn't help but notice the way her angelic face flushed when I sat down in front of her. I don't like blondes and Kegan knew that, which is why I found it surprising that he even organized a meeting with a blonde in the first place.

"Good afternoon Mr–"

"Mancini." I supplied with a light smirk, "You must be the reporter."

"Oh, not me." She quickly corrected, "My friend was supposed to be here, but she fell sick and I have to stand in for her."

I nodded, that must explain why Kegan said what he said. Kegan would never pick a blonde to be around me, except he didn't know.

"So you have a name, yeah?" I asked with my hand outstretched for a handshake.

She looked skeptical for a while, "Allesia Guerrero."

The name rolled off my tongue, "Allesia."

She nodded, "Yes, Mr– Mancini"

"Oh, just Russel." I waved dismissively. When she squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, I quickly added, "Let's get to it, then."

She blinked severally, "Huh?"

She looked so lost and timid and all the while I noticed that she was avoiding my eyes, "Your questions, Allesia."

She cleared her throat and tried to read the first line on the pad she was holding but her eyes widened as she mouthed the words there.

"Ah– I'm sorry, I didn't check the questions earlier," she stuttered, "These look rather– personal."

My face remained straight but a small hint of amusement tugged at the corner of my lips, making her incredibly uncomfortable, "Are there questions on the pad, Allesia?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Then ask."

Allesia cleared her throat again, "Are you— by any chance gay, Mr Mancini?"

I drew in a sharp breathe, "No. Next question."

"She would like an explanation." Allesia probed in a small voice.

I tried really hard not to laugh at her uneasiness, those questions were not alien to me. Being the kind of man I was, I had no real use for women, except for pleasure. And my means of getting that pleasure was usually not what church girls like the one sitting in front of me found civil.

"I'm not gay, my taste in women and what I do with them is just– complicated."

Allesia gulped, clearly that answer didn't make her feel good at all, "So do you consider yourself a Made Man?"

I allowed myself to grin for the first time, "In all senses of the word."

"Oh."

Sensing her discomfort, I rounded the table to stand in front of her, but she shifted backwards. But that didn't deter me, so I leaned against the table, folded my hand on my lap and watched her intently.

For some reason I didn't understand, she looked oddly familiar and in some way, she reminded me of someone, someone long dead.

Perhaps that is why she looks familiar? "What about you, Allesia?"

She squinted her eyes, "What about me?"

"Don't you have any personal questions for me?" I asked with a shrug.

She didn't hesitate to shake her head, "Nothing I can think of." Then as if deciding against it, she quickly asked, "There are rumors that you are a mafia, are they true?"

Her question surprised me, making me wonder what she would think if she found out I just killed a man a few minutes ago. The disgust in her tone was not lost on me, but I was not surprised. People, especially women like Allesia usually had that reaction to me.

"I answered that already, Allesia." Then I leaned in and lifted her chin, making sure that our eyes met and locked, "In the absence of your questions, perhaps I should make a proposal."

I did not know why I brought up the proposal, but there was something about this blonde girl sitting in front of me that made me want to possess her, in every sense of the word.

The moment I dropped her chin, she slapped my hand, but quickly recoiled and apologized, I only nodded. I wanted her to stand up so I could access her properly, but of course I could not ask just yet.

"What proposal?" She asked with a faint stutter.

"I'm bored with my current Number One." I told her point blankly.

Her brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean by Number One?"

As if realizing my error, I quickly simplified it, "I find you intriguing, Allesia Guerrero. And I'm willing to pay $2,000,000 for a night with you."

Usually, this was Kegan's job, to find me girls that would be interested in gracing my playroom in exchange for money. And those girls were usually experienced high handed girls. But recently, I had gotten bored with Maura, my current Number One and my playroom needs a little spice and a church girl like Allesia would do just fine.

"Consider this a way of finding out if I'm truly gay."

She stood up so quickly that her seat fell back, but I did not flinch, "I don't care if you are gay or not! I told you that those questions were my friend's and not mine.

"Then perhaps you should care about the money, Allesia. The offer is for you and not your friend."

"I'm not interested."

"You can think about it, I'll wait."

"No." She retorted immediately, "There's nothing to think about. I won't do it."

"$2,000,000 for one time sex is a lot, angel. Now imagine what that much money would do for you."

That usually worked, I thought with a hidden smirk. Throw a little bait and they are rethinking their life morals, if they had any. As my eyes raked her, I wondered how many men had probably touched that delicately concealed body of hers.

Girls like her were usually the worst, I knew that from experience. But it had been long since I brought out the bad girl in a good girl and this one in front of me was tempting me too much.

But much to my disappointment, she turned around and stalked towards the door, "Goodbye, Mr Mancini. I hope we never meet again."

Never tell a Mafia Boss that he can never find you.

Now that was a challenge worth taking, "If we meet again by any chance, will you accept my offer?"

She smiled for the first time, revealing a perfect set dentition, "The chances are very unlikely, you'll be disappointed."

"Then I'll take my chances, Allesia. We'll meet again soon and you'll accept my offer, I promise you."

She disappeared behind the door and I stared after her. It was not everyday that a blonde girl with such hazel eyes intrigued me enough for me to want to take her to my playroom, but this one did.

This city and everything in it belongs to me, including her.

And I'll find her.