Nothing.”“That’s convincing,” he slurred then took a shot. “You have a scowl on your face that could scare the paint off a bus.” He held up another for me to take.I eyed his hand but took his offering. “You might want to slow down. It’s not even midnight and you’ve lost your senses.”The woman who had just been playing the part of Brian’ drinking vessel giggled and sat up from the low table. She fixed her skirt then sat down to admire the both of us.He wrinkled his nose, disgusted by my accusation. “And besmirch my title? Brother, some of us cannot rely on our attitudes to spread our gifts to the masses. I am excess. All revelry and misguided fun must be inspired by my hand.” His arms flung out. “I am all of this.”“Calm down, brother.”Orobas spun around. It had been Ezequiel calling for Orobas to quit his showboating. Under his arm was a tall blonde woman who was likely a model or actress.“Hope you don’t mind if we join you,” he stated.“It depends. Did you bring anything for th
I’d offered to drive everyone home since I hadn’t drunk as much as they had, and there was no way Tiffany could have waited for a car service to pick them up from the corner. After the interruption from being caught up in Stolas, I was stone-cold sober.Tiffany sulked in the back seat during the drive to her apartment, huffing and whining that Rhomi had ruined the night that could have changed her life. The guy she had been dancing—or rather dry-humping—with had been whispering promises in her ear all night. When Rhomi freaked out on Oro, Tiffany hadn’t had time to get his name or number.Jordan offered to stay with Tiffany and assured us that they would tuck Tiffany in with a large water bottle and call Rhomi in the morning.Rhomi still lived with her father in the Hills. His house was twice the size of my father’s and surrounded byRhomi punched in the code for the gate then asked down to my car window, “Do you want to stay the night? It would be like old times.”I’d had enough of t
Mabel, who had been taking the last sip from her glass, caught the cruel glee on my face. Puzzled, she looked around to find what had stolen my attention away for the first time all night.“Is that . . . ,” she whispered, worried that her voice would carry and direct her father’s crew toward us. “I have to go.”“Wait,” I said with little enthusiasm as she gathered her things.She got to her feet and made a quick beeline to the exit, doing exactly what I wanted her to do. Harris caught sight of her and excused himself to trail after her. I took my time retrieving three hundred-dollar bills from my wallet and handing them to our waiter before I joined Evie and her father at the doors“What are you doing here with him? He’s dangerous. You have no idea what you’ve done—what you’re risking,” he scolded, red-faced and flustered.“It was one date. I’m a grown woman, and I can make my own choices—”“Is everything all right?” I slipped into their hushed conversation.Harris pointed an accusato
You can keep that truth to yourself. I have plenty of others to share,” she countered.“Many supplied by me,” I interjected. “The perk of working so closely with your many high-powered campaign donors.”“There’s no proof.” Harris narrowed his eyes at the both of us. “Not a single paper trail would lead to me.”“You’re forgetting the kind of influence I have over humans. What I could promise for a few small favors.” I gave him a crooked smile to remind him of what I“And what am I supposed to do, then? What about all the good I have done for the community?” He was starting to scramble. “The charities or beautification projects that I personally founded to make this state a better place? Were those things for nothing?”The thing about ambition is that it can be blinding,” I said. I looked down at Evie and cupped her cheek to bring her eyes to mine for a moment before finishing my last point to Harris. We both needed the moment of connection. “No matter how good your intentions are, you’v
The sun hangs high in the sky as I stand next to my father near the docks in Miami. My heart races, and for the first time in a long time, I feel excited about this meeting. As the oldest, it's something I've always wanted – to be included in the family business, to prove to my father that just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I can't run the Manuel Syndicate as well as any man.A salty breeze blows through my curly hair, carrying with it the scent of seaweed and diesel fumes from the fishing boats swaying gently in their berths. The squawking of seagulls mixes with the distant hum of traffic as they search for scraps of food among the detritus littering the dockside, creating a cacophony of life."Lucia, pay attention," my father chides, snapping me backA man approaches us, his dark hair slicked back and his darker features giving away a lifetime of experience. I eye him up and down, taking in every detail, before he introduces himself as Axe. My father waves off his introduction wi
The blissful silence shatters as an alarm pierces the air. Panic grips my chest, and I stumble in my haste. My ankle twists beneath me, sending a bolt of searing pain up my leg. I curse under my breath, clenching my teeth as I try to push through the agony and make my escape."Damn it," I hiss, realizing that my attempted flight is short-lived. Almost immediately, a burly man emerges from the mansion, his eyes locked onto me with hawk-like precision. He's the rover, one of Giovanni's loyal enforcers—a massive, intimidating figure who seems to move with an eerie silence despite his size."Hey!" I shout, fists clenched. "Do you seriously have nothing better to do than chase after me?"He doesn't reply, instead closing the distance between us in a matter of seconds. Before I can react, he scoops me up effortlessly, as though I weigh nothing more than a feather. I kick and scream, pounding on his back in a futile attempt to"Put me down, you brute!" I demand, but he remains silent, carryi
She tells him how glad she is that he called, how much she missed him. His response is harsh and biting: "Shut up."I'm taken aback by his coldness, wondering what kind of woman would willingly subject herself to such treatment. But she only giggles, seemingly unfazed. He slaps her ass. "Shut up and take it like the whore you are." Slowly, he pushes his cock into her asshole, her moans making it clear that she loves every inch of it.I stand there, transfixed. I've never seen anal sex before, never even considered it. But seeing Giovanni at the center of it all, dominating this woman with such raw intensity, it's undeniably hot.No, not hot. I'm here to find something to use against him, I remind myself. But my fingers itch to touch myself, to bring relief to the ache that has settled deep within me.A slow feeling of electricity courses through my body, warming my veins and leaving me breathless with anticipation. My skin prickles with desire, and I am aware of every sensation around
My hands ball into fists as I pace the room, the plush carpet beneath my feet doing little to soothe my nerves. My mind races, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions threatening to overwhelm me. But beneath it all, there's a kernel of determination that won't be extinguished."Next time," I promise myself, even as tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "Next time, I'll get away."ChapterEightWith a heavy sigh, I slide back into the driver's seat of my sleek black car, the irritation coursing through my veins. Lulu's incessant escape attempts - as futile as they are - have me spending far too much time in this godforsaken mansion. My penthouse in the city beckons to me, but she refuses to cooperate."Damn her stubbornness," I mutter under my breath as I drive up the curving driveway, the tires crunching over the gravel. The guy carrying her back to her room follows closely behind.As soon as I step out of the car, the grandiosity of the mansion looms over me, its imposing presence a con