Page 42 of Forbidden Obsession

“Yes.”

Her bright eyes moved back to Edgar. “Yes, I would.”

Edgar nodded. “Follow me.”

I watched them walk away and enter the double doors of the kitchen.

Inhaling a deep breath, I turned and exited, walking the long stretch of my palace corridor where I entered my office.

The tall mahogany door swung closed behind me, and I strolled over Saxony carpets moved behind my desk, and powered on the computer. It took a ten-minute search on the dark web to find Benjamin Caruso.

In Philadelphia.

I tapped the keys, and the government satellite I hacked zoomed in on Benjamin, sleeping soundly in his bedroom. He was obviously not a man concerned with his well-being as there was no security in place. The front and back doors could be picked easily, as they were equipped with the cheap generic locks that supposedly kept intruders out.

No…

Benjamin slept like a man without worries or fear. But when his eyes rested on my face, he would fear me.

I surveyed his street—the intersections, crosswalks, local traffic, and police presence.

Five minutes later, I had everything I needed. I checked my search history, ensuring it self-destructed within sixty seconds, exactly as I had programmed it to do whenever I accessed the server.

A minute later, there was no trail left behind. I sat in silence with my thoughts, noting that going after Benjamin was not a part of my original plans, and considered the ways it could backfire.

I came up empty. But there were always possibilities. For this excursion, however, I would deal with unpredictable challenges should they arise.

Switching gears, I checked the palace hosting the masquerade ball we were attending tonight to get a glimpse of how tight the security would be. Attending as the underboss of the Lucas Cosa Nostra with Penelope presented a risk. Luckily for me, everyone in our underworld knew not to discuss business matters in front of women.

Still, I knew someone would want to pull me to the side to ask about something, even though this was primarily a social gathering for other members of the underworld to hold small talk while tightening our alliances.

For me, however, I needed to get my eyes on the operations of the Cappalli crime family. Vito Cappalli was the boss, and his unwavering dominance at the port had kept Dameon’s business thriving for the last half a century. It was time for his entire family to meet the Black Rose.

The Niccolò family would soon follow.

Knock. Knock.

I hit the escape key, and my screen blackened. Standing, I strolled to the door and opened it.

“Sorry to bother you, sir.”

“Alexus, you know I am not to be disturbed when I’m in my study.”

“Yes, I apologize, but the lady you brought…Penelope…she refuses to eat without you.”

I stared at him, inhaled deeply, and nodded. “I’ll be there momentarily.”

“Yes, sir.”

I watched him walk away, turned to look at the computer, and left the office. In the dining hall, I approached the royal table where she sat and stood on the opposite side.

“I thought you were hungry?”

“I am.” Her gaze was steady.

“Then why aren’t you eating?”

She huffed. “I don’t want to eat alone, Dominic. I came here with you. I want to eat with you.”

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