Page 7 of Forbidden Obsession

The main building was a sprawling mansion, with a mix of modern and traditional architecture. I walked up the stone path that led to the entrance of the Lucas Estate, the crunch of snow under my feet announcing my arrival.

Inside, I strolled the long corridor and removed my boots before entering Dameon's quarters. I was greeted by the warm glow of a roaring fire in the hearth.

Dameon was seated in his favorite armchair, surrounded by his closest advisors. He looked up as I entered and gave me a curt nod of acknowledgement, but frustration, and anger riddled his facial features.

The room was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of roasted lamb, which the chef had prepared for dinner. There was also a pot of hot soup and a platter of fresh bread on the table. The walls were adorned with family portraits and antique paintings, and the décor was traditional and elegant.

“Dominic, my son, welcome,” he said, biting back a snarl.

“Thank you, Father.” I took a seat opposite him.

A servant approached the table and placed servings of food on our plates.

“You appear angry. What did I miss?”

He waited until the servers exited the room before he spoke.

“The priest.” He grimaced, then spoke to Rolando. “Show him.”

Rolando lifted a remote and powered on a flat screen television against the wall.

Images of the cathedral, surrounded with yellow tape, and reporters announcing their breaking news filled the screen. Rolando flipped from one news outlet to the next. CNN, Fox-News, local and national circuits were spinning the same story behind different faces.

“Fifteen hundred pounds of cocaina sits in that cathedral’s basement.”

He took in a breath, then shouted, “Millecinquecento!” His tirade continued in our native language.

“Did you hear me?” His eyes scanned each man in the room. “Fifteen hundred pounds!” Dameon slammed his fist on the tabletop and the utensils jingled. “There is no motherfuckin’ reason that this killing fucker should have gotten the priest! How the fuck did this happen?”

I matched his tongue and responded in Italian. “Who was White’s security?”

“Gianni,” Rolando offered.

I cut my eyes at Rolando. “He was someone under your command, correct?”

Rolando sucked his teeth. “He’s gone missing.”

My brows rose and I looked at the surprise on Dameon’s face.

“What the fuck do you mean, gone missing?” Dameon barked.

“In the last twenty-four hours he’s gone radio-silent. I’ve sent capos to his home and he’s not there.”

“Why the fuck are you just now telling me this?”

“I was in the midst of handling it myself.”

“You’re doing a great fuckin’ job of that!”

I smirked and shook my head, catching Rolando’s glare. “If you’ve got something to say, figlio, say it now.”

“I’m not your son. So never address me as such.” I turned my attention to Dameon. “I’ll find out what happened to Gianni. In the meantime, you should think about changing up the guards, their shifts, and who they protect. I feel the soldiers have gotten complacent. No one has gotten this close to our immediate allies. It’s time to switch things up.”

“How has no one gotten this close when some of our top allies have been removed from this earthly plane?”

Rolando’s challenge was something I should’ve been used to. Since I was of age, he’d added his two cents to every issue, intended to overrule me at every turn, and my annoyance regarding him had grown into suspicion. If I hadn’t been the Black Rose, I would’ve thought it was him. The power Dameon had given him had gone to his head and he was bloodthirsty for it now.

“They were not directly working for us, were they?”

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