Page 77 of Ferocious Nightmare

"I'm working on that," Nero glared at the Bratva men in his office, who only stared coolly back at him.

"It looks as if I'm going to have to reconsider working with you, Mr. King. Even though you have shown promise that you can sell my product quicker than expected, you've got no control over your territory. You have the American government on your ass, and you have a PR problem with your clubs, which means sales will be down.”

“That won’t be a problem,” Nero grit out.

“The cartels are stealing your product and your own son has betrayed you. I trusted you to distribute the ozone, but now, somehow the New York outfit has their hands on my product. They’re pushing to crowd you and me both out, something I'm beginning to suspect has to do with your own flesh and blood. I need you to gain control over your area, and quickly, or I'll have to find someone else who can be much more reliable."

"Trust me, I'll have no problems finding the men who betrayed me and taking them down."

"That's the problem," Nicholi's voice was cold and shrewd. "I don't trust you."

Nero leaned forward, pushing me up against the desk as he fisted it. "I have distribution routes you need, so you'd better speak to me with the respect I deserve. Without me, you'll have to find new channels into the whole western end of the United States. No one else can give you that."

"Not yet."

The threat was clearly implied. Get his shit together, or Nicholi himself might take Nero out and replace him with someone Nicholi could trust. Nero's back straightened, his eyes shooting to Nicholi’s men, once there to protect him now took on a different meaning.

Nero's hand on me tightened. "Don't forget, I have the Petrov girl. As soon as we're married, if you betray me, you'll be betraying your own Family."

My pulse quickened, suddenly feeling pale and cold.

"Only when she's pregnant with an heir will I consider the agreement between us."

In that moment, everything suddenly became clear. That was why Nero was all of a sudden so interested in me.

"Believe me," Nero slammed his fist on his desk and the pulse in his neck hammered, "there will be no problem impregnating her. It will be done within three months. I've got stout sperm, with four sons already under my belt."

“Three sons from a cracked-out whore," Nicholi sneered, "and from what I hear, the first one wasn't even yours."

Nero's fist clenched even tighter, the veins in his forehead popping. "You listen here, you little shit. You may think just because you're in charge of the Bratvas, you may have grown a dick in the past couple of months. But remember this, it's only because my men killed Dimitri that you have any power. I've given you everything you have, and I can just as easily take it away."

Nicholi’s laughter was so loud and boisterous that even his men could hear it through the line. Their eyes danced with humor, sneering grins gracing their faces.

"Ah, American humor. I love it," Nicholi said, his laughter dying in an instant, his voice turning cold and cruel. "Have the rest of my money within forty-eight hours— “

"But the ozone is gone!" Nero slammed his fist against the desk, spittle flying from his mouth.

"That isn't my problem."

"The money wasn't due for weeks."

"You've lost my trust Nero. But it is easily fixed. Kill the bastards who took my ozone, get me my money, and my trust will be restored quickly."

"It’s not so simple," Nero tried to argue with him, but Nicholi quickly cut him off.

“Forty-eight hours, Mr. King." Then he hung up.

Nero stared at the phone in disbelief for a few seconds, then he slammed it against his desk, his face snapping upwards, snarling out. "Out. All of you."

The Bratva bodyguards seemed to momentarily want to rebel but Nero pulled a gun from behind his back, pointing it at Darth. "Get the fuck out, or I start shooting."

Darth straightened, his eyes on his phone, but, turning, he moved out. Nero jerked the gun again, motioning for all of them to follow. "Out, out, all of you."

As soon as they were gone, Nero barked at Dante. "Lock the door behind them."

Dante moved to obey him, and Nero's attention shifted to me. "Tonight, we will marry," he pointed a finger in my face, "and don't even think about denying me this, or I will take what I want and fuck you against this desk, right now, right here in front of your little friend." He nodded his head towards Dante, who had locked the door and was now standing next to it, his face hardened.

He didn't react but stood at attention like the good little soldier he pretended to be.

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