Page 55 of Casino King

There’ll be politicians, CEOs of fortune 500 companies, presidents of unions, police chiefs, and a shit ton of every other higher up in the dirty world we all live in.

It’s a show of power.

Having all of us in the same building is a show of power for the man known only as The Broker. He has his hand in every aspect of illegal trades around the world, which is how he got his name. He can broker any deal you need, from anyone, anywhere. Nothing happens in the illegal trades game without him knowing about it. Even if he doesn’t have anything to do with it, he always knows and keeps track. Weapons, drugs, women, cars, passports, new identities, hit men, mercenaries, organs. Anything you can imagine.

He can supply safe transport for products and people, and extraction for the same from any situation.

If it’s needed, he can supply it.

He’s an elusive man who runs his empire from the shadows, sending his people to do the work. He’s never seen by those outside of his close circle.

Even tonight, I know he won’t be there. He’s showing his power by not even attending. That’s why my family doesn’t like to use him, knowing the price is too steep. Not in money, but in the information he gathers on you and the secrets revealed that he then uses against you if you ever cross him.

The Carfanos will be the most powerful in the room tonight by far, but because of The Broker’s way of business, he’ll always be a step above us all. And that makes me burn on the inside like no other. Just like knowing the family who ordered the hit of my father and uncle will be there tonight. That makes my blood burn and boil like the river Styx.

If I had it my way, I’d drag every last one of those Cicariello fuckers into hell and watch them suffer for all eternity. Even if I was in hell right along with them, I’d wear a grin so fucking wide knowing my vengeance was exacted.

But I can’t. The Cicariellos keep a tight security at all times. The core family, the ones I want obliterated, not their blind soldiers, have stayed locked behind the walls of their compound on Long Island since the hit on my family was made. They thought they could take over our territory and our businesses afterward, leaving us weak and vulnerable, but they didn’t know our father. Michael Carfano was a man never to be underestimated, and the Cicariellos did just that.

He and my uncles trained their sons to take their place in the family since we were ten. On my brother’s, cousin’s, and my own tenth birthdays, we didn’t have parties. They were spent in my father’s office as he explained the family business to us. Then he took us to the family gym and we started our training. It was equipped with weights, boxing and sparring rings, grappling mats, a shooting range, and knife throwing blocks. We were trained for any and all situations.

He and my uncles trained their sons to take their place in the family since we were ten. On my brother’s, cousin’s, and my own tenth birthdays, we didn’t have parties. They were spent in my father’s office as he explained the family business to us. Then he took us to the family gym and we started our training. It was equipped with weights, boxing and sparring rings, grappling mats, a shooting range, and knife throwing blocks.

We were made to be strong. Capable of handling ourselves in any situation, ruthless in handing out and receiving punishments, protective of our family, and ready to take over and run the business when we were needed.

That came sooner than my brothers, cousins, and myself would have wanted, but we were ready nonetheless. And that’s what the Cicariellos didn’t know.

We’ll find a way to exact our revenge one day soon. Focusing on maintaining the Carfano name and business dealings was our first priority before we started plotting on how to get at them.

We took care of finding the hitman they hired first and foremost with our own man who is capable of finding those who never intend on being found. Now, over the past few years, we’ve slowly sabotaged their businesses, trying to draw them out of their fortress, but they’ve remained strong in there. Such pussies. They don’t have the balls to face us. They only send their highest trusted men to events and out to do their business while they live like kings behind those high walls.

The hatred we all feel hasn’t dimed in the least in the past five years, and no matter how long it takes, our justice will be served. A death they’ll beg for when we get our hands on them. All of them.

The Cicariellos will send someone close to the family tonight at The Broker’s party, but not the ones we want. They know we would find a way to get to them before, during, or after the party, and the only way such powerful people can all gather together in the same place is with the knowledge that if anything were to happen, then an all-out war would rain down on all of us from every direction. None of us wants that. No one could survive that, especially when the war would involve The Broker.

“No talking to Lin tonight. We wait for our meeting,” Leo tells me, like he has three times before.

“I know,” I say impatiently.

“Alec,” he starts, a warning. “You’re my brother. I know you. If you get the chance, you’ll say something. He’s targeting you and your business specifically.”

He’s not wrong, but I have more than just my business to worry about now.

“Not this time,” I assure him, and I hear Leo’s audible sigh through the phone. “Don’t start again, brother.”

“She’s a risk you’re not ready or prepared for.”

“How would you know?” I snap, hating that he thinks he knows everything. “And that’s starting again.”

“I’ll be there at 8.”

“Can’t wait,” I say dryly, hanging up before he can say anything else.

The rest of my day is spent on edge. I haven’t seen Tessa since this morning, and knowing Leo will be here soon, I pour myself three fingers of whiskey and sit and wait.

It slides down my throat smoothly with a slight burn that I always welcome. I need Tessa’s taste as badly as I need this whiskey.

This morning, before leaving for the basement, she was half asleep as she mumbled something about her show manager booking them an extra performance tonight for a special occasion. It didn’t register fully into my otherwise preoccupied brain considering she was naked and her morning voice was sexy and raw like I had just shoved my cock down her throat. I couldn’t resist pressing her back into the mattress and kissing her hard while my hand found its way down her body to give her a goodbye worthy of its name.

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