Page 65 of My Merciless Don

We. Our.

The language he was using truly made me feel that I was on the inside of something, maybe for the first time in my life. It wasn't just the words that he used, but the matter-of-fact way that he said them. I could feel those pesky tears pricking my eyes again.

“What do you suggest?” I asked once I could talk again.

“Maybe I can have a talk with Leggieri. He is in gambling and has the least interest in the Bratva. He's had about a hard time as me keeping them out of his territories, so I'm sure he had no problem with me killing them all. I could gently nudge him into suggesting we divide the Bratva territory amongst ourselves and have him bring it up at the next meeting. De Luca is really being a pain in the ass with these meetings, so we might as well use them to our advantage.”

I laughed, “That guy has really gone all corporate, hasn't he? What's next? Ya’ll are going to have to have deliverables?”

He huffed in amusement, “Yeah, soon we’ll be circling around action points and taking PTO.”

“Heaven forbid. Are y’all gangsters or are y’all gangsters?” I teased.

He laughed. “Jury’s out. Anyway, let me set up a lunch with Leggieri. Leave this with me. It’s my deliverable.”

At that moment I truly fell in love with him.

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

AUDRY

We bought those big silver suitcases so popular in action movies to put the money in. Kylie and I outfitted ourselves with some Tom Ford from head to toe, including the sunglasses, and we were ready to make our proposal just two days after Marco had managed to pay for my life by giving up Bratva territories. He never told me whether he had had to use the little snippet I gave him about De Luca and I didn't ask.

I trusted that whatever he decided to do with it, he would use it well.

To my pleasant surprise, just as we were counting the money and packing it up in the suitcases, we had a visitor.

“I heard from Marco what you're going to do, and I want to help.” Lucia said.

I blinked at her nonplussed. “Are you sure?”

She held up a bag she was carrying, “I have my Tom Ford all ready to go.”

I threw back my head and laughed. “Okay then, let's do this. What's better than two hot girls?”

“Three hot girls.” Both Lucia and Kylie said together.

I high fived them both. “We are all going to be such good friends.”

Walking into a room full of gangsters was intimidating whichever way you looked at it. Even backed up by one of them and having his sister by your side, it was still scary as fuck.

I had stolen from these people, I knew they were mad at me. Usually after a con I disappeared, never to be seen again. I did not walk back into the room to convince the people I had conned that they should forgive me.

Lucia and Kylie were pushing a cart stacked with the suitcases filled with money. I walked in front of them like a superstar in a music video and came to a stop in the middle of the room. They were sitting in a semicircle in front of me, six clans in total - each with their head at the table, and their deputies standing behind them.

Valerio grinned at me and winked from behind Marco’s chair. I gave him a tiny nod. I reminded myself that they were relying on me. It wasn't just my life on the line, it was also the credibility of the Cassio clan, since they had clearly taken my side.

I took a deep breath. “Good evening gentlemen. I would like to thank you for taking this time to meet with me.”

“Yes well, Marco seemed to think you might have something advantageous for us.” De Luca said resentfully.

“Yes.” I said trying to hide my nervousness. I turned to the side to nod to Kylie and Lucia and they immediately began to distribute the suitcases. “I come bearing gifts. I understand you have recently come into some new territory, which might require large injections of cash in order to guarantee profitability. I thought I would help you with that.”

Everyone but Marco was already trying to open their suitcases. Marco was merely gazing at me, an unfamiliar look in his eye. Even though I didn't recognize it, I couldn't say that I hated it. I smiled tentatively at him gesturing towards his suitcase. He moved aside so that Valerio could open it. He knew what it contained but not how much.

“It seems that trafficking humans is very lucrative. I personally would not recommend it and I do sincerely hope that none of you mean to take up the mantle that Yegorov left bare. However, I do hope that the 100 million you have all just received, is sufficient recompense for any inconvenience I may have caused with my little prank.”

“Prank?” De Luca said in disbelief, “you stole from us.”