Page 1 of Boss of Brooklyn

Chapter 1

Luca

Istand at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, gazing out at the city skyline across the East River. At thirty-nine, I'm already at the pinnacle of my power – feared, respected, and completely untouchable. The city sprawls before me, a maze of lights and shadows, each block a piece on my chessboard. This is my kingdom, won through blood and cunning, and I’m the boss of it all.

My phone buzzes in my hand, breaking the silence. I scowl at the caller ID before answering.

“What is it, Al?” I bark into the phone, my voice sharp with irritation.

“Boss, we've got a situation,” Al's nervous voice comes through. “The Venezuelans are saying-”

“I don't want to hear it.” I cut him off. “Do you have any idea how much money we're losing every minute that shipment sits there? Every minute they deny our access?”

“Y-yes, Boss, but these guys-”

I growl into the phone. “Fix it! Grease some palms. Do whatever it takes. Or do I need to come down there and do your job for you?”

“No, Boss! We'll handle it, I swear!”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “You have one hour, Al. One. If that shipment isn't moving by then, you'll be the one sleeping with the fishes. Understood?”

“Understood, Boss. It'll be done.”

I hang up without another word, resisting the urge to hurl the phone across the room. Which I may have been known to do a time or three.

I get all of five seconds of peace before my phone buzzes again. A text from my right-hand man, Leo.

“Word is out that you're back from Monaco. Want me to set something up with Russo?”

My jaw clenches. I've known this conversation was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. Vince has been more than just an associate; he's been a friend. And now... now he's gone straight, thanks to that Bennett woman I heard about. The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I type back a quick reply. “I'll surprise him at home tonight. Pick me up at 8:00.”

Pocketing my phone, I move to my desk and pick up a dossier. The label reads “Romano, Sofia.” I flip it open, revealing a photo of a young woman with fiery eyes and sensual lips. Twenty-three years old. A rising star in the culinary world. And now, unknowingly, a thorn in my side.

I sigh, rubbing my temple. The Romano family has been quiet for years, content to stay in their little corner of Brooklyn.But with Sofia opening her restaurant right in the middle of disputed territory with Queens, the Esposito family wants her gone. Whispers of past feuds are stirring in the streets.

I need to deal with this quickly and decisively. Show everyone that the Boss of Brooklyn isn't going soft.

I find my eyes drawn back to Sofia's photo. There's something about her – a spark, a fire that resonates with me in a way I can't explain. In another life, maybe...

“You're being ridiculous,” I mutter to myself, snapping the folder shut. “Handle it like you always do. Quick and clean.”

But as I grab my jacket and head for the door, I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

The elevator doors slide open, Leo waiting for me. “Boss,” he nods, falling into step beside me. “The car's ready.”

The ride to Manhattan is quiet, the city lights blurring past as I lose myself in thought. Monaco was a clusterfuck, no two ways about it. What should have been a simple job – convincing a reluctant business partner to see things our way – had spiraled into a shootout at the casino.

Weo barely made it out, and now the heat is on. If it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of young Dominic Esposito I may not have made it out. And now his family is trying to call in the favor by getting me to run this girl off. The old Luca would have reveled in the chaos, but now…

Now I'm tired. Tired of always looking over my shoulder, tired of the constant power plays and backstabbing. Maybe that's why Vince's decision has hit me so hard. He found a way out, a chance at a normal life. Something I've never allowed myself to consider.

We pull up to Vince's building, a sleek tower of glass and steel overlooking Central Park. As I step out of the car, I straighten my jacket and school my features into a mask of cool indifference. I always enjoy having the element of surprise.

The concierge at his building asks if I’m on the guest list. Hmm. Looks like I’m crashing a party. I drop my name and he ushers me into the elevator, nearly falling over himself to apologize for not knowing who I am. He’s lucky I’m in a generous mood at the moment.

The penthouse is exactly what I'd expect from Vince – luxurious but tasteful, with panoramic views of the city and park. After his man Marco answers the door, I make my way toward the sound of voices when I see a beautiful woman I don’t recognize in front of me. “So you're the woman who tamed Vince Russo.”

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