Page 19 of Coerced Kiss

“I’ve got it under control,” I say more to pacify Luigi than to reassure Giorgio. “I’m having her watched. She won’t step out of line.”

“What’s your story?” Luigi asks.

“I said that she’s my girlfriend and?—”

Giorgio chokes on a sip of brandy. “What?”

“And that I walked her home because she worked late.”

“This is a major fuck-up,” Giorgio says.

“An unforeseen obstacle,” I correct. “It’s not unmanageable. On the contrary, it counts in our favor. As it turns out, she works at the Lewis firm.”

“Jesus,” Giorgio mutters.

“The employees saw us when we paid Lewis a visit. If one of them as well as someone from the bar identify me, it’s going to look odd. Now I can say we visited Lewis because my girlfriend recommended him. That eliminates the coincidence. Coincidences never look good.”

“I don’t like it,” Luigi grumbles.

“Trust me. Have I ever failed you?”

He grunts. “Eventually, when the dust settles and the investigation is closed, we’ll have to get rid of her. The risk of letting her live is too big.”

I grind my teeth. I don’t fucking think so. Anya’s life belongs to me, and I like the idea of owning it too much to simply give it up.

“I went through the briefcase,” Giorgio says. “There was nothing interesting or important inside, so I burned it.”

“I want the two of you to go to Boston.” Luigi leaves his untouched drink on the desk. “Today still.”

“Boston?” Giorgio reels. “What’s in Boston?”

The condescending smile that curls Luigi’s upper lip is aimed at Giorgio. “What the fuck do you think?”

“The business where Lewis tried to hide the money he stole from us,” Giorgio says as his brow smooths out with understanding.

“I want you to take back what’s ours and close those motherfuckers down.” Luigi looks at me. “Make sure they neverwork again. Let the message be clear to anyone who tries to launder money that belongs to us.”

The timing isn’t ideal. I prefer to keep an eye on Anya myself, but I trust the men I ordered to watch her. I handpicked them. I already defied Luigi once and got away with my life. I won’t be so lucky twice.

“I’ll take care of the arrangements,” I say.

A little too much excitement sparks in Luigi’s viper-green eyes. “Make a good example of them.”

Meaning make them suffer before they blow out their last breaths.

“Don’t worry.” Giorgio grins. “We’ll make those cocksuckers scream for their mommies.”

Like his father, Giorgio is a sadistic bastard who derives pleasure from making people suffer. Torturing people doesn’t turn me on, but it doesn’t bother me either. I look at it scientifically, as using the most efficient and fastest means to achieve an end. I do whatever is necessary in a cold and clinical manner. It doesn’t touch me one way or another.

Many people think we’re lawless. The contrary is true. To hold the power, order must be maintained. We have our own laws and rules of conduct, and if we can’t enforce those rules, our days will fast be numbered.

Me? I became an expert at bending people to my will. I know how to force obedience. When I’m done with my beautiful treasure, she’ll be only too happy to kneel.

CHAPTER

FIVE

Anya

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