Page 20 of King Of Order

Nothing came up in the results.

Double. Fuck. Me.

VALERIO

‘She buy it?’ I called out to the husky man strolling into the living room of Villa Tesoro.

‘Hook, line, and sinker,’ Mauri murmured.

He was a force unto himself, a bulwark of flesh and muscle.

Face hard, gaze harder, and his cold, dark, honeyed features inherited from his Moorish ancestors.

He had the stride of a wolf and the menace of a warrior who’d never hesitate to protect the Calibreses at any cost.

He was also our consigliere and trusted advisor.

As well as being one of Europe’s most ruthless weapons and mercenary warfare experts.

He wastheman we wished we’d had in our purview when my parents and uncle had lost their lives so senselessly all those years ago.

I heard laughter drifting through the house.

Mauri, Alessio, and Alessio’s woman, Cleo, were in town.

They lived in Australia but were staying with me at the family villa for a few weeks as the loved-up pair traveled through Italy on a non-honeymoon.

Mauri and his first love, his cat Lupo, were taking a break at my brother Lorenzo’s insistence.

However, bored as hell, Mauri begged me to send some work my way, and I’d obliged, feeling sorry for the mofo.

‘What’s your play?’ he rasped, settling into one of the lounges as Lupo ran into his arms for a stroke fest.

I swiveled my eyes to my split screen, which showed a view of Chiara’s laptop window via a remote hack.

One I’d placed myself when I’d had access to her office earlier in the week.

I studied the display, following her keystrokes with a smirk, then stared out of the view, pondering my next steps.

My eyes flicked over the breathtaking views of the sea, Mount Vesuvius’ stunning beauty, and its underlying volcanic threat.

‘Your intimidation catwalk moment worked. I can see, onscreen, that she’s searching for me. Perhaps it’s time I revealed myself,’ I growled. ‘Or should I give her a few days to stew?’

‘Olivio doesn’t have long to live. The man’s about to expire. You need to make your move before then.’

I jerked my chin at Mauri. ‘Good call. Let’s keep tracking her, then please watch my six when I get close to her.’

‘Padrone.’

Mauri and I, on foot and in a couple of black sedans and SUVs, had been ‘prowling’ the shadows in Chiara’s wake for weeks.

Rattling her, shaking her confidence in her safety.

All part of my plan.

Also, I planned to appear when she least expected it.

To keep her on her toes.

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