Page 29 of Empire of Temptation

“Good. Don’t tell him shit until I figure all of this out.”

“Okay, but turning over Segreto’s daughter buys us time.”

“Maybe. But I don’t like helping the GDF on amaybe. I want facts.”

Sergio didn’t say anything, his silence weighted with judgment.

I gripped the burner phone tighter. “Do you have something to say, fratello?”

“Are you fucking her?”

“That is none of your fucking business.”

“Luca, we need you here, not there. And it seems as if you’re in no hurry. I have to wonder if she’s the reason.”

I can’t remember the last time someone cooked for me like this.

From the moment I walked into that shit show of a restaurant, I was drawn to her. And the craving worsened with every second I spent in her presence. I could claim it was out of pity, that I wished to care for her as I would one of my boys. But there was nothing paternal about the way my dick responded to her, like it wanted to break her apart, split her open and completely wreck her.

And if Ididdecide to fuck her, no one had a right to say a word. I was the don, the head of our family. I didn’t owe answers to anyone. “I don’t need to explain myself to you.”

“Come on, Luca. This is me. Stop trying to bullshit me.”

Brother or not, he was pissing me off. “This is family business, fratello, and I am the head of the family. This means I make the rules. Leave the girl and New York to me. Capisce?”

“Is that how it is?”

“Sì, certo. If you learn anything, ring me right away.” I disconnected, then broke the burner apart with my hands, plastic snapping as I destroyed it.

A knock sound.

“Prego!” I snarled. Aldo appeared and I could tell right away something was wrong. “What is it?”

“Roberto rang me. I guess the mayor stopped by the restaurant and scared the shit out of Valentina. Something about his daughter getting fired. He’s taking it out on Valentina, claiming permits weren’t filed for the renovations and saying he’s going to shut her down. I guess she was really freaked.”

“He, what?”

“Then the mayor suggested he and Valentina have dinner to discuss it.”

There is a thing that happens when I get very angry. I get quiet. The complete opposite of our father, who would shout and scream his head off about every little thing. I always swore that when I took over I would never act like a raving madman.

So I absorbed the fury and let it sink in, let it fester inside me like an infected wound, corroding and destroying. I used it as fuel to make decisions, plot retribution that no normal person would dare to carry out.

The mayor was a dead man.

I waited in the dark.

The house was what one would expect, tasteless and full of its own importance. Americans had no sense of shame when it came to showing off their wealth. They didn’t understand that true wealth was what you left behind for your family, your legacy, and living simply meant living longer.

Aldo argued against this errand, saying it was too risky for me to handle, but I insisted. This was personal to me. I would deal with the mayor myself, without a public display. And without killing him. Unfortunately. But I didn’t need the hassle of the American police. So this meant I needed to get creative.

I wasn’t worried. He would receive my message as clear as a fucking bell.

It wasn’t long before the garage door began grinding open. I checked my watch and saw it was nine-thirty.

He was on his mobile as he entered the house, his voice full of arrogance as he disconnected the alarm system. “No, hold out on that a little longer. They can come up with more.” A pause. “He’s full of shit. Don’t believe a word he says. Listen, I have to go. I just walked in and the wife’ll kill me if I wake her up.” He chuckled at whatever the person on the other end said. “Yeah, I don’t want her finding out about that either. See you tomorrow morning. Tee time is six-fifteen. Don’t be fuckin’ late.”

I heard him open the refrigerator, a sliver of light shining from the kitchen. Bottles rattled, then the door closed again. A metal cap hit the counter. A loud belch. Then his footsteps drew closer.

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