Page 4 of Mine, Forever

Allegra nodded. “Sure, it’ll be good experience for me. I could like do a whole portfolio on your face.”

“Ready?” Allegra asked. I looked up at the door and saw the first customers walk in.

Here we go.

JETT

“Boss?”

I looked up at one of my men coming into the office. He was new to the fold, so new I had no idea what his name was.

“Yeah.”

“We got a message from Giordano Torelli.”

“And?”

“He wants to sit down with you to discuss the turf war we’ve been going through.”

I wanted to laugh. Did Giordy think he would get his way with me now that his father was gone?

“When?”

“Tomorrow.”

I nodded, alerting the new one to leave me alone. If Giordy wanted to meet so soon, it could only mean he was going to step up his business actions. That could only go one of two ways, and the one way I knew it was going to go meant more bloodshed for both of us.

That was perfectly fine by me. I wasn’t afraid to die, but I knew he was. The one thing he couldn’t bear to lose was that precious, privileged life of his.

Thinking about Giordy like this took me back to the days when I called him a friend. We were so young and stupid back then. It made me wonder why he didn’t just toss me to the side so he could be the apple of his father’s eye.

Instead, like an idiot, he had trusted me. I’d never make that mistake, mainly because I wouldn’t let anyone close enough to betray me like I had betrayed that family.

I’d quickly earned Luca’s trust with my eagerness to learn and kill. Giordy had always been squeamish which helped Luca to mentor me in his sons’ place—trusting me over his sons. I guess that didn’t work out so well for him in the long run since he also taught me to be ruthless—that same ruthlessness had seen him killed.

Luca taught me never to trust anyone. If only he’d had the same restraint I seem to have garnered, he’d probably be alive right now, and I’d be rotting on a street corner somewhere.

As fate would have it, I’ve amassed a vast fortune and have the city in my grasp, including the law and politicians who fear me.

Funny how life gives you lemons, and you make a Lamborghini purchase out of it.

Chapter Two

EBONY

It was day two of my terrible job, and I was contemplating throwing myself in front of the bus coming my way. Allegra was okay. I’d gotten used to her miserable comments. But having to deal with Darla again, add on top of that Giordy’s comments about my looks every time he passed me, I just couldn’t give a crap about family or my life anymore. Life on the street would be preferable to putting myself through this every day.

I’d give it one more day and if things got worse—or stayed the same—I’d leave and maybe start up a side business on the corner. At least I’d have money even if it was selling my body for it. Giordy knew I was struggling which meant he had to make my life worse by discounting the fact that he had to have an experienced waitress and opted for an inexperienced one due to a favor to my mother.

I dodged a bullet and safely moved across the street after the bus had come and gone. My opportunity had passed.

Allegra was already setting up when I walked in, but no one else was around. I quickly dropped my bag off and tied my hair up before joining her.

Darla had come out of the back office with a grim look on her face as she spoke to Giordy. Something was happening, and for some unknown reason, I knew it wasn’t going to lead to a good day.

“What’s up?” Allegra asked. I’d halted setting up to get a read on the situation. She followed my gaze and shrugged her shoulders. “I wouldn’t let it get to you. They’re always arguing about something.”

Deciding Allegra knew better than anyone whether to be worried or not, I finished setting up while Allegra went back to setting the other side of the restaurant.

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