Page 14 of The Lieutenant

I glared at him. “A fucking reporter. As if I’m in the mood to deal with some slimy guy acting like he knows anything about our world.”

“I think you might be pleasantly surprised. Let me know how it goes.”

“Oh, I will. Right after I punch you in the face.” I strode toward his door, annoyed the week would include dealing with some asshole asking questions. At least I could determine the length of time involved.

“Her name is Kara Banning,” he said rather casually.

Kara. The woman’s name rolled off my tongue. At least with it being of the female persuasion, I might find the interaction more interesting.

“One last thing,” he said and walked closer. “I may need you to handle some darker business.” That’s what he’d taken to calling handling cleanup and creating trash. While it was supposed to be Christos’ job, our brother’s murder had soured him on the darker aspects of our business. He’d been devastated by the loss, no longer the carefree guy I’d grown up with.

None of us were. Revenge was still on our minds.

“Are you going to share the details?”

“Not yet. Not until I know for certain. Just keep your phone handy.”

“Alright, but you need to have a conversation with Christos.” I knew the look on his face. Since our youngest brother Leandro had been murdered, he’d done everything he could to round up every single person involved. For their part, the Cosa Nostra would remain on the top of the hit list.

Even though taking out five families certainly wasn’t a good business decision.

“If I ask you to do this, make it messy,” he added. “And don’t bug Christos about this. I will have a conversation with him, just not right now.”

I nodded and we exchanged yet another look. Often words weren’t needed between us. “I’ll let you know how this goes. But I refuse to take very long.”

“Understandable.”

As I headed to my office, my assistant handed me some contracts to sign. With only seven minutes until the reporter’s arrival, they would need to wait.

“When Ms. Banning arrives, show her in.”

“Yes, sir.”

I headed into my office, closing the door behind me. The day was as beautiful as most had been over the last month. May was a spectacular time of year, the flowers already in bloom. I walked toward my window, once again allowing my thoughts to drift to the woman from the night before. Yes, they were inappropriate, but a necessary respite after several months of keeping my nose to the grindstone.

She’d been a force of nature to a man who’d enjoyed taking the arm of stunning women from all over the world. Sadly, mosthadn’t piqued my intellectual side enough to engage in a second date. My brothers had called my inability to connect haughty. I’d called my indifference prudent.

Whatever the case, I’d attempt to push off Ms. Banning after today’s meeting. My instincts told me engaging with her in any way could crush our already damaged reputation.

Only a couple of minutes later, someone knocked on my door.

“Yes?” I studied the window, waiting for the reflection of the open door.

My assistant opened it, sticking her head in. “Ms. Banning is here.”

“Show her in.” I didn’t bother turning around. I wanted the unwelcome visitor to know from the start that I wanted nothing to do with her or the article she was writing. Sadly, without time to investigate her style of writing, I was at a disadvantage. That was unforgiveable in my book. Garnering the upper hand immediately would always be in my best interest.

Alisa showed the woman inside, immediately closing the door after. I could see the woman’s reflection in the warm glow of the window. She was buttoned up in a pantsuit, standing stiff several feet away from my desk.

“Ms. Banning.” As soon as I turned around, my cock reacted before my mind caught up to what I was seeing.

Kara Banning’s eyes opened wide, but she did her best to hide her surprise.

While she appeared entirely different with her long curls fastened in a tight bun, her clothing entirely too conservative, there was no doubt the woman standing in front of me was thegem from the evening before. She clutched a briefcase in her hand, her fingers already starting to turn white from her tight hold.

Could I smell a hint of her arousal as I had the night before? My balls were already tightening from the sinful thought.

I walked around the edge of my desk, taking my time to study every inch of her luscious body. The ridiculous uniform-style clothing couldn’t hide her natural beauty.

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