Page 89 of A Beautiful Crime

“Are you sure bringing Luca to this meeting is wise?” Rico is back to business.

A sneer forms on my lips without thought. It’s a visceral reaction, one I can act freely upon with my most trusted men and mia leonessa.

Luca Fiore is worth less than the dirty and infected streets of New York City that kiss the bottom of my shoes.

His death is imminent. It’s just a matter of who will do the honors.

Perhaps it will be my wedding gift to my beautiful wife; his head served on a silver platter.

Now that brings a smile to my face.

With his death in my sights I can not act rash. It would be foolish to kill him without knowing and preparing for the consequences.

Luca Fiore’s death will have to be simultaneously done with his papa’s, Don Savio Fiore.

Killing two birds with one stone, if you will.

It will be the fall of the Fiore Empire. And what a glorious fall it will be.

“We both know if I don’t start to include them their suspicions will cause them to start a war against me.”

Rico regards me flippantly, as always. But in his usual vacant eyes I can see him strategizing. “And what if gaining information will give them ammo?”

I have thought about that. Bringing them into the fold will grant them information only my three most trusted men have knowledge of. It’s a risk. Which is why I’ll only present to them the information that can’t be used against me. I’ll give them breadcrumbs.

I set down the empty tumbler. “Then we guarantee their ammo are blanks.”

Rico nods his head but even a blind man can see he doesn’t approve. It’s why Rico is my most trusted confidant and appointed consigliere. He always has the best interests for the Famiglia without the consequences of morality and emotion.

Rising from my chair I button my suit jacket and nod my head at Rico. He nods his head back, following behind me as we exit my office.

It comes to my surprise and delight to find Carina standing under the skylight. Her head is tipped upwards, as if she’s basking in the sun. And while her eyes are closed I admire her.

It’s as if God had created her himself. A fallen angel amongst mortals to tempt any man. Her features, so feminine, yet bold and striking, like a siren, lures anyone in. The flare of her hips meant for my hands to grasp. Her long legs to wrap around my waist. Nothing about her is ordinary. Every single inch of her is a divine work of art.

And though she’s surrounded herself with an air of melancholy it doesn’t diminish how breathtaking she is.

Even now, with her eyes closed I can still see the pain in her face.

Mia leonessa waging the war of morality.

Her eyes open, and as if she sensed me all along they immediately land on mine.

Enchanting emeralds met with intoxicating whiskies.

“You’re staring.” Her voice holds the same flat tone, that is until I push her.

“Admiring.” I correct.

I watch as her body betrays her, as it always does with me. Crimson stains her cheeks. And the lovely shade travels down to her chest.

Coolly she asks, “And are you going to continue admiring or go about your day?”

I must say it, I love it when she sasses back at me. How she has the balls to do it in front of my men.

I take a step towards her and she remains where she stands. Seeing she won’t back away from me I close the distancebetween us. I can smell the cherries from her hair and see the tiny specks of gold when the rays of the sun hit her eyes.

A masterpiece.

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