Page 32 of Dirty Big Sins

My spine stiffened at the unspoken implication. “What is that supposed to mean? Have you done something with my manager?”

“Your manager and my nephew became a problem that needed taken care of. Do you really want the details? Because once you know, that cannot be undone and then you’re in it whether you like it or not.”

I clenched my back teeth and tried my level best to hold my tongue. The longer I stood there with him, the more I remembered how dangerous he could be. His current easy demeanor notwithstanding. I’d done my research before Italy. I was more than aware of what he was capable of. The man was the Boss for Christ’s sake. The leader of an entire syndicate. That wasn’t just a thing you heard about in the movies. These were real life gangsters that took no shit from anyone. And this one was my father.

I scrubbed my hands over my face. Fuck. This was getting more complicated by the second. “What the hell am I supposed to say here? Do I want to know if Brian is dead or not? Jesus Christ, Romeo. What the hell are you doing here? This is not the kind of thing I need to be embroiled in.”

With scotch in hand, he slowly ambled over to one of the oversized chairs and took a seat. He also deliberately took his time responding. He was pushing my control to the breaking point. He might be the leader of the Rossi family, but I took orders from no one. I’d built my entire adult life on the fact that I alone controlled every aspect of my life. He couldn’t waltz in and take over. I wouldn’t allow it.

“I’m going to be generous with you, son, and give you a one day pass on how you have chosen to speak with me. But only because no one else has been here to witness it. However, in the future I expect a lot more respect. I didn’t inherit my position in this family, you know. I earned that shit. And now it’s your turn to do the same.”

Finally. He’d said the words I’d been expecting to hear since I turned and found him standing in my suite. Romeo Rossi had come to collect what belonged to him. Me.

Only I wasn’t a fucking commodity. Something he could just take at will. We were going to have to get that straight.

“Don’t call me son,” I growled. “You may have earned your way into your position, but you definitely didn’t earn the right to call me that.”

A dark, thunderous look crossed the older man’s face and for several heartbeats I braced for retaliation. Until a slow, smile finally spread across his face. “Maybe it’s a good sign you don’t kowtow to everything I say. I’ll give you that one, but you should still tread carefully. A man like me only tolerates so much disrespect.”

I kept my face schooled into a passive expression, but only because I fought the urge to raise my fists. I didn’t have a death wish, but I wasn’t about to roll over for anyone.

“How about we stick to the point of this visit. Why does the world think you are dead?”

“All part of a grand plan. I’m trying to find the fucker who’s been making moves against my leadership and using this opportunity to clean house. The organization needs a fresh start.”

“Is that why you’re in Vegas? A fresh start?” That idea didn’t settle well with me. I could live with the fact Romeo was my father, but only with an entire ocean between us. The idea he’d come to Vegas to start over made the hairs on my neck stand on end.

“You worried I’m going to move in on your turf?” He laughed, plucking a cigar out of the gold box of them I hadn’t touched sitting on the coffee table. “This hotel has some nice perks. I like the classiness of the place too. Why don’t we own it?”

We. Why did he seem to be including me in too many of his statements? “Wedon’t own anything. I did make a play for this place a few years back, but the new owners have some deep fucking pockets. At the time I wasn’t interested in a bidding war.”

“It would make a nice addition to my casino collection.”

I blinked. “Your collection?”

“Yes, the Rossi family has a conglomerate of Vegas hotel casinos both on and off the strip under a myriad of shell companies. All on the up and up, of course.”

I shook my head. “Of course.” I’d go with that explanation for now. I didn’t want to know about any underground activities they were also involved in. I already knew more than I needed to. “What does any of this have to do with me?”

“I need someone I can trust to manage the organization from here. Once I get the matter of who is trying to fuck with my business resolved, I’m going back home. This hot, desert climate is not for me.”

“And you think you can trust me. Someone you don’t even know?”

“Of course. You’re blood. Blood counts for a lot, son. And you know this town backwards and forwards. You don’t think I did all this without doing my research first, did you?” He stretched his legs forward and lit the cigar he’d been toying with. “Besides, when you marry my goddaughter, I’ll own you too.”

At the mention of Zia, a hot rush of protective anger coursed through me. “What the fuck did you just say?”

He laughed. “You heard me. Zia was pledged to our family at birth. I thought marrying her to Dante would settle him the fuck down, but that putz ruined even that. But I can see now that was all for the best. Better for me to know now what kind of problem I had on my hands so I could take care of it. Besides, you and she are a far better match. She actually likes you. That will make producing children far more pleasurable.”

I slammed the empty glass onto the credenza behind me and stood from where I’d leaned on the cabinet. “What the hell do you mean pledged? What is this nineteen fucking fifty-five? You don’t own her.” Plus, I hated to tell him but she already belonged to me. Mine. He could forget whatever ideas he had for using Zia for some sort of fucked up gain. I would not allow it.

His chuckle returned and the itch to retaliate turned to a full burn to punch the smirk off of his face. Romeo Rossi was insane. The only thing he needed my help for was to get committed.

“Don’t be fucking naive, Vincentius. You’ve been around the block enough to know better. I agreed to accept her for payment in full on a debt that was owed to me by her father. So until she is married for good, and I decide to release her, I absolutely DO own her, and I’ll do whatever the hell I please with my property.”

I closed my eyes against the barrage of contempt hammering at my mind. He wasn’t going to have to fake his death any longer, because I was going to kill him. Did this mean…

“Cool your heels, son. I’m fully prepared to turn her over to you. Unless I’ve misread the situation and you don’t want her. In which case I will find another to assume the responsibility.”

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