Page 45 of The Cost of Corruption

If Michael Costa was really readying his men for war, then any show of weakness would only strengthen his argument. TheCosta family needed to see that the D’Angelos weren’t afraid. Not of them. Not of war. Not ofanything.

Michael’s capos and soldiers needed to understand that the D’Angelo family wasn’t just willing to fight; we would do anything necessary to win.

And the best way to prove that was to show neither Chastity or I were cowering in fear was for us to appear in public together. After all, Michael Costa was pissed right now, and angry men made sloppy mistakes.

Mistakes like thinking it was a good idea to send his men into D’Angelo territory to look for me instead of waiting for me to cross the bridge and come to him.

And that’s exactly what he’d done.

Unfortunately for Costa, he’d sent his men straight into a trap.

I’d spent all day planning for tonight.

I’d sent men out, seeding the information of our dinner plans out into the street. And by the look of the place, Costa had taken the bait.

About a third of the tables were taken up with associates of his family.

But it was the other two-thirds that really mattered. Each one of them was packed with D’Angelo men.

Men who were ready and willing to tear the place apart if a Costa so much as twitched.

The Costas weren’t just outnumbered; they were overpowered—a preview of what any war between our two families would look like.

“Would you like to see the wine list?” the maître d’ asked as I settled into my seat in front of every watchful eye in the place.

“There’s no need, Andrea,” I said. “We’ll start with the ’96 Chateau Margaux.”

The man nodded his approval. “Wonderful choice, sir. I’ll be right back with it for you.”

“Start?” Chastity asked, shooting me a pointed look across the table. “You’re not trying to get me drunk again, are you?”

I lounged against the plush banquette behind me.

“You can’t blame me for your overindulgence last night,” I said with a smile. “You did that all on your own.”

“Notallon my own,” she shot back. “I remember you handing me a glass that was mostly vodka at one point.”

I let my head tilt lazily down toward my shoulder.

“But I didn’t make you drink it,” I reminded her. “I didn’t make you do anything. Not last night…and not this morning either.”

A pretty blush lit up her cheeks. “Please keep your voice down. Are you trying to torment me?”

“Not exactly,” I said. “But if that’s the kind of thing you’re into, I’m happy to oblige.”

She blinked, looking confused for a second, before picking up the water glass in front of her. “Is that something people actually like?”

Damn, I had no idea someone could be so innocent. Not even someone who’d been hidden from the world for a decade.

“You’d be surprised at what some people find arousing,” I said. “I could make you a list if you want.”

Little lines spidered out from the corners of her eyes as they narrowed. “Why would I want that?”

“To decide which ones you’re interested in trying out during our time together.”

She coughed in surprise, a fine mist spurting from her lips as she choked on the sip of water in her mouth.

Any other woman I’d spent time with would have been mortified at the unsexy display, but not Chastity. Instead, sheshot me an irritated look over the napkin she’d grabbed and was now using to dab at the water dripping down her chin.

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