Page 3 of Vicious Little Princess

Harlow:Shipment received ahead of schedule. I’m impressed, Nico. Look forward to doing continuous business with you.

“Is that her?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He looked far too pleased with himself.

I didn’t want him believing in his twisted mind that he’d done me a favor. Because he fucking hadn’t.

And owing anyone in our world was a bad way to be in.

“So you’ve undone something that you caused in the first place. Am I supposed to be grateful?”

“You’re supposed to see it as the peace offering that it is.”

Enough bantering and circumventing the real issue.

“What do you want from me? Why go to all this trouble to get me here to you?” I demanded.

“Phones off, then we’ll talk.” He gestured at his men and Milo. “Alone.”

I nodded at Milo and we both shut our phones off, then pocketed them.

“I need eyes on him the entire time,” I told Carlo.

“Fine,” he said, gesturing at one of his men who then opened a couple of the curtains so there was a view outside.

Satisfied, I gave Milo the signal to leave my side.

We didn’t have secrets. And that wouldn’t change now.

I hadn’t just demanded that I have him in full view for his safety, it was also because he could read lips exceptionally well, so he’d be kept abreast of everything as I spoke with Carlo Benzino.

As he and the guards took their leave and went outside, Carlo slid into the nearest booth and settled himself.

I joined him, sliding in on the other side.

He finally got right down to business, telling me, “This new situation isn’t sustainable. Your father is flailing and Santino’s unhinged megalomania is now completely unchecked without the balance and the boundaries that our truce enforced.”

Interesting.

“And why are you coming to me about this?”

“I understand. You don’t want to give anything away for fear of betrayal. You’re protecting yourself and your own.”

“I’m doing what anybody would do in my position when being approached by somebody who is now considered an enemy to my Family and the new alliance that has been formed with the Leones.”

“I’m not talking about you protecting the Family. I mean Emilio out there and Julian Carver.”

“My guard and my college acquaintance, who serves Marchetti interests?”

“The true brotherhood that you serve.”

Our gazes clashed.

He tried to push me further to get to what he wanted from me, commenting, “Of course, that also now includes that exceedingly impressive new wife of yours.”

“Obviously she’s under my protection, it’s my duty as her husband and to the Marchetti-Leone alliance to safeguard the property given to me.” It took a lot to not cringe as I uttered those words. “And, yes, her business acumen is impressive. That’s been well-noted and documented throughout the city.”

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