I roll my eyes from where I sit on the sofa in the elegant yet plain waiting room. "Asshole."
"You were welcome to join us."
"Wasn't really in the mood." I stretch my arms back, cracking my spine. There are three hidden cameras that I've spotted, and I keep my expression unconcerned and relaxed.
Raf flops into a chair, observing me with hooded eyes and a small grin. "I'm always in the mood for a nice, warm pussy. You usually are, too." He sighs, leaning his head back. "Dammit, now I just want to sleep."
I smirk. "Exactly, you dumb fuck."
He smiles again without lifting his head. "You stopping in at Lexa's on the way home?"
"Yeah, she's been blowing up my phone since midnight. You know I'm her favorite cock to suck."
Lexa isn't a girlfriend or anything even remotely close. I have never had a relationship—hell, I've never fucked the same woman twice. Lexa loves giving head, though, and I'm happy to be on the receiving end. I keep to my strict rule, even with her. She's always the initiator and calls me for the booty blow job requests when she feels like it. And she knows my one-and-done rule when it comes to fucking. Or more like my cock's rule; it doesn't have any interest in sinking into the same pussy twice; maybe because it's never been an life-altering experience or one where it feels like I'm sinking into heaven so I'm perpetually chasing the unicorn orgasm. But when it comes to the blow jobs, Lexa prides herself on giving great head, and she loves to suck mine; other than that she actually prefers to fuck women.
Raf grunts, his eyes still closed. But when we hear the conference door open, he sits up, alert and ready.
My father stands in the doorway. It's eight in the morning, and he's already put in a few hours of a meeting. His health is in thetoilet, but he looks pristine in his tailored three-piece suit and smoothed-back dark hair that's salt-and-peppered on the sides.
He's similar in stature to Massimo, but his body and hands bear scars like mine. My baby brother Creed has the same icy light blue eyes and strong, attractive looks as him.
The only indication of his decline in health is his skin's slight ashen hue. I'm thankful because there are days he looks and sounds like death is knocking at his door. Right now, his expression gives nothing away. He's the unreadable Don, and I have no idea what I will face in that conference room.
"Figlio," he says. Son.
"Babbo." I rise off the sofa and stride toward the conference room.
"Raf, wait out here. We'll call you next." My father steps to the side as I approach, and even though he looks relaxed, I can feel his tension. Following me in, he closes the door after Molly leaves the room.
"You know Lixin Xhang, head of the Triads, Amazu Musa of the Fire Clan, Dominic Jude of the Saints, and Ash Dexter of the Havoc Guardians."
I know all of them, although I rarely deal directly with them. Usually, I work with their second-in-commands when I procure the weapons they're looking for or with their enforcers when dealing with security matters. Dom and Ash aren't elitist assholes, but Lixin and Amazu are snot-nosed dicks who only like to acknowledge the organization's head.
"Have a seat, Vito," Ash says in his gravelly voice, gesturing to the chair on the opposite side of the table. The conference room's lights catch the silver rings on his tattooed hands, reminding me of Creed's heavily inked flesh.
I sit like I'm in front of an interview panel for some corporate job. Or maybe being disposed by a bunch of lawyers. I fight asmirk, then I fight a yawn. I haven't slept in almost thirty-six hours.
"Tell us," Lixin orders.
Usually, I'd have my knife at the offender's throat for daring to talk to me like that, but now is not the time. I bite back my dislike for the arrogant prick and calmly relay all the details I've already given Massimo, who would've relayed them toBabbo.
"Why would Aiken Fallen call you?" Dom asks.
"I don't know."
"Any speculations?" Amazu asks in his heavy accent and eyes me with slight suspicion.
Or maybe I'm imagining the suspicion. Like I said, it's been way too long since I slept.
"He called me earlier to confirm the upcoming gambling game, just like he had called all your heads of security. It's possible he hit my number on the call log; it could've just as likely been any of your heads of security as it was me."
The illegal poker game has an outrageous buy-in and is by invitation only. The Chamber provides additional security along with Gilly's in-house security team. The participants are invite-only, but that doesn't mean they're trusted. Having extra protection from the five strongest forces in the city limits the risk of trouble at the high-stakes gambling game.
"What time did Aiken call you?" Dom asks.
"3:02."
"Not three o'clock?" He cocks a brow at me.