Page 122 of Brutal Legacy

“Great. Looking forward to it,” I snapped and hung up.

I handed the phone to Toni.

“Everything okay?”

“Not even remotely.” I sighed and sank into the chair at my desk. I was sick of all of it. My father, trying to manipulate me even from prison, and now, trying to pretend he cared about me when I’d already been through hell because of him. I’d be dead because of him right now, if not for Elio.

I was done trying to pick sides.

I knew where I belonged.

35

ELIO

Ilistened to Prosecutor Bellisario’s lawyer stumble through expressing her father’s regrets and I heard the way Georgia shut it down. Something kindled in my chest at her venomous set-downs. Georgia cutting ties with her unworthy father was satisfying as hell. Every day her alliances shifted, bringing her closer and closer to what she should have always remained. Mine.

After she hung up, I set my own phone down and turned on my laptop. Every single room in my penthouse, excluding only the bathrooms, had surveillance cameras installed.

“Everything okay?” Toni asked her.

She shook her head. “Not even remotely.”

I watched a black-and-white Georgia sink into a chair at her desk and grip her head like it hurt her.

She looked so lost at that moment, small and vulnerable in that huge room, dwarfed by her large desk. It made me want to slay her dragons for her and build her a tower where no one but me could reach her.

Then she stood decisively and headed out of the room. I switched between feeds. Watching Georgia was my new hobby, and I’d gotten pretty damn good at it. She entered her room and went to the tattered old bag that she’d hauled here from LA. She’d need new bags and shoes to go with her new clothes.

She opened it and rooted around until she emerged with a tube of lipstick. With a twist of the lid, she opened it. It was a damn fake. I was impressed. She removed a flash drive and considered it. This had to be it. The proof of the De Sanctis misdeeds that her father had claimed would sink us. His insurance. It was right here, under my roof. How unfortunate for him.

Georgia considered the flash drive. Had she looked on it? Did she have any idea what she held? She tucked it into her pocket and left the room, making for her new studio.

Where was she going with it?

Her body swayed as she walked, an effortless femme fatale. I remembered the touch of her body last night. Sinking inside had been like coming home after a lifetime in the cold. I’d have her again. I’d have her every single night.

I was done holding back. Yes, my self-control had cracked, but I’d formed it anew. Staying away didn’t work. I was done resisting Georgia’s power over me. From now on, I’d have my wife whenever and wherever I wanted.

She was finally mine, and no power on this earth could take her from me.

I slammed the lid of my laptop closed and made for the door of my office. I worked in La Leonora, the jewel in the De Sanctis crown of Atlantic City, and Renato’s favorite casino.

Ettore was stationed at the door, and he scrambled after me when I strode past.

“Boss?”

He wasn’t expecting me to leave the office right now. I had a hundred meetings today, things to do for Renato. More importantly, I had the remaining Ravelli rats to hunt down and make pay for last night. I wanted to eradicate the lingering family presence from my city. From the entire continent. They deserved nothing less for daring to attack my family.

For daring to touchher.

“Have the strategy meeting pushed back. Get Giada to pinpoint Ravelli locations down to the hotel room. She dropped the ball last night and let us walk into a fucking setup. She owes me.”

“Yes, sir.” Ettore jogged along behind me. “Where are we heading?”

“Home,” I told him shortly. “I’m going to have my wife for lunch.”

Ettore frowned at me. “You’re going to have lunch with your wife?”

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