Page 60 of Phantom Mine

“It’s not possible. Aldo would tell you himself if he wasn’t such a fucking coward. I’m sure the Marchesanis will be calling you next to say they can’t deliver on this.”

Augusto waves a dismissive hand at me, indicating he’s done listening. “I think it’s time for a little distraction,” he announces, looking around like it’s magically going to appear.

“We’re talking business, take this seriously,” I snap.

Rocco grins, jumping in. “There’s nothing I take more seriously than pussy grinding on my cock.”

Our father guffaws like it’s the joke of the year, consistently proud of the sociopath he’s made in his image.

“Maybe if you weren’t so busy worrying about where to stick your dick, the business wouldn’t be failing in the first place.”

Rocco’s eyes flare angrily. A red flush creeps up his neck, turning the skin blotchy. I clench my jaw. The satisfaction of landing a blow against him isn’t worth whatever reprisal he’s going to unleash now that he feels humiliated.

“Careful, Matteo. Your misplaced superiority complex is starting to show. While you’ve been toiling away doing branch level work, I’ve been making real moves to diversify our revenue streams and bring in fresh cash to theFamiglia. Things you’d never dare because you’re a spineless pussy.”

“What are you talking about?” Icy fingers glance down my back. “What have you done?”

“Nothing for you to worry about. It’s need to know only and you, brother, will never be someone Father and I believeneedsto know.”

“Rocco—”

“What we do need is a dancer. I know just the one I want,” he announces silkily, mouth stretching into a smile full of sharp teeth. “Time to test out the fresh meat.”

Tightness bands around my chest as he presses the call button next to his chair.

“What do you mean?”

He ignores me, and when Guido stalks into the room, he tells him, “Bring in the girl.”

Guido nods dutifully and leaves without asking which one. Unease slithers into my stomach and I’m about to ask which girl when the door opens again and Valentina walks in.

Something ugly twists in my chest.

She’s wearing a full body dark lace cover up over a skimpy black bikini with matching heels. She freezes in the doorway when she sees the three of us sitting facing each other, her eyes going instantly to me.

My reaction is immediate. “Not her.”

Rocco’s face splits into another shit-eating grin. Whatever blow I may have landed earlier, he just came back at me with a knockout punch.

“And why not her?” he questions, extending his hand towards her. “Come here,dolcezza.”

Valentina doesn’t move.

“Not her,” I repeat. My hands tighten on my armrests. The same armrests I was clutching twelve hours earlier when she wouldn’t let me touch her as she kissed me. “She doesn’t do private dances.”

“So I hear. Guido told me you auditioned her yourself, which was interesting enough, but then he also told me you restricted menu items for her. And that, brother, was very intriguing.”

A muscle in my cheek refuses to comply with my outward appearance of calm. It ticks and ticks and fuckingticks, revealing the growing disquiet swirling in my chest.

“She’s not good. Her skills are limited, we can find better. Call Guido back, he’ll recommend someone else.”

Rocco’s grin stretches even further, growing wider than that self-satisfied cat inAlice in Wonderlanduntil he’s looking at me gleefully.

“She’s good enough that you hired her,” he counters. “You must have seen something worthwhile. I’d like to see it too.” Turning back towards Valentina, he repeats, “Come here.”

My gaze whips to her. “Leave.Now.”

“If I’m not wanted, I’ll go,” she answers, a hint of a quiver in her voice.

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