“I can try,capo, but Laura was his sister…”
Cazzo. Why did my father have to kill that poor woman? “I know very well who she was to him. I didn’t ask for your opinion.” I slam my fist on the desk, the polished mahogany trembling beneath my fury. “Go, now!”
“Yes,capo. I’ll see what I can do.” He spins on his heel and races out of my office, his damned tail between his legs.Dio, Imiss Giuseppe. “Thanks for leaving me to handle all thismerda, brother.” I glance skyward and my fingers instinctively move to the gold cross at my chest. I stopped believing in God a long time ago, but still I wear the chain my mother gave me for my first communion. It was the last gift before?—
Squeezing my eyes closed, I chase away the dark memories. God, heaven, hell, none of it exists. If it did,Diowould’ve never taken away my precious mother, leaving three young boys in the inept hands of our father.
And if hell does exist, I suppose I’ll find myself there soon enough. Because this is not how my story ends. If I can’t get to Isabella, there must be another way to bring the Kings to their knees.
My thoughts flicker back in time to the night in the woods in Milano, to a pair of lively blue eyes and wild, blonde hair. To the feel of Serena Valentino when she ran into me in the hallway of that rooftop bar in Milano. To the sound of her sultry voice, echoing through the park that night. There are two Valentino mafia princesses, and if I can’t have one, then I’ll simply have to steal the other.
Present Time
Hidden behind the airplane hangar, I watch intently as the Kings’ private jet roars across the runway. I’d been forced to hire my own jet to secure access to the area. Luckily, I’d timed our arrival almost perfectly, and within seconds, Raffaele and hisprincipessashould be deplaning.
The past few days before my arrival to Manhattan had been disastrous. I finally met with Michele Salerno who refused mynew restaurant deal. Without it, I’m fucked. Then Federico Sartori denied me the chance to even meet to discuss an equitable way to carve out our territories.
Now I’m left with no other options.
I keep my eyes trained on the airplane now lumbering closer, then my gaze lifts upward to the sky. Pressing my finger to the com in my ear, a sharp hiss explodes across my eardrum, and I mutter a curse. “Pietro, can you hear me?”
“Yes,capo, loud and clear.”
“Is the bird in the air?”
“Ready and waiting.”
Reaching for the binoculars, I search the clear sky for the new drone I purchased from an old friend of mine. Its top-of-the-line technology boasts complete radar invisibility, even against top security measures. I suppose we’re about to find out how good it really is.
A roar of applause and whoops and shouts draws my gaze from the sky to the jet door. It finally opens and the happy couple descends the steps to another chorus of cheers. Raffaele walks beside Isabella, or rather drapes his enormous form over her body, while a second bodyguard flanks her exposed side.
My fingers itch for my gun, but it’s not strapped to my hip like always. Instead, I was forced to keep it hidden in my carry-on. Even if I did have it, the likelihood of a clear shot would’ve been infinitesimal. As much shit as I liked to give Pietro for his incompetency, I’ve seen my brother at work firsthand, and as a bodyguard, he’s second to none.
A head of blonde hair zips through the crowd, pushing her way to greet Isabella. Serena practically throws herself at her cousin, wrapping her arms around the girl’s petite form. Even from this distance, I can feel my brother bristling.
The man is a Pitbull when it comes to his clients and now that Isabella has become more, I can only imagine his level ofobsession. My gaze pivots from my brother to Serena and a lick of heat surges all the way down to my dick as memories of the last time I saw her rush to the surface.
Her sexy moans have been a constant companion the last few lonely nights. I’d never admit it to anyone, but I finally found the release I so desperately needed stroking my cock to memories of the other Valentino princess in the woods. Those sounds…Dio, I could come from them alone.
Blinking quickly, I force the completely inappropriate thoughts to the far corners of my mind. You’re here for revenge,coglione. You’re supposed to be planning how to kidnap Serena Valentino, not fuck her.
Yes, Mamma would be proud. I’ve altered my plan from straight up murder to kidnapping for ransom, perhaps some torture to satisfy the bloodthirsty monster within. Unlike Isabella, Dante’s daughter travels with minimum security, if any at all. If I get my hands on Serena Valentino, I can force her father and the Kings out of my territory. Better still, I can compel the Kings to take my side and coerce the Sartoris out of my lands for good.
A crackle across the com focuses my attention. “The drone audio is coming through now,” Pietro confirms.
Another hiss and the voice on the other line switches to a decidedly more pleasant one.
“Finally, you made it back.” Serena’s sensual timbre invades my eardrums, and a shudder races up my spine.
I peer around the corner so I can steal a glance at the face that goes with that unforgettable voice. Serena still hugs her cousin, but now Raffaele has moved from her side. Only her second bodyguard remains. I scan the other hangar and catch a glimpse of my brother inside with the one and only Luca Valentino.
Serena, on the other hand, has no guardian pressed to her side. None even within striking distance. According to Pietro, she arrived at the airport with a driver and that was it.
“Of course I’ll be at the party at your parents’ tonight.” Serena’s voice snaps my attention back to the two females. “I came all this way just to see you.”
“I thought your internship was over.” Isabella’s dark brows pucker as she eyes her cousin.
“Not quite. There are a few more things I need to do before I return.”