Page 2 of His Ruthless Obsession

My fingers curl into fists. "Get me names. Anyone taking their money is dead weight to us." And I love to cull dead weight.

"And the warehouse?" Marco asks.

"Lock it down." The words come out harder than intended. "I want our best guys there. Anyone comes within fifty feet without clearance, they don't leave breathing."

Jazz's image fills another screen as she moves to the bar. She runs her hand along the polished wood, inspecting every inch. The same way I inspect every inch of her whenever she's near.

"Understood," Marco says. "But if Mantiones keep pushing?—"

"They won't." I drag my eyes from the monitor. "Because you're going to send them a message. Find out who led the attack on our runners. Make an example." Too bad I won't be able to do it this time.

But I have other plans for tonight.

They nod, but I'm already distracted again. On screen, Jazz has paused to check her phone, a slight frown creasing her forehead. Even worried, she's magnetic. Dangerous. A liability I can't seem to stop watching.

"Go," I order. "Handle it. Now."

The door clicks shut behind Marco and Angelo. Their footsteps fade down the hallway as I stand, straightening my jacket. A glance at my Rolex shows it’s nine thirty — half an hour until the launch party.

"Get me Sal on the phone," I tell my assistant through the intercom.

Within seconds, my phone buzzes. "Yeah, boss?"

"Double security tonight. I want eyes on every entrance, exit, and alley around The Vault. Anyone looks suspicious, they don't get within fifty feet of my club."

"Already on it. Got twelve extra guys coming in."

"Make it twenty." I move to the full-length mirror, adjusting my tie. "And Sal? Make sure they're discreet. This isn't some cheap dive bar—I want class, not thugs."

"You got it."

I end the call, studying my reflection. The charcoal suit fits perfectly, a subtle display of power and wealth. Tonight needs to cement The Vault's reputation as the most exclusive club in Chicago. More importantly, it needs to show every family in the city that the Buetis aren't just about muscle—we're about sophistication.

And I'll use it to secure the one thing that I've had my eyes on for weeks. I've enjoyed watching her, learning about her. Every little quirk, every defiant tilt of her chin when she thinks no one's looking.

It's a thrill to pick up all the little things she wouldn't expect me to see—like how she takes her coffee black in the morning but switches to lattes after nine, or the way she hums under her breath when she's counting the night's receipts.

But now, I'm tired of waiting. I've been patient long enough, watching from the shadows while she runs my club with that fierce determination of hers. I want to touch and to taste andto take. Because Jazz has been mine since I first laid eyes on her, and I'm ready to collect. Ready to show her exactly what it means to belong to someone like me.

She just doesn't know it yet. But she will. Soon.

Lifting my eyes, I watch as Jazz directs the staff hanging crystal chandeliers. Each piece probably costs more than they make in a month, but that's the point. Everything in The Vault screams luxury.

"Sir?" My assistant's voice crackles through the intercom. "The mayor's office called. They want to confirm his private booth for tonight."

"Give him the one furthest from the stage. And make sure none of our business associates are seated nearby." Politics and crime don't mix well in public. But in private… Well, that's what keeps the mayor in office. "Tell him we're honored by his presence."

I grab my phone and head for the door. The Mantiones might be causing problems on the streets, but tonight belongs to me. To The Vault. To establishing our dominance in a way that doesn't require broken bones or bullet holes.

Tonight, we show Chicago that real power isn't about violence—it's about control. And nobody controls a room like I do.

But I'm about to control much more when I get my hands on Jazz.

2

JAZZ

The click of my heels echoes through the empty club as I survey the space, adjusting a crystal vase filled with white orchids. Tonight's launch has to be perfect. I've spent months planning every detail, from the custom lighting to the artisanal cocktail menu.

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