Page 28 of Creed

Irritated and irate—irrationally so—more like it. I had plans to hunt down my obsession later. My angel, Sophie Demeanus. I was going to give her the day to return to her dorm, thinking she was free, but I had plans for her tonight.

Plans that are now derailed and on hold indefinitely until I can get my ass back to San Diego. The real estate development project will absorb me, especially as we get it up and running. My team is ready to go on all project fronts—administration, planning and development, construction, design, and environmental considerations. However, the initial start-up always requires more of my direct oversight. It’s a lot to manage, along with the operation of our businesses—hotels, restaurants, clubs—and the other real estate and construction projects on the go. I had been looking forward to the two days I had in San Diego, so I could use that time to focus on my angel and to better acquaint us with each other before the mayhem began.

“I had plans.” I clench my jaw but make myself relax as my brother regards me. “You were vague as shit on the phone, Mass. Why did you call me home? Is itPapà?”

He looks like a kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar: guilty as hell. “There’s a dinner tonight.”

“Oh, fuck no.” I glare at him furiously. “You didnotsummon me home for one ofMamma’smatch-making dinners, you motherfucker.”

“If Vito and I are suffering through it, you can bet your ass you are, too.” Massimo’s smile is smug, and he adjusts the front panel of his suit jacket.

Andro turns around and bursts out laughing, shaking his head. “Damn, I’m so glad my side of the family is only in the upper ranks and not the Don-ship line.” Massimo scowls at our cousin, who just grins back at him and says in a serious tone, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

“Asshole,” Massimo grumbles.

But Andro isn’t wrong; there is a built-in pressure to produce heirs for our line.Mammahas been on her boys for years to get our asses to the altar and start giving her grandbabies. Thankfully, our father hasn’t forced us to marry for alliance purposes, which is common in our world, especially for the heir. The only thing that saves us is that our parents had married because of love.

WithPapà’shealth declining,Mammahas become a bit manic about at least one of her sons marrying before the inevitable happens. It is heartbreaking, not only because we’ll lose our father before any of us are ready, but also because our parents’ love is deep, devoted, and true. If there’s such a thing as soulmates, our parents have found theirs in each other.

Pushing my gloomy thoughts of the future away, I glare out the window.

I was torn away from Sophie for what promised to be an unbearable meal, where either I or one of my brothers was essentially being pimped out. My only saving grace is I know it likely wouldn’t be me in the crosshairs tonight. We all know that whoeverMammahas invited—both the woman, who is probably a little greedy wench of a girl, and her parents—will look to get their claws into Massimo as the heir.

As the corporate world brother, I wouldn’t be the first choice, nor would Vito, unless the woman was a bit unhinged, just like him.

With Massimo nearly certainly in the spotlight tonight, I’m double-pissed I was pulled away from my plans with Sophie.

Plans that involved her in my bed again, riding me hard like she had this morning as her perky tits bounced, bending her over the kitchen island, wrapping her dark hair in my fist and making her scream, as well as impaling her tight pussy on my cock over and over as I pinned her against the window. I had plans of reddening her ass, having her come on my face, painting her tongue with my cum, and seeing if she would come from only nipple play.

And I want to see if that feeling of home happened again as I’m sheathed deep inside her and as she slept in my arms in my bed.

The thoughts of all my plans for my sweet little angel—who, underneath, is a dirty, naughty siren just for me—are making mycock harden, and an erection is the last thing I need. I focus on my anger, which cuts the edge.

“Fuck, Creed, you look like you have murder on your mind.” Massimo eyes me closely, then flashes another smug grin. “Those must have been quite the plans I disrupted.”

Andro twists in his seat again, but my glowering glare makes him shut his mouth.

Andro doesn’t know any details about last night; he only suspects I got laid. He doesn’t know that I took Sophie home, into my bed, and slept with her all night—things that have never happened with any woman before her. He and Massimo would shit themselves, and they’d know that Sophie is the real deal for me.

I never believed in love at first sight, but fuck me, I don’t even know the woman yet, but I can easily see Sophie by my side for life, big and round with my baby. I want six of them with her. I want that smile and laugh she gifted me last night.

And I am the first man to make her come, and, goddammit, I’m determined I’ll be the last.

Fuck a duck. I’m a goner.

I stroke my chin, hiding my smile. Yep, I was a goner, and I don’t even give a shit.

Sophie Demeanus is my goal. And as soon as I can convince my angel that our souls are two halves—how the jagged edges of each of us fit together perfectly as one—she’ll be Sophie Santoro.

Chapter 9

Creed

Two weeks later

Rubbing my eyes, Itake one last look at Costello’s report for the real estate development project and finish my response to him.

There’s a sudden shortage of some key supplies, and he sourced out alternates. He’s the expert, and I trust his judgment. It adds a slight bump in cost to the project; however, it won’t face delays before it even starts, and the quality of materials isn’t sacrificed, so I’m happy.

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