Page 1 of Beastly Boss

1

AURELIO

“Just one more hour,” I mutter to myself as I take a sip of my bourbon. At least the alcohol is top shelf. It almost makes coming to these things tolerable.Almost.

The Las Vegas Policemen’s Ball has been held annually for over fifty years, and a mafia boss has been present at every single one. For the past decade, it’s been me.

I down the last of my drink and search for Andrew Olsen, the Police Lieutenant. The ballroom is flooded with officers in their formal uniforms, some giving me dirty looks while others avert their eyes. They know who I am. They know the power I hold. Like Moses, the sea of blue parts for me as I embark on my next mission.

I spot Lt. Olsen by the buffet table, filling up his plate. At least he’s taking advantage of the thousands of dollars worth of food being served.

Before I get a chance to announce my presence, a flash of dark green momentarily distracts me. I turn in that direction, dumbstruck by the enchanting woman in a silky emerald dress. The material clings to her ample chest and flows down her wide hips like a waterfall. I want to outline her curves with my fingersand my tongue. With round, rosy cheeks, a slightly upturned nose, and full lips, she radiates innocence and beauty – the exact opposite of me. The woman’s midnight black hair is swept to one side, revealing her slender neck. I get the sudden urge to kiss her there.I wonder what she tastes like?

Taking a deep breath, I shake those thoughts from my mind and refocus on the task at hand. I can’t afford to get distracted, especially when the Caparelli Family is at such a crucial turning point.

“Lieutenant Olsen,” I say after stepping up next to him.

The broad-shouldered man turns to face me with a stoic look in his eyes. He’s trying to appear strong and unaffected by my presence, though we both know who’s in charge.

“Aurelio,” he greets me. We shake hands, and I follow him to a less populated area of the ballroom. “It always amuses me to see you in a room full of cops.”

“I don’t have a problem with the police force here in Vegas. Well, most of them.” I glance over at Lt. Olsen, who nods. He knows what I’m referring to.

“Yes, we’ve had a few men make some… regrettable choices as of late.” He looks around the room to ensure no one is listening in. “I’m working on dismantling the inner circle of rebel cops,” he murmurs before taking a bite of his crab cake.

“Not fast enough,” I grunt.

“These things take time. I can’t very well fire everyone who has a negative thing to say about the Caparellis.”

“I thought your title meant you could do exactly that.”

The man huffs out a dry laugh and rolls his eyes. “I wouldn’t have my title for very long if I made a rash decision like that. You have to understand things work differently on this side of the law.” I shoot him a side glance and raise an eyebrow. The mere fact that he’s talking this candidly to a mafia boss means he’s not exactly a paragon of virtue. “You know what I mean.”

“Fine. Can you at least tell me what you’re doing to punish the fuckers who keep trying to shoot my men and raid my compound?”

“Two officers have been suspended, and two more have been fired. Three officers in the inner circle have been assigned to a desk doing bullshit bureaucratic busy work. If they don’t burn out after a few months, I’ll find a reason to suspend them, too.”

I nod once, absorbing this information. I open my mouth to ask another question when the stunning woman from earlier catches my eye again. She’s headed this way, her eyes meeting mine for the first time. They’re otherworldly, with specs of green, gray, and brown swirling together to create a unique hazel color.

The closer she gets, the faster my heart races.Is she coming over here to talk to me? Do I affect her as much as she’s affecting me? Why do I care? What is wrong with me?

To my shock and dismay, she stands next to Lt. Olsen. How the hell did this dumpy fuck attract someone as radiant as her?

“Aurelio, this is my daughter, Kimbra.”

Daughter?Shit.

“Hi,” she says, the simple word weaving its way through my veins.

“Kimbra,” I repeat, holding out my hand.

She slips her much smaller one in mine, and I swear my heart stops beating for a second when we make contact. Instead of simply shaking her hand, I lift it to my lips and press a kiss to her knuckles. I can’t say I’ve ever done that before, nor did I plan to do it at this moment, but something about this woman is getting my wires crossed. I can’t seem to think straight when she’s next to me.

I peer up at her with my lips still on her skin, those hazel eyes locked on mine. She seems as dumb-struck as I am, which is why I have to leave.

“Excuse me,” I clip out, dropping her hand from mine. Her brow furrows, and I hate the thought of upsetting her, but this is for the best. I don’t have the patience or energy for a relationship or even a fling right now. Especially not with the fuckin’ daughter of the police Lieutenant.

I push my way through the crowd, grabbing a champagne flute from a nearby tray, then beeline toward the balcony. I need fresh air and possibly a lobotomy.

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