Page 12 of Contract of a Billionaire
Alessio
Autumn Corbin.
Four years wasn’t long enough to forget her.
I kept my distance. Fifteen years between us was too much to entertain anything with her. Not to mention, her parents detested the Russo family. The only reason they allowed Branka into their circle was because Autumn put her foot down and refused to turn her back on her.
Admittedly, that made me like her even before I met her.
Cassio and Luca King, and Nico Morrelli all stood around my office.
“Has Luciano worked things out with Grace?” I asked, leaning back in my chair.
“They will,” Cassio assured. He was the most optimistic one of us.
“So the raven-haired girl,” Luca started and I knew the next words would make me want to punch him. “Is she single?”
“No,” I gritted.
Luca chuckled like it was the funniest goddamn thing he had ever heard. “Does she know that?” he asked.
I flipped him the bird.
Luca opened his mouth but his brother quickly shut him down. “Jesus, Luca. The man just buried his mother, let it go.”
“Shouldn’t touch a young thing like that,” Luca drawled, pouring himself another glass of scotch. Cassio warning him probably gave him the extra boost. “I’m younger than you. We’re probably more compatible.”
“Luca, I swear to God, you touch her and I’ll enjoy sawing your dick off with a dull knife,” I growled.
“Ouch, that’ll hurt,” Nico chimed in, glaring at Luca and mouthing for him to shut the fuck up. Then his eyes returned to me. “Have you thought about Branka and her future?”
I dug a cigarette out of my drawer. The truth was that I had, but I kept pushing it off. I wanted a happy life for Branka. Full of love and laughter. Something that she always talked about with envy when describing the Corbin household.
“I have,” I admitted. “Considering how fucked up most arranged marriages are, I’m a bit reluctant.”
Cassio lit up a cigar. “I don’t blame you. Have you checked into the Brennan family? Liam’s son is decent, and if he’s anything like his father, he’d be a good connection to have.”
“Killian Brennan?” I questioned. He nodded. “I’ll look into him.”
Just not too fast. My sister was still too young.
The irony didn’t escape me though. Branka and Autumn were exactly the same age.
Yet, I didn’t hesitate to secure Autumn for myself by reaching out to the head of the Corsican mafia four years ago.
Hypocrisy at its peak.
* * *
We strode to La Petite,a bar that an old friend owned. The first woman I ripped out of the clutches of traffickers.
She waved us over. She always kept one table secured for us.
“Alessio,” she greeted me, barely a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Fleur, how are you?” My eyes roamed over the crowd. “It’s busy tonight, huh?”
“You’ll see why soon.” Her voice held a note of smugness to it and I cocked my eyebrow. But before I could question her, she turned her attention to Cassio, Luca, and Nico. “Gentlemen. Drinks are on the house.”
