Page 64 of Dirty Mafia King
“That’s not an answer.”
I lean back in my chair, fold my arms, and stare at him. New York has taken some of the edge off him. His swagger’s broader, his confidence growing. He’s been trying to impress me his entire life. Unlike his brother, whose mission is to upend everything I’ve built.
“I can’t stand that chick. I’d jerk off with sandpaper before I’d let her touch me.”
I snort. “Again.”
Sandro’s eyebrows pitch in surprise. Didn’t anticipate I’d be up in his business? “Zoey won’t simply be a bad influence, she’ll corrupt Alessia.”
I clench my jaw. Could this be why I’ve allowed their friendship?
Ma va’!
Alessia’s the forbidden fruit, isn’t she? One I could pluck and take a hard bite of, if she were anyone else but my son’s fiancée.Ifshe were my goddamn type.
I gave her to Sandro, with Don Lucchese’s blessing, so what does any of it matter?
“She’s your responsibility.” Sandro flinches, which makes me push harder. “You can spend time with her. Show your fiancée off at important events like the Riverview Casino’s groundbreaking party.”
“The party was four weeks ago.”
“Then host another goddamn party.” I fucking hate the idea, but I press on anyway. “Take her to New York with you. You can get to know your bride better.”
He pales.
And I relax, studying him closely. Perdio. There’s someone else, isn’t there? Whoever this woman is, she better have strong survival skills, because Sandro doesn’t have a gentle bone in his body.
“If that’s all.” His words cut like a knife. “I’ll inform Alessia to pack her shit.”
He hates this. But he’ll do as I ask anyway. Loyal and dependable.
Miserable.
“Sit down.”
Within seconds, he’s seated.
“Alessia stays here, and I’ll worry about her being corrupted.” My cock stirs. Fucking terrific. “You can keep your plaything.”
He relaxes. Is it because he gets his way? Or because he actually likes this woman? No way. A proud shit like him? That’s all this is about. Still … “Make sure Tommaso accompanies you, or another dependable man.”
His back straightens.
I cross my foot over a knee, and reach for the imaginary popcorn. The goddamn show’s about to begin.
“I’m not a little fucking kid anymore,” he exclaims, thumping the desk with his fist. “When are you going to acknowledge that? What do I have to do to prove myself? HaveIfailed you or made you look weak? Haven’tIdone exactly what you demand, no matter how much I despise you for it? I get it, trust me. So does Renzo. Becoming capo di tutti capi means the Beneventi famiglia will thrive.” He spreads his arms for the dramatic conclusion. “Take a look around—we’re already thriving. Yet it’s never enough, is it?”
I clap my hands in applause.
His head jerks back like I punched him.
Once upon a time, I sat in the same seat across from my father. Like Sandro, my only mission was to earn his respect. I never did. Yet I earned Don Lucchese’s respect, and in retrospect, that’s all that truly matters.
“You’re doing a bang-up job in Brooklyn.”
He glares at me.
I touch the computer mouse, and the screen awakens to the spreadsheet I pulled up earlier. “Spending looks good. C&C Enterprises is on schedule with no delays.”
