Page 11 of Fortress of the King

I silence him and glance at the beauty by my side. “I’m sorry, it seems I will have to cut the tour short. Perhaps we can reconvene sometime?”

Her eyes dart up from my throat, and I feel a surge of satisfaction that she seems affected by me.

Fuck. If I had a woman like her in my bed, even for a night, I’d make it a night she’d never forget.

“I’d like that,” she says softly, reeling me in with every subtle gesture. “Thank you for showing me around.”

I resist the urge to touch her, though a gentleman would kiss her on the cheek…if this were a date, which it’s not.She fucking works for me!Added to that, I’ve never been a gentleman.

What I’d love to do is spin her around, pull up her skirt and plow into her from behind while biting down on her neck, one hand would snake into her hair, and the other would cover her mouth, so she didn’t alert everyone upstairs to what we’re doing. The thought excites me.

My hands ball into fists as I fight the urge. Going against my instincts never feels very good.

“Well, I hope you enjoy working for Fortress,” I say as we ascend the stairs back to her office. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, just let me know.”

She nods and smiles like a good little employee.

I leave the words hanging and I hope to God she needs something soon.

* * *

I grab a shot of whisky from the bar on the patio and walk into the double doors of my two-story townhouse in the middle of the city. It’s lavish with marble and gleaming porcelain, and the vast ornate windows look out to the busy skyline.

It’s not exactly a sanctuary, but usually, it’s a place I can relax during the week. Especially when I’m not hashing out business arrangements at our family Fortress Compound twenty minutes out of the city. On the rare occasions, like tonight, I open up my house for a party, but I can’t wait until it’s over. The music is thumping and dance lights flash on and off, it’s all good for show, but all I seem to want is quiet.

My head’s been buzzing all day with the shit storm of work this week, we’re acquiring more property, and in negotiations with the council, the casino plans are getting underway finally, and then there’s the gallery auction that we will all be attending.

I crack my neck as I take in the surrounding chatter of people milling around, talking shit and sucking up to the governor, just one of my many influential guests tonight.

I glance over and see Tiffany at the makeshift bar, talking to some investment banker. Which has me seeing red almost immediately.

I don’t care about being rude, and I need to fuck, although somehow, now I’ve got Rayne in my sights so it almost seems vulgar sticking it to another woman.

I try to shake off the feelings swirling inside me.

Tiffany and I have hooked up here and there, and we’re not serious by any means, but everything tonight is irritating me. Not enough to grab her and shove her into the nearest hall closet as I have before. She notices me looking and a slow smile spreads across her face.

When did life get so complicated? However, I immediately know the answer to that, when I took over the Medici crime family.

Before she can intercept, an arm links through mine, and I turn to see Allegra looking up at me.

“Hello, stranger,” she says, her bright blue eyes shining.

I smile warmly. “Hello, yourself. I thought you were out of town?” I kiss her on both cheeks.

She sips on a glass of champagne and screws up her nose as we work the room. “I was, but I came back early, duty calls and all of that.”

It’s been years since Roberto’s death, and Allegra hasn’t been one to move on quickly. We’ve grown close, however. I don’t see her as often as I should, but we have lunch now and again and the occasional dinner.

“We’ll have to catch up.” At least it sounds like I mean it, even if my schedule allows for little downtime.

She places a hand on my forearm. “I’ll hold you to that.” She smiles as we head toward my brothers, who stand in a circle, looking like the ultimate bachelors of Boston.

I shake my head as I chuckle.

I place my hand on the small of her back as we move across the room.

“Don’t the twins look handsome?”

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