Page 18 of Original Sins (Dark Odyssey 6)

I meet his unimpressed stare and nod. “This is the place.”

“But it looks like shit. Nobody is going to have sex in this dump.”

“But they will in the building I imagine it to be when we fix it up.” I probably sound more enthusiastic than I look.

I’m trying here big time because he’s fucking right.

If I can accept that, it begs the question of why I’m actually here and what the hell I was thinking.

The building we’re looking at used to be many things. On one side, there were apartments, but the druggies who lived and died there set fire to the place, and nobody bothered to fix it after. The other side had two different businesses—a strip club and a dry cleaners that was used as a front for a prostitution ring.

The dry cleaners closed last year when a dead girl was found stuffed in one of the dryers.

The strip club closed last month and was the only thing that stopped for natural causes as the owner simply wanted to sell.

That’s what got my attention, along with the fuck load of space around the building and the location of where it is.

The building might look like shit, but the location is the key when starting any business.

This is just outside the financial district, which means it would attract the affluent. Opposite the building is a set of accountancy buildings, so the place doesn’t look like a complete dive.

I really think my idea could work, but I need help to bring it to life the way I want.

That’s why Salvatore is here and why I want his younger brothers and mine on board. There is Henry, but this is something I want to do without him—a first for me.

“Georgiou, I’m going to tell you now that Vincent and Frankie will say no.” Salvatore surmises, cutting into my thoughts.

I already knew that. “That’s why I’m not asking either of them.”

Those are his older brothers, and while I could do with the money those two have, they’re far too serious for this venture I have in mind. They are the eldest of the Giordano pack. Frankie is the underboss of the family, and Vincent is the first and only capo.

Traditionally my side of the family focuses on business, and their side does both. His father is the head of the family, and my father is…

Well, mine would have loved to be.

“You didn’t plan to ask them?”

“No. You know what they’re like.”

“Like you, but more assholish.” Salvatore laughs.

I deserve that, but he’s probably the only guy I allow to see the real me, so he should know better.

What he means is they don’t joke around. They can’t afford to when they’re on the streets making sure boundaries aren’t crossed from our enemies or that someone isn’t trying to kill with us.

I’m near enough the same, but it’s because I know I have to be the equivalent when it comes to the family business. That doesn’t mean I’m like that at heart.

“Salvatore, stop fucking around.”

“Okay, let’s be serious then. This place is going to take a shit load of money to fix. When’s our guy getting here?”

“Few minutes. I wanted you to see the place first.”

“Was that so I could tell you what I think?”

“Yeah.”

He sighs, and I wonder if he’s backing out. I asked him first if he would join me because I knew he’d say yes.

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