Page 12 of Gianni DeLuca

His smile faltered. “Um...she is here today, but I usually handle million-dollar accounts.”

I grasped his hand. “She’s in personal banking, right?”

“Yes. She’s in both personal and business accounts.”

“Then I’m sure she can manage my account as well. Please let her know I’m here to open a personal account.”

Diamond walked by us, holding a cup of coffee. Her thoughts appeared to be focused elsewhere. She jumped slightly when Mark called her name, and her eyes widened when she noticed me standing next to him. “Mr. DeLuca is well known in the city, and he has personally requested that you be his banker today.”

“I have a couple of appointments if he doesn’t mind waiting,” she said with a fake smile and professional voice.

“I’ve waited a long time to make these deposits. I can wait a little more.” I winked at Diamond. I wanted to laugh at her expression's quick, murderous glint before she composed her face back to pleasant.

Mark replied firmly, “Nonsense. I can handle those customers. We don’t want Mr. DeLuca to wait.”

Diamond beckoned me with her hand. “Alright, then please follow me.”

“Gladly,” I murmured, loving how hot she looked in a black pencil skirt and black and white satin blouse. Her hair had been pinned into a low bun, and her makeup so subtle she looked natural.

I walked into her small office toward the back of the bank that didn’t have the glass windows as the other rooms we’d passed to give more privacy to customers. She placed a frame facedown on her desk before gesturing for me to sit. I wondered who she didn’t want me to see. Maybe she had a man or a family. “These rooms have cameras? Can they see or hear us?”

“They can see, but there’s no audio. We can turn off visuals if our high-end customers request it.”

“Turn off the cameras. I need to speak freely?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want you to. I keep my lives separate, Gianni. You shouldn’t be here.”

“As far as most people in this city know, I’m a successful business owner. I have my restaurant and now a casino. And I need to open up an account.”

“I never told you I worked at this bank.”

“You didn’t have to.” I spread my legs and leaned back in the chair. “This is a good cover and allows you access to so many important people’s accounts. You know whose businesses are thriving or failing. When to go for the kill. I also know you own a few properties throughout the city outside of Club Dreams.”

She pursed her pink-stained lips and placed her hands together. “What do you want, Gianni? I can’t imagine that you really want me to have access to your money.”

“I want you.” I let those words drift between us.

Diamond clasped her hands tighter. “It’s too late.”

“No, it’s not. I don’t fucking care if you have a secret husband or whoever you are trying to hide from me.” My eyes glanced at the facedown picture. “I want more time with you.”

“Gianni...” she started.

“I already told you, no is not an option with me.”

“We are impossible. Can’t you see that? Our lives have placed us as enemies now.”

“We don’t have to be.”

“Or is this your way of getting me to submit to whatever you want and ignore what I need? I’m not that same naïve girl you slept with and then forgot about.”

“I’m not that naïve boy either. And I never forgot about you. I left you because I didn’t want you to be caught up in that life. But...

“But now that you know I’m about that life, you want to date me? I’m worthy now?”

“Why are you twisting my words?”

She pressed a button before she exploded, “Because motherfucker, you left me without a goodbye. Took my virginity, and I didn’t exist anymore.”

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