Page 23 of Gianni DeLuca

Roberto’s lips widened into a smile before he teased, “Aww...you still care about me.”

“Get the fuck out of here.”

Mamma teased through tears, “Can you please remember a woman is present?”

I grabbed my mother into my embrace. “I’m sorry, and tonight you’re coming home with me. I can’t risk you going to your home alone. Security team or not.”

As my mother rested her head on my chest and Roberto excused himself, I realized a war seemed inevitable now whether Desire had anything to do with Santini’s death. My people believed it to be so. A formal meeting had to be held between Paris-Diamond-Wisdom and me. From this point, it was all business, and I had no idea if we could ever return to the couple we were growing into being.

“Mamma, I need to make a call. Can you get us a couple of dinners to go?”

Mamma wiped her eyes and left the room.

My cell rang at the moment I picked it up to dial Diamond. I answered it, “I was just about to call you.”

“For what? To tell me you’re gunning for the Desire? I let my guard down with you against my better judgment.”

“One of your men stabbed the best man on my crew first. My people want revenge.”

“Bullshit. My men know not to take such risks. They were ordered to remain in our territories and to not touch anyone from the DeLuca organization, period.”

“Someone didn’t listen.”

“They always fucking listen.”

“Then I guess you gave the order to kill.”

“I told you I didn’t.”

“Well, either you or the man who killed Santini is lying.”

“You don’t trust me,” she said plainly.

My heart trusted her...my mind was another story, and I never let my heart make decisions. “You and I are done. Business here on out.”

She retorted, “Agreed. Anything else before I hang up this phone?”

“I told everyone to stand down for now. Day after we bury Santini, I’ll bring my men. You bring yours. Choose a place and time. I promise there'll be a war if you don’t show up. And you will lose.” I kept my tone even though my soul longed for her despite everything.

The phone went silent. She didn’t bother to respond. And I turned over my desk viciously, wanting to unleash my anger. My rage. My hurt.

Chapter Fifteen

Aday after we buriedSantini in a somber, depressing ceremony, we drove to Club Dreams, the meeting spot agreed upon by Diamond and me. My heart and mind told me to believe her, yet we hadn’t spoken since I made that phone call the night Santini was killed. She’d simply texted the meeting time and place last night. Our small caravan of cars parked in front of the nightclub. Roberto got out of the car in front of me. We never rode together in the exact vehicle. If we were ever ambushed, only one of us would be killed. Roberto approached, his expression guarded, his energy turbulent. “Ready?”

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