Page 56 of Bound to Him

“What about the Rossis?”

He smiled, deciding to play open cards. “Not yet.”

Antonio nodded thoughtfully, pretending to appreciate his honesty. “I have respect for a man who does his business thoroughly. You’ve found a need, and you’re satisfying it, while creating your own empire.” Christian nodded with a smile. “Enzo has only good things to say about you.”

Christian scoffed, his smile widening and his hand over his heart. “Ah, he is a good man.”

Still, Antonio didn’t smile. “Look, Mr. Reyes, I am no pushover. If we do business, I’ll have eyes on you all the way. I’ll know everything about you, what toothpaste you use, how your bank account looks, which prostitutes you’re fucking, you understand? The whole truth, and nothing but the truth, is what I require.”

“Of course, Don Antonio.”

I was fucking impressed. I knew Antonio could hold his own, but this was risky, to almost insult the man. But it was as real as a business could get, this was exactly what he would say to any business prospect that was new and risky. Christian believed it all and smiled.

“You know,” he lifted a finger, “I believe you. You are no pushover. I hardly got any resistance from Enzo, but still, I proved myself, and we’re doing good business together. Hell, the man even gave me his daughter on a silver platter, eh?”

He nudged me with a devilish chuckle. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t laugh at that one. Antonio stepped in figuratively and smiled, allowing Christian to think he enjoyed that joke.

“I must say, she is a difficult one. Not very giving, if you know what I mean… But I’ll tame the bitch.”

I clenched my jaw, breathing deeply. Antonio could see that I wouldn’t hold it together much longer.

“Yes, well. It isn’t the Romano girls that are difficult, but rather Italians as a whole.”

Christian roared with laughter at that, wagging his finger at Antonio. “That is a good one! Yes!”

Antonio checked his watch. “Alright, Mr. Reyes. I think I’ve seen and heard all I need to. What I need from you now is proof that you’re everything you say you are. One hundred pounds of the good stuff. The exact same quality you gave Huxley, no exceptions. At an undisclosed location, you’ll present it, my men will vet it. If it holds up, I will sign whatever you need me to sign right then and there.”

Christians eyes showed only the slightest hint of excitement. He thought he had us bagged.

“Does that sound acceptable to you?”

“It most certainly does, Don Antonio.” He smiled.

“Alright. Huxley will keep you informed; he’ll be your liaison at all times during this agreement.” Antonio asserted his dominance a little there, refusing to work with the guy directly. Once again, it was risky, but it made him look all the more legit as a respectable don. “He will let you know tomorrow where and when we will meet. Is that also acceptable?”

“It definitely is.”

“Right then.” Antonio stood up, followed by me and Christian. “See you soon.”

They shook hands over the desk, and I walked Christian out. In the lobby he whistled. “Your brother takes no shit, eh?”

I smiled. “Just as any don shouldn’t.”

When we stepped outside, he breathed in the fresh air, looking happier than ever. “How about drinks at the club tonight?”

I lifted my hands in apology. “Ah, sorry my friend. I have other business to attend to tonight.”

No fucking way was I going to spend any more time with him than I needed to. Luckily, he believed easily that an underboss such as myself would have other problems to focus on.

“I understand, Huxley. Let me know about that meeting.”

He winked and shook my hand, then sauntered off to his car, looking around the property as if he was planning on buying it.

He made me sick; did he really think we were this stupid? He thought he had all of us on a leash, including Olivia. But he was in for a big surprise. The cuntsucker would feel my wrath soon enough.

When I stepped back into Antonio’s office, he shook his head.

“What a dick.”

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