Page 45 of Nico (Belles & Mobsters 2)

She was different. I couldn’t believe that a cruel motherfucker like Benito King could actually produce a daughter like her. She probably escaped unscathed because she was raised by another man and a maternal grandmother.

Knowing of William’s infidelity, I wondered why she tended to her husband through his sickness. The background check showed her caring for him and visiting him every single day at the hospital, spending every minute with him during the last months of his life. One picture from her file was especially engraved into my brain. It was a picture of her with her little daughters at her husband’s gravesite. There were people all around her, but she looked so lost, so alone, so much sadness on her beautiful face.

She was a better person than I was. I wasn’t the forgiving type. My parents would attest to it.

“I’ll depend on you to coordinate the wedding,” Cassio’s voice came through the speakers. “Keep the knowledge of the arrangement between the two of us to a minimum. Only people that you trust. I don’t need a war with my father to start just yet.”

That was an understatement. Benito King would go on a damn murder rampage if he knew Cassio won over the Irish to his side.

“You can count on my wife,” Jack Callahan announced. “She knows how to do it.”

“Excellent,” Cassio replied. “Nico will be our go-between for now, to ensure this remains under the radar.”

Cassio's obsession with this marriage would end up driving him mad. He started planning and manipulating about six years ago. Though not much better could be said about me.

A few more details were exchanged, all the while I kept my eyes on Bianca. I noticed the moment she left the party. Her slim figure drifted through the crowd, attracting men’s wistful gazes without her noticing it. She stepped out onto the balcony, the light breeze clinging the dress against her body. I wondered if she even realized she constantly sought solitude.

With the meeting finished, Jack and his nephew departed immediately. This party was to celebrate the closure of another property acquired, but it was also a way to disguise my meeting with the Irish.

The brief conversation about the Amalfi coastal property led me to believe Bianca might not know she owned a piece of property there. Or maybe she didn’t realize the significance of it. She wasn’t good at hiding her expressions, but there was no missing her complete disinterest. I suspected it was the location Benito King used to smuggle in his product - women from Africa and Asia. Did her mother know? It remained to be seen.

I strode through the crowded room, every so often someone would stop me to congratulate me on the business expansion. Except none of it mattered to me, but for the dark-haired beauty. I couldn’t wait to have this woman in my bed. My only worry was that once I had her, it wouldn’t be enough. With each touch of hers, I wanted more. Eventually, I would demand everything from her. Every heartbeat. Every breath.

She was my kryptonite, making me vulnerable because my cravings for her weakened me. I’d do anything to keep her with me.

Just as I neared the balcony, my phone beeped. I paused my step seeing it was from Leonardo and swiped the message.

Not good. Carter was Jenna’s target, under BK.

BK wanted the man eliminated.

Fuck.That damn woman played both sides. I would have to move everything forward. I quickly typed a reply with instructions.

Get her on the way out. Take her to the basement.

Why would Benito care about William Carter and want him eliminated? The coincidence seemed suspicious. The timing of Jenna’s seduction of William seemed too opportune.

I raised my head to find Bianca’s small body leaning over the balcony, her eyes searching for something. Slowly, I approached her, admiring the view of her backside. She had a perfect figure for romping. I wanted to dominate her, possess her, listen to her screams as she fell apart under me. The chemistry and magnetic pull between us was intense. I have experienced nothing like it in all my forty years.

I remained silent, not wanting to startle her and watched her as I imagined all the ways I would make her come soon.

I would take her bent over the balcony of my penthouse, in this same position.I couldn’t wait to bury myself in her. I’d make her sore in the best way possible.

“Nico,” her exclamation had me raising my eyes, trailing from her ass to her eyes. She turned her head over her shoulder, still in the same position, slightly leaned over her balcony and watched me with a raised eyebrow. “All done with your meeting?”

Ignoring her question, I asked instead, “What are you looking for?”

She turned towards me, a warm glint in her eyes as she watched me with the little smile around her lips.

“I was trying to get a glimpse of the Lincoln Memorial. It’s too far though.” She pushed her hands through her hair. “It was my dad’s favorite monument. We spent so many weekends around it.”

She talked about her dad with love and warmth. She certainly wasn’t talking about Benito King. That bastard had no love for anyone but himself. She didn’t know it, but she was lucky she didn’t have to endure him while growing up. Or had no connections with him.

If he would have known about his daughter, she’d be in his clutches. But Benito wanted her for something, the question was what. Now, I regretted telling Jenna and Gabito about the wedding. The question was why was William Jenna’s target under Benito?

Whatever it was, I’d find out. Neither Benito nor Jenna planned for me.

Bianca might have been born into the mobster world, but nobody but her mother knew it. It was one of the many glaring differences between Bianca and I. She spoke about her family, even her cheater husband with warmth and love.

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